I have the 305 on my 65g and so far it's working great. Mine came with 3 packets of ceramic rings and 3 packets of charcoal. The instructions suggest keeping the ceramic rings at the top and the charcoal at the bottom. The center basket should have the rings and charcoal.
Fluval Canister Question
- Thread starter sageautumn
- Start date
Carbon should not be used in a healthy aquarium because it removes too many good things. All of the bad things that carbon will remove should be removed with a proper water change schedule. There is a whole article on this in my blog, see it or PM me for further information.
The pre-filter ceramic rings are useless in the 04 and 05 lines because by the time the water gets to those very course rings, it has already gone through the even finer course mechanical pads in the slide in try. Use that space for something more useful that will actually have a benefit.
Polishing pads should go before the biological media because the nitrifying bacteria should be dealing with the cleanest water possible. By waiting until after the biological media to do the fine mechanical/polishing you risk letting those fine particulates get into and clog the biological media. There is no point in getting (expensive) very porous biological media if you are going to let all those pores become clogged with fine particulates.
It does not matter if all that media slows water flow. The whole point of a filter is to clean the water, not move it. Obviously movement is required to get the water to that media, but never sacrifice cleaning power for movement. If the filter reduces flow too much simply add a powerhead or air stone(s).
The pre-filter ceramic rings are useless in the 04 and 05 lines because by the time the water gets to those very course rings, it has already gone through the even finer course mechanical pads in the slide in try. Use that space for something more useful that will actually have a benefit.
Polishing pads should go before the biological media because the nitrifying bacteria should be dealing with the cleanest water possible. By waiting until after the biological media to do the fine mechanical/polishing you risk letting those fine particulates get into and clog the biological media. There is no point in getting (expensive) very porous biological media if you are going to let all those pores become clogged with fine particulates.
It does not matter if all that media slows water flow. The whole point of a filter is to clean the water, not move it. Obviously movement is required to get the water to that media, but never sacrifice cleaning power for movement. If the filter reduces flow too much simply add a powerhead or air stone(s).
Que
I wish I was a fish I wish.
I agree.
Pre filter ceramic rings? The rings in the fluvals aren't for pre filtering. They're supposed to be put in the top tray as nickd pointed out which is the last tray water goes through.
I agree
I only half agree with you here. I think filters are used by most people to clean AND move water. A filter or filters should be chosen properly for your application. If you stuff it so full of media or it becomes dirty enough that the flow is restricted badly you risk damage to the filter and possibly death to your fish in that lack of water movement hinders oxygen exchange.
Q
I'm running 7 fluvals. From the 104 to the FX5. I arrange the media according to the tank. Stocking, plants, etc. I have no complaints.
Dissolved organic carbon is the main reason for large, frequent water changes. High levels of DOC can have very negative effects on most fish. Using carbon to remove DOC is a positive, not negative.
The good things include trace elements and micronutrients that are vital for the proper physiological function of organs and organ systems. Without these they can have hard to determine problems down the road. In addition, carbon removes a lot of the added supplements for planted or reef tanks.
All of the negative things should be dealt with completely with water changes.
The point is that you should not lose cleaning power to maintain water flow. If that is an issue you need mroe filtration anyways.
All of the negative things should be dealt with completely with water changes.
The point is that you should not lose cleaning power to maintain water flow. If that is an issue you need mroe filtration anyways.
Could you be more specific. What trace elements, micro nutrients, or supplements do you think carbon removes?
Thsi is not just what I think, this is stuff that is found in the really good books and in-depth articles. This is well supported with the results found when carbon is not used in planted and reef tanks. I have not been using carbon for a long time now (well over a year, probably about two) and see absolutely no negative effects, only improvements.
Trace elements, elements needed in smaller quantities than others. These are included in many supplements for reef tanks, planted aquariums, and many additives for fish with 'specialized water needs'. Micronutrients are not the macronutrients like carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, etc., but are needed vitamins and other nutrients needed in less amounts.
Carbon can remove these vital nutrients which can cause physiological problems. For more details please read the carbon article in my blog. The article on Hole in the Head and Head and Lateral Line Erosion also covers the issues of micronutrients, trace elements, physiological problems, and cases where carbon was shown to be THE cause of HLLE in those cases.
Trace elements, elements needed in smaller quantities than others. These are included in many supplements for reef tanks, planted aquariums, and many additives for fish with 'specialized water needs'. Micronutrients are not the macronutrients like carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, etc., but are needed vitamins and other nutrients needed in less amounts.
Carbon can remove these vital nutrients which can cause physiological problems. For more details please read the carbon article in my blog. The article on Hole in the Head and Head and Lateral Line Erosion also covers the issues of micronutrients, trace elements, physiological problems, and cases where carbon was shown to be THE cause of HLLE in those cases.
