mechanical filtering question...

R

RockysDad

AC Members
Dec 27, 2002
99
0
0
Visit site
I was wondering how to fill my canister filter as far as layering it. I've been layering it as follows from top to bottom: floss, course sponge, and ceramic rings. But looking at the way the filter works, the inlet (water coming into the filter) is at the top therefore getting filtered by the floss first then the sponge and finally the rings. I think it should be the opposite where the rings should be at the top filtering all the big junk first then the course sponge followed by the floss for final filtering and water polishing.

What do you guys and gals think? Do most canister filters work this way were the water comes in at the top then pushed to the bottom then out to the tank?

Please shed some light on this... :confused:
 
use the floss to remove solids..if you place the rings in first then solids will collect on the surface ..in essence clogging the rings and reducing the effective surface area.
 
What type of canister filter do you have? I have a Rena XP3 and I know the water comes in flows down the side then is pushed up the middle through the baskets and media. Commonly the foam filter pads if you have any are put on the bottom and then and bio-media. Check out the Freshwater Products and DIY section, I currently have a section on "Whats in your canister filter?" People have been contributing as to how they setup their canisters....Good Luck!

Here's the link...http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=136809
 
http://www.bigalsonline.com/BigAlsUS/ctl3684/cp17290/si1382399/cl0/hydorprime20canisterfilter

Upon closer inspection, it looks like the water intake come in around the edges and enters the filter through the bottom and exits to the top. So the bottom is the first part to be filtered.

I think I will do the ceramic rings on the bottom followed by a course sponge then the Matrix then the fine sponge and floss. The way I figure it the rings will catch the big items first. If I were to use floss first, it would clog faster and slow down the water flow. Sounds about right...
 
I would put the bigger holed sponges first, then your bio-media as you want that to collect your biological media and then your chemical filtration items. That's what i've done in my filter.
 
The rings are not mechanical filtration, they are biological filtration. You definitely want the coarse sponge first to catch the solids. The sponge will also develop bacteria and break down the solids to some extent. But if you get the rings coated in solids they will not do their job as biological filtration.
 
Makes sense, okay I will do the course sponge on the bottom, bio rings/Matix in the middle followed by fine sponge/floss on top for polishing. Sounds good???
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom