Big Foam filter, with air pump or on the intake of cannister?

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LOK

AC Members
Sep 7, 2006
31
3
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I recently got a big foam filter for my 125 gal.
I hooked it up to the intake of the canister filter,

I see others just putting an airstone inside the tube that goes into the foam and powering with an air pump.

I'm not sure if i should leave it as is.. as the intake, or put a pump in it?

I already have a somwhat long airstone buried and hooked up to a pump for some bubbles/extra air.
 

dudley

Eheim User
Feb 9, 2005
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Real Name
Dee
Any chance of pics of your big foam filter?

It sounds as if you are using the foam filter as a pre-filter on your canister intake strainer so if that is true, you don't want to hook up an air stone or a pump to it.
 
Apr 2, 2002
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New York
I would not use a large foam as a canister intake. There a few reason why.

1. It will clog long before the canister needs cleaning. It is not a good idea to limit flow on the intake side of a filter or pump.
2. The higher the ppi of the foam, the faster it will clog. 10 ppi (coarse) foam is best 20 ppi (medium) is next. Avoid higher ppi (fine) foam.
3. Most pre-filters need to be rinsed weekly. So it should be easy to do so.

Using a large foam with air power or a lower flow powerhead works can works really well as a filter.

I am not suggesting you buy anything from this site, but the information there is excellent. I do use the products and know the owner. The information about filtration in general as well as foam, is excellent. Read it all and buy nothing and you will have gained a lot of useful knowledge.

Start with this http://www.swisstropicals.com/library/aquarium-biofiltration/
http://www.swisstropicals.com/library/mattenfilter/

I use foam with air power (cubefilters and mattenfilters) and media in power filters and canisters. I use it as pre-filter on almost all of my filters.
 
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LOK

AC Members
Sep 7, 2006
31
3
8
I would not use a large foam as a canister intake. There a few reason why.

1. It will clog long before the canister needs cleaning. It is not a good idea to limit flow on the intake side of a filter or pump.
2. The higher the ppi of the foam, the faster it will clog. 10 ppi (coarse) foam is best 20 ppi (medium) is next. Avoid higher ppi (fine) foam.
3. Most pre-filters need to be rinsed weekly. So it should be easy to do so.

Using a large foam with air power or a lower flow powerhead works can works really well as a filter.

I am not suggesting you buy anything from this site, but the information there is excellent. I do use the products and know the owner. The information about filtration in general as well as foam, is excellent. Read it all and buy nothing and you will have gained a lot of useful knowledge.

Start with this http://www.swisstropicals.com/library/aquarium-biofiltration/
http://www.swisstropicals.com/library/mattenfilter/

I use foam with air power (cubefilters and mattenfilters) and media in power filters and canisters. I use it as pre-filter on almost all of my filters.
great points, thank yoU!
 

fishorama

AC Members
Jun 28, 2006
12,681
2,125
200
SF Bay area, CA
I use sponge prefilters too. But yours looks like it would be hard to detach & rinse every week or so since it's so low on the substrate. It also looks pretty fine & like 2tank said, it will clog fast...except you don't seem to have many fish...yet?

My tanks are pretty lightly stocked but I have lots of plants. A coarse sponge on the intake keeps leaf bits & other debris out of the filters so I don't have to tear them down as often. I have to rinse them every week or when filter flow slows. With fake plants you might not have to do it as much.

Some fish like to graze on the sponges. The type of sponge you have is made to be used with an air pump or small powerhead. Not my choice except for small fry or invert tanks...& rarely even then.

With any tank over 20g I prefer to use 2 filters; either canisters or HOBs or a combo. You need good circulation to suck up detritus & unless you have a loonngg spray bar to stir things up into the intake. If you really want to use the sponge filter I'd go with a powerhead & work on where to place its & the canister's returns for optimal flow & circulation. That's a trial & error thing & depends on decor & fish.
 
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