Thanks for the kind words, fanman, but the alternate canister technique was first developed for use on puffer tanks, either very lighlty planted or not planted (in BW) in a effort to control the chronic high nitrates in tanks of these piggy, messy fish - they give Oscars a run for their money. Now I do use the technique routinely on my tanks, planted or not, other than fry tanks. Fry tanks still rely on water changes as much as filtration.
An external canister of Minikaskade or Ehfisubstrat, even a sometimes slightly undersized one, full of nothing but biomedia seems to be able to handle anything thrown at it. The drawback is for most folks is the up-front cost of several filters per setup rather than one.
But I do admit that even after office parties I have staged here, no one has ever dared to dispose of anything in MY tanks. Intimidation works for me.
Everybody makes bone-headed mistakes. There are no exemptions from being human.
An external canister of Minikaskade or Ehfisubstrat, even a sometimes slightly undersized one, full of nothing but biomedia seems to be able to handle anything thrown at it. The drawback is for most folks is the up-front cost of several filters per setup rather than one.
But I do admit that even after office parties I have staged here, no one has ever dared to dispose of anything in MY tanks. Intimidation works for me.
Everybody makes bone-headed mistakes. There are no exemptions from being human.
