I agree with the above posters that your green water problem is a nutrient issue, not filtration. Try only changing half of the floss each timne until you get a new filter. This way you won't wipe out all your bacteria each time. For your new filter, if budget is a concern, I wouldn't go with the Eheim's. They're spendy. I personally stand behind the Filstars. I have three now and I love them. I don't know how you would get air into one either. I think he must have a leak in a hose, and air will get into any brand filter that way. You can put any media in the filstars and they are very easy, versatile and cheaper than the Eheims. I would not get a Fluval, they're complicated and I hate that stupid tubing they come with. Its cheap and too bright of a grey for me. Also, a similar size fluval holds much less media than a Filstar. I wouldn't go with the Magnum or Vortex diatom either. They have such a fine filter that they will clog in no time and they don't provide any biofiltration. A UV sterilizer would do a better job at the same thing. All that being said, I have crystal clear tanks with just AquaClears with foam on them. So, the nutrients are the issue. If they aren't coming from your source water, biofiltration is the answer. So, IMO I would go with two aquaclears with just foam blocks or a Filstar canister with foam and bio media. You can then put floss on the top of the filstar for more mechanical filtration. BTW, my fluval clogs very fast with floss in the top tray, its so small.
Buying my first cannister
- Thread starter Wolfy
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DIYMatt,
Thanks for your input. What do you mean by foam blocks? Are you referring to the standard Aquaclear sponges or some alternative? Do you think I should switch to foam blocks in my Penguin 330s?
All of posts that I have read have been positive on the Filstar filters.
Thanks for your input. What do you mean by foam blocks? Are you referring to the standard Aquaclear sponges or some alternative? Do you think I should switch to foam blocks in my Penguin 330s?
All of posts that I have read have been positive on the Filstar filters.
80g:
Regarding getting air in my Filstar. I have a pre-filter sponge over the intake. I've found that if it gets clogged, I start to get air in the filter.
As near as I can tell, there is a certain amount of suction within the canister. That suction is exceeding the flow rate so some air is leaking in around the cover or something similiar. Everything is fine if the sponge is cleaned. Water flow doesn't really seem very affected.
I've tried posting to the Rena filter forums on the rena corporate website and got no answer at all from them either in email or on the board.
It's possible I have a bum canister, but getting anything out of Rena to that seems impossible. All things being equal, I probably would have been happier with an Eheim 2028.
Regarding getting air in my Filstar. I have a pre-filter sponge over the intake. I've found that if it gets clogged, I start to get air in the filter.
As near as I can tell, there is a certain amount of suction within the canister. That suction is exceeding the flow rate so some air is leaking in around the cover or something similiar. Everything is fine if the sponge is cleaned. Water flow doesn't really seem very affected.
I've tried posting to the Rena filter forums on the rena corporate website and got no answer at all from them either in email or on the board.
It's possible I have a bum canister, but getting anything out of Rena to that seems impossible. All things being equal, I probably would have been happier with an Eheim 2028.
The issue of air in the output when the intake is starved (clogged) is cavitation. When you starve the intake, the impeller or turbine will knock disolved gases out of the water, generating bubbles. Not at all a desirable situation. No leak is required.
ehiem is best but expensive, fluval is good also but not as expensive, i use a flival 304 on my 55g but i have a biowheel pro 60 inline with the fluval output.
Sorry it took so long to get back to you on this. By foam blocks, I mean the standard Aquaclear sponges. In the filter itself and I would use the coarser one over the intake as well. This set up has worked well for me.
As far as the Penguin goes, I have no experience with one. But if it will accept foam blocks, I would use them. Or use half foam and half filter floss. That way you would get finer mechanical filtration and good bio filtration.
