Over a year ago I won a 75 gal tank with a Marineland canister filter. Unfortunately, not long after I got it installed, the store had a fire so I couldn't go to them for help. They have rebuilt so I have a good place for supplies again.
It had been about 7 years since I'd had a tank and I used a bio-wheel on my old 29 gal with no problems. I'd never used a canister before this tank.
For almost a year now I have been fighting green water. I've done water changes, I've added anti-algae stuff, I've added Stability. I've done water testing, hard water, high ammonia. I've added Ammo-lock, put carbon/zorb in the canister, reduced feedings. I've even left it alone for 2 months to "let it stabilize" all for green water and high ammonia.
I've started to wonder if my problem isn't inside the canister. First layer is foam, then bio-balls, then ceramic things and top is the carbon or carbon/zorb bags.
The bio-balls really confuse me. I understand that they provide surface for the beneficial microbes, but do they need something inside (I've seen a few pics), some pages say they aren't good for inside a canister, other do.
Thanks
It had been about 7 years since I'd had a tank and I used a bio-wheel on my old 29 gal with no problems. I'd never used a canister before this tank.
For almost a year now I have been fighting green water. I've done water changes, I've added anti-algae stuff, I've added Stability. I've done water testing, hard water, high ammonia. I've added Ammo-lock, put carbon/zorb in the canister, reduced feedings. I've even left it alone for 2 months to "let it stabilize" all for green water and high ammonia.
I've started to wonder if my problem isn't inside the canister. First layer is foam, then bio-balls, then ceramic things and top is the carbon or carbon/zorb bags.
The bio-balls really confuse me. I understand that they provide surface for the beneficial microbes, but do they need something inside (I've seen a few pics), some pages say they aren't good for inside a canister, other do.
Thanks