Filter for my african cichlid tank.....

[CraigMac]

I have a 90 gallon African cichlid tank. Currently running with an aquaclear 110 and emperor 400 filter. The emperor I think is on its last leg, really noisy and sounds like its struggling. Someone was getting rid of a fluval 305 canister so I snatched it up. I know it's only rated for 70 gallons, but if I run it and the aquaclear do you think I'll have enough filtration? Or, should I get rid of the 305 and keep my eyes open for a bigger canister? Moneys tight so I can just run out and drop 200 bucks

 

[Malawi Freak]

Run that 305. I have one and absolutely love it. I wish it had some more push to it but it definitely gets the job done. You should look into more filtration though, overtime it will be tough to keep up with the bioload.

 

[CraigMac]

Ok, will do. I just took it apart to clean it and I have some questions. It looks like it has foam pad on one side then baskets on the other. In the bottom basket there were 2 bags, one looked like charcoal and the other was pinkish? Any idea what that is and should I take both out? The top 2 baskets looked like they both have some type of bio rings. If I take the bags out of the bottom, should I leave empty or get something else for it?

 

[Malawi Freak]

You can always get bio balls for them. It could have been the fluval ammonia chips. Were the hand filled bags or store bought. You don't need carbon, but it doesn't hurt. You could put some filter floss in there.

 

[CraigMac]

They look store bought. Sorry for the ignorance but what is filter floss?

Thanks for the help!

 

[Malawi Freak]

http://www.google.com/m/products/de...&q=filter+floss&hl=en&cid=2110297551107379401

Same stuff in your pillows.

 

[CraigMac]

Thanks. One other question, how should I do the transition to avoid a minicycle? Since leaving my aquaclear running too ca I just run the canister and remove true emperor, or will that remove too much beneficial bacteria too soon? Should I run the canister and leave the emperor running for a little? If so, how long? A day or do, longer?

 

[Lengelund]

If there is anything in your Emperor that you can put into your new filter, do that. The paper on your bio wheels are FULL of beneficial bacteria. You can pull that paper off and stick it somewhere in your new filter.

 

[CraigMac]

So just rip the paper off the wheel, open the canister filter and stick the paper in it? Do I have to do anything special to the paper first or just stuff it in?

Thanks.

 

[spankytanky]

Hey first off, did you pull your impeller out of the old emperor? Mine gets sand stuck in it from fish digging and kicking up sand. It gets really loud and sounds horrible, but I just pull it apart and wash it out. As for cycling your tank all your gravel and your old filter already have tons of bacteria in it. I stagger my cleaning on my filters but once a year or so I totally strip them down and deep clean EVERYTHING, I mean vinegar and hot water soak and new filter media, so it has no bacteria left whatsoever. BUT I also have 3 filters and stagger cleaning on them.

 

[CraigMac]

Thanks, no I didn't try the impeller, I'll take a look tonight. So you think with the aquaclear being established I'll have enough bacteria that I don't have to worry about just pulling the emperor?

 

[Malawi Freak]

You should be safe. An AC is what I use to seed new tanks.

 

[CraigMac]

One last question (I hope!)

I have the polishing pads for the 305, can I put that on top of the bio media I the same basket or does it need to be in a basket by itself?

 

[spankytanky]

One last question (I hope!)

I have the polishing pads for the 305, can I put that on top of the bio media I the same basket or does it need to be in a basket by itself?

Polishing pads usually a the last stage of filteration, but you can put it on top the biomedia if your trying to seed the media. I think that's what u were getting at. Also those foam filter pads for canister filters are amazing as a reusable filter for HOB filters. I save a ton of $ that way. Just squeeze em out in old tank water n ur good to go!

 

[CraigMac]

Yeah I have the top basket as bio media, it's the last basket before the water goes back to the filter. From what I read, you want the biomedia as the last phase so it's the cleanest water. But you also want the polishing pads at the end so they don't clog earlier so I was thinking of just adding the polishing pad on top of the last basket of bio media. Make sense? And will that work?

Thanks!

 

[spankytanky]

Yeah I have the top basket as bio media, it's the last basket before the water goes back to the filter. From what I read, you want the biomedia as the last phase so it's the cleanest water. But you also want the polishing pads at the end so they don't clog earlier so I was thinking of just adding the polishing pad on top of the last basket of bio media. Make sense? And will that work?

Thanks!

It goes in order from entering canister, foam filter pad (mechanical), bio media (bio), then polish the water with super fine mechanical last to totally clear the water before re entry. The bio media will grow algea on it that can break up so that's what the final polish is for.

 

[spankytanky]

It goes in order from entering canister, foam filter pad (mechanical), bio media (bio), then polish the water with super fine mechanical last to totally clear the water before re entry. The bio media will grow algea on it that can break up so that's what the final polish is for.

Sorry I mis read you are on the right track. Put the polish pad last even if its right ontop your bio media

 

[CraigMac]

Great! Thanks for the help!

 

[Malawi Freak]

Your canister compartments are there for what every you want to put in them in whatever order. Certains types of media are recommended first, middle, or last stage, but its all the same in my opinion.

 

[CraigMac]

Gotcha, thanks. So theres really no "right" order so I don't need to stress about what goes in first? Perfect!