Suggestions for Fluval Media Baskets?

[Elfinbrook]

I have a fairly new setup (3-months) of a 60-gallon planted tank with eco-complete and a low bioload of fish. I currently dont have CO2 fertilization, but plan to soon. I am running a Fluval 305 canister filter with 3 media baskets. First one has Bio-Maxx ceramic media, the second and third have activated carbon, to combat the tannins from my driftwood. I have crypts, java fern and bacopa monnieri. Is the carbon media affecting my plants? I keep one bank of lights on 12 hrs a day 2X55 CP lights (I understand compact fluorescents are 1.35 times brighter than tube fluors which would give me just under 2.5 wpg) I have another bank of lights with a noisy fan, but that would give me too much light for non-CO2). The plants don't seem to be growing (other than the bacopa, which stretch upward and may not be getting enought light). The crypts have "melted" but are growing back slowly. My water parameters are all zero (I may have done a fishy cycle without knowing it). I dose 1.5 caps of Fluourish Excel every few days. I also have a mild algae problem, more than my single oto can handle. Sorry for the digression, but I wanted to answer some issues about my tank. I dont think I am running the proper filter media. Can anyone offer any suggestions?

[Mgamer20o0]

after a week or two the carbon is no longer active. i would do 2 baskets Bio-Maxx ceramic media and 1 basket polyester. i got mine at walmart it was called polyfill or something like that.

[Hound]

I'd probably cut back to 10 hours of light per day myself. Having your crypts melt in a new set up isn't unusual and as they grow they will also help combat algae from building up. The crypts should grow at a reasonable rate, but java fern can be a slow grower. You say water parameters are all zero so your saying zero ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate? If that's the case your tank may also be nitrogen deficient which can also cause algal growth. I'm a bit curious about your tanks dimensions (since tank sizes vary) and your overall plant load. It's possible that your plants are using up near every bit of ammonia that your fish are creating atm since you say a light bio load. Well on that subject just what is your bio load?

LOL, ok all that being said as for your actual question I too would have two baskets of bio media, though I would probably leave the bottom basket empty most of the time.

[reiverix]

I run two Fluvals on my 75g. Mostly they are all filled with filter foam ranging from coarse grain at the bottom level to finer grain at the top. I do have about a half of a tray filled with bio max and some crushed coral.

Plants make great bio filters so while there's no harm using ceramic media, I tend to go the route of using foam to act as both bio and mechanical filtration. Using carbon will help soak up the tanins but it will need changed weekly at least and two compartments is a bit overkill. Water changes will do exactly the same thing.

[twig]

I've been changing around my filter media a lot in an effort to find what works the best for me. Though I realize that everyone has their own little way and more than probably someone will tell me i'm wrong here's what's been working out for me in my 404 Fluval ...

The first four media slots are filled with pre-filter ceramic cylenders. I heard mention that this might slow the waterflow down but I haven't seen any evidence of that. there are holes in the ceramic and it forces the water through first media in a maze of wonder. The next two are filled with polywool then the rest is filled with biomax media.

I switched to this configuration because after a couple months my biomedia would get gunk clogging the lil fine pores that bacteria use as home.

Every month I just replace the polywool weither it needs it or not (often, oddly, it doesn't) and the biomedia doesnt require a rinsing and the prefilter is good indefinately as advertised.

This has proved to be the cheapest media setup for me and my water is crystal clear.

I believe it was mgamer who prefers to add polywool AFTER the biomax so that your polywool doesn't get as dirty but that means your biomedia is doing some mechanical filtratration which, if you want to keep it as long as possible, is a nono. It does lose effectiveness once the micro tunnels get clogged so you will have to rinse it out and change it more often.

Fluval filters are different eheim in that they have more waterpumping power so you can afford to jam a bit more media in the filter than you would with an eheim.