I have just bought an Emp. 400 for my 40 gallon tank that i will be setting up in the near future. It has 2 sides with the 2 bio wheels as most people know. My question is do i put 1 filter on each side? Or do i put 2 filters on one side and leave the other just to move water? Or if both are capable what is the best way to set it up. Also how high off the gravel should the strainer be?
Emp. 400 QUESTION
- Thread starter CagIII
- Start date
Yes put one cartridge on each side. If you leave one side empty it will just allow the water to bypass the other cartridge and flow out the one side. If its like my new penguin then you can put two cartridges on each side. I always think its better to keep the stainer as close to the gravel as you can because the clean water flows in the top of the tank.
You received two filter cartridges w/floss media and charcoal and two optional media containers. Put one cartridge on each side. Use the media containers if you wish.
My complaint with the standard cartridges is that little pieces of charcoal fall out and float around the tank. If the impeller sucks one up, could be a lot of noise or even damage.
The cheapest place to buy replacement cartridges is www.kensfish.com .
Petsolutions sells the media containers separately for $5 each. I bought two extra and am thinking of using four media containers and not use cartridges at all when they run out, just bulk filter floss, charcoal, and whatever else I care to use as filter media in the media containers. They do seem to fit.
The best place for the strainer is just off the gravel, so it gets the crap off the bottom. Also to place distance between the strainer and the clean water pouring down from the filter. You may have to cut the extension piece to fit.
I wish Marineland would make an elbow piece so that the extension tube could run horizontally. That way you could get the intake strainer clear to the other side of the tank.
My complaint with the standard cartridges is that little pieces of charcoal fall out and float around the tank. If the impeller sucks one up, could be a lot of noise or even damage.
The cheapest place to buy replacement cartridges is www.kensfish.com .
Petsolutions sells the media containers separately for $5 each. I bought two extra and am thinking of using four media containers and not use cartridges at all when they run out, just bulk filter floss, charcoal, and whatever else I care to use as filter media in the media containers. They do seem to fit.
The best place for the strainer is just off the gravel, so it gets the crap off the bottom. Also to place distance between the strainer and the clean water pouring down from the filter. You may have to cut the extension piece to fit.
I wish Marineland would make an elbow piece so that the extension tube could run horizontally. That way you could get the intake strainer clear to the other side of the tank.
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Dangerdoll
Global Moderator
are you saying that instead of using the cartridges in the outflow of the water, you can use the media baskets .... filled with say cotton?jgulecas said:
You mean instead of cartridges. Why not? I would be careful that there are no gaps in the floss allowing water to avoid the media.
On the filter cartridges, if you're really cheap, you can just cut a hole and empty out the used-up charcoal, wash the cartridge in aquarium water and reuse. If you want, you can then use charcoal in the media container. Or extra biological filter media. Or peat. Or one with one thing, the other with another.
Here is a web page about how to drill a hole in the media container so as to fit an airstone, so you can turn it into a wet-dry filter.
http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/power_filter_tricks_v.php
On the filter cartridges, if you're really cheap, you can just cut a hole and empty out the used-up charcoal, wash the cartridge in aquarium water and reuse. If you want, you can then use charcoal in the media container. Or extra biological filter media. Or peat. Or one with one thing, the other with another.
Here is a web page about how to drill a hole in the media container so as to fit an airstone, so you can turn it into a wet-dry filter.
http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/power_filter_tricks_v.php
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Yes with those media basckets just get two of them, cut out a peice of quilt batting, available at walmart or an craft store, to the size of the cartridge, lay it in the cartridge and snap it closed. Put it in the rear slot. Take the front cartridge and fill it with carbon, or the media of your chose. Put it in the front slot and you have home made filter cartridges at a big savings. Or can you do like I do on whispers and cut away the old batting, Put a little carbon in a nylon sock, put it in the old plastic shell of the cartridge, wrap the cartridge with the batting and secure it with a couple of rubber bands, cheap easy home made cartridges.
Dangerdoll
Global Moderator
I've been in this hobbt of umpteen years and have never even considered doing that but my oh my what a quick and fast way to save money. Thanks guys, this thread is to me considered a wealth of knowledge. You're never too versed to learn new things.
Mine is setup with two media baskets full of ceramic pieces for bacteria growth and then rather then using the carbon cartridges, I just pack filter floss in behind it. Have to clean it out everytime you do a water change, but it cleans and polishes the water great for me.