AquaClear 110 Polishing to Nitrate filter Mod 3

[CWO4GUNNER]

Way cool Gunner. I did have one caution though for folks looking for plants. The pothos that you used looks very similar, almost identical, to a variegated philodendron that we have. The philodendron will also grow non-terrestially, I believe that it is the plants preference, but the issue with them is that there are many different varieties and many of them create nectars that are irritants to some and poisonous to many pets. What effect they would have on fish I couldn't speak to but the idea is that you only use the pothos plant when you can obtain it from a source where it is labeled. Don't rely on a visual I.D. unless you're a botanist or someone who really knows his stuff.

I'll try to get a pic later to better illustrate what I'm rambling about.

Its a different sub species your talking about that im not using with calcium oxalates which have to be eaten in large quantities. calcium oxalates also reside in beef and the main health issue is the development of stones in the bladder. In fact calcium oxalates is in my hard water as well that my fish swim in. As long as you don't make flake out of it I don't see a problem. But becasue of this AZ does have the highest incidence of kidney stones and why I don't drink the water and Ion exchange most of it out for my fish. The trade off is Nitrates which is definitely a poison.

 

[CWO4GUNNER]

How to cut the AquaClear 110 sponge and better placment

Cutting of the AC 110 sponge is easy with a bread knife making ever flat cuts all the way around evenly until cut in half. Do not try and cut the sponge in one strait motion it will not work and be crooked. When placing the sponge on the filter grate make sure the rough cut side is facing the back or the reservoir, off set in the front exposing the plugged filter grates.

I wanted to change this step which I found works better. With consideration of the blocked off the 1st two rows of grate holes as previously shown. After some use I discovered that blocking of the grate holes allows both sponges to sit offset independent of the straw spacers, and in fact even allows even more room for water passage.

The photos below show these chnages mentioned and are self explanatory with some text.

 

[MotionInSilver]

I had a huge question when I went to walmart- they didn't have the batting (go figure)

but when I went to Hobby Lobby- GREAT selections of all kinds of batting! I was mind boggled. But I did pick the cheapest one that was on clearance:

it was by thermore 54'' by 45'' just enough for me to tinker and test with before I decide on buying rolls of those stuff!

then I saw the polyform blocks- I thought maybe that would be just like those sponge blocks but would it be more harder for the water to pass thru those as the holes are more dense than the sponge filter blocks we have on our ACs?

they had different thickness available and I picked one at 2'' and one at 1'' would that work instead of the regular ac sponges?

Cheers

 

[justinf67]

I tried this mod on my ac 110. I just added the pothos today. But, I have been running the sponge cut in two with quilt batting wrapped on it. I had the sponges running both tall, and when I ran them this way, the water level in my filter got right to the top. I ran it for a few days, but was really worried with it. So, I put the bottom sponge in lengthwise and the top horizontal. I have a lower level in my filter, but I get a little bypass. Anyway, I bought a HUGE thing of golden pothos from lowes for 10.50. It was enough to add into all my tanks. Only worry I have now is I have read its toxic to cats and dogs, both of which are in my house.

 

[CWO4GUNNER]

Yeah you cant run both the quilt and the bare roots its way too much restriction and why I posted that as a stand alone option wither way but not both simultaneously, get rid of the quilt and place straws in the front of the sponges to maintain the gap needed for proper flow through.

I live in AZ and the place is shrubbed at every home, office traffic Island and freeway median With a plant know as Oleander a super Nero toxin that can kill a human by ingesting the leafs. No one and no dogs including mine have died in like 14 years. You have to eat a bunch and Oleander is like 1000 times more poisonous then Pothos. I don't think you will find one reported death man or animal from Pothos. And if it were truly poisonous you fish would be dead by now, I have been running mine for almost 2 months and my Oscars and Electric blue haven't batted an eye but are always hungry becasue the water is so clean from the toxins being pulled out of the water.

Incidentally while on the subject of toxins, did you know that NASA has is considering Pothos as a habitat air purifier as it is capable of CO2 scrubbing out of the air and replacing O2 then any other low light plant, fact. :thumbsup:

Man I like your electric blue, wanna trade I have a nice tan one LOL.

 

[justinf67]

No kidding, the pothos I got was huge. I put it in 5 different tanks. So, I will get a good idea of the capabilities of the plant. I will just watch the cat, as I have 2 growouts near the ground. I put the pothos in my sump, and 4 HOB's.

Actually, the pic in my profile is of my Labidichromis "Mbamba" male. It is a bad pic of him, as his striping wasn't very turned on. Back when I was just starting I had an electric blue ahli, and that guy was mean but gorgeous.

 

[CWO4GUNNER]

I wish mine was mean, all he wants to do is hide when he sees me, hope he doesn't starve.

Make sure you use a low watt light for at lest 4 hours a day if only distant lamp light is available. Even a tiny 10W plant bulb close up will make them grow like crazy. If you place I high intensity light 100W-500W directly at them it will burn and kill them.

 

[NewAquaMom]

Question from a newb who is loving this mod. In your experience would you suggest this as the only filter on an aquarium? Or only as an accompaniment with another filter on an aquarium? I realize that I might have missed this obvious answer in the thread.

 

[platytudes]

I would imagine that would have a lot to do with the fish you're keeping - I can't imagine this being the only filter on an overstocked goldfish tank for example, but it could certainly do the job on a tank full of guppies and tetras. What sized tank do you have (the one you're thinking of using this filter on) and what sort of fish?

 

[CWO4GUNNER]

An AC 110 should be enough for a 25 gallon and get you by so-so, but I only use an HOB power-filter for one reason only, to house my Pothos which pull nitrates out of the tank and make them a whole different type filter. Other then that I would never use any HOB power-filter as a main filter and would supplement it with Magnum 250 HOB canister or 350 floor canister.