Bio-Only Canister Media

[Macromatt]

I have a Eheim 2026, been using it for several years now, with the standard media. I have a prefilter I have been using the entire time also. I am interested in making the entire canister bio-only, as every time I open it (~6 months or so ,) all that is in it is a little bit of slime, and beyond that it is perfectly clean. I have an H.O.T. Magnum on the tank also, for extra mechanical as well as the prefilter I clean weekly.

My question is what is the best media to put in the filter? Should I fill both compartments with the EHFISUBTRAT or would something like bioballs preform better. If I was to change it to a new material I'd just change 1/2 of it at a time, to give the bacteria time to colonize.

Thanks for your ideas & info on this.

Matt

 

[beviking]

Go with solid media. Porous media works for awhile, but due to proliferation of the bacteria colony, it builds on itself and clogs all the micro pores. The end result is only the surface area of the media is useable and the internal spaces are full of decomposing matter. Efhimech would also work. I believe it's cheaper than bioballs. Either would work though.

 

[JSchmidt]

I pack my canisters as bio-only, and I would use Ehfimech or bioballs or something that is relatively self-cleaning (i.e., will slough off the old biofilm when it becomes too thick) and that isn't made of sintered glass. A bio-only canister has only the biomedia in it, without a layer of fine filter floss or similar mechanical filtration. If you use a sintered glass medium (like Ehfisubstrat) without the fine pad, small bits of sintered glass can get in the impeller well and cause excessive wear, shortening the life of the filter. Using bioballs or Ehfimech (or a combo of both, which I often use) avoids that problem.

RTR is really the pioneer in this technique, so maybe he'll drop in and share his insights.

HTH,
Jim

 

[RTR]

Pretty much as per Jim's post in my bio-only canisters as well. I use Dupla's Minikaskade balls (preferred, but I don't know if they are still marketed since the firm sold itself) or Ehfimech. The balls are better self-cleaning, the 'mech gets a bit more attention but not much. I have done combos of the two, have sorted back out to all one of the other (just my compulsiveness, really).

Don't forget the prefilter on the unit itself. Some of my DIY types are still in use, most are FilterMaxIII now - easier for the lazy man.

 

[Macromatt]

Thanks for the info. I currently have the Eheim prefilter running on it. Some of the plastic is starting to wear away, so I'm on the lookout for a new pre-filter. I keep hearing the FilterMax line being brought up, so I might just go ahead and get that one.

I'm also going to get the bio balls. Do you put the balls in the containers? Just fill the entire assembly with the balls, and let the water flow wherever it wants to. With the containers in there, the water goes to the bottom, and is forced up through all the layers of media. Is that necesarry if using bioballs? I'm wondering that as many more could be fit in without the containers.

Thanks again for all your help.

Matt

 

[gsk177]

RTR, you got a website? You seem to be the authority on darn near any topic Ive ever researched.
Im assuming you are either a breeder, distributor or LFS owner to have that many tanks. If you are just a hobbiest theres no way you can be married!!

 

[RTR]

Married forever, two grown sons, empty nest (Hooray!). Just a hobbyist.

I breed a few fish for fun/challenge/trade goods, but it is too much work for too little return beyond that. Plant trade-ins are easier.

Most distributors IME do not know much about the fish which come through.

Some LFS owners are quite knowledgeable, most are not very - interested more in moving goods out than in teaching tank care - but that is why they are there, right? You really cannot fault a business owner for trying to make money. But I do wish that they pushed less garbage.

My wife had no easy out - I had ~ a dozen tanks while we were dating - she walked in knowing. But she has musical instruments comparable to my tanks, each to their own.

No web site of my own. Most of my articles are at Tom's Place, but a couple are here at AC.

http://www.aquasource.org/CMS/

 

[gsk177]

So more or less a hobbiest eh? Awesome. A while back I tossed around the idea of creating a fish room, but the idea got sidetracked due to a recent move and lack of a suitable room.
I do have a garage, but it is not insulated and the temperature varies too much for my liking. I am housing one Convict tank out there as a test, and so far so good. Oversized heater is a must.

Tanks RTR, anything else I talk about now will just be rambling.....so...

 

[ryknier]

gsk177, I dont think I have seen pics of your tank, have any that you could point me to?

 

[gsk177]