Rio 180 replacement

Hi guys, im thinking of removing my internal filter, and adding an external with a spraybar, i also have a hydor koralia powerhead just now, i take it i wouldnt need this if i added a new filter with spray bar? Also i am aware i will need to run the internal with the new external to build up bacteria in the new one, any ideas on how long this would take?

Oh recommendations on a filter thats up to the job would be good!! Thanks.

 

Thanks, i just noticed what you meant by a filter flame war!!!! Dont want to fuel the fire, so think this is buried!! Cheers clive.

 

Sorry to start this off again, ive just bought a fluval 305 which i got for £40, i dont know anything about this filter, i just bought it as it was cheaper than normal price due to my LFS closing down. I will look around for details, but just wondering if anyone has any experience with this filter and if it would be ok to do the job? Was gonna buy the FX5 but the guy in the shop advised it was too big for my tank (180ltr) and would just create a whirlwind. Any input would be good.

The details are as follows

aquarium capacity 300ltrs
pump output 1000ltrs

Any help would be good!!

 

The 305 should be fine. I'm using a 205 on the same tank and it is good enough, but the 305 would be better. Good price you got on that!

Tom

 

Thanks, yup definitely a good price, thats why i snapped it up, its cheaper than any website price. He still has a lot of stock that hes getting rid of, Had a few FX5's but it was two big for my compartment.

One more question, in the setup dvd it says regarding cleaning,when its done to wash the media under tap water, i thought that we were only supposed to clean filter media in tank water? can someone confirm. Thanks.

 

Yeah, tank water, tap water will kill the bacteria we need for our filtration to be effective.

 

We know that the answer is noooooooooooo tap water, but I must admit I was suprised to sit down and watch a proffesional Hagen presentation telling me to kill my vital bacteria every time I maintain my filters, does anyone know WHY? Hagen have instructed thousands of people to do this? :?

Edit: If anyone hasn't seen the DVD it does state to use tap water on maintanence not just initial rinsing

 

[/quote]We know that the answer is noooooooooooo tap water, but I must admit I was suprised to sit down and watch a proffesional Hagen presentation telling me to kill my vital bacteria every time I maintain my filters, does anyone know WHY? Hagen have instructed thousands of people to do this? :?

Edit: If anyone hasn't seen the DVD it does state to use tap water on maintanence not just initial rinsing[/quote]

I was dumbfounded :!: I had to rewind it a couple of times to see if i missed something somewhere, but no, they do advise to do all the cleaning under tap water. So i take it you just use aquarium water whatever part you are cleaning of the filter even the canister and the media? Thanks.

 

Always tank water, the chlorine and other heavy metals in tap water kill bacteria

 

Now im really confused, ive always been told use tank water, Clive do you use tapwater to clean? Ive had a look through the filters instruction book and noticed it says something different....."rinse biological media with tank water only, never tap water"

So what is all the creating the bacteria in the first place, wouldnt cleaning with water take away all bacteria? Why do i really need to wait for the filters bacterias to build up with my internal still going?? Please help??

 

Don't agree clive,

why in that case do we use chlorine removers in our water changes if tap water does not harm bacteria?

I've made the mistake of rinsing with tap water many years ago, and it did make a difference, I never did it again.

 

Thanks Clive, it would make life a lot more easier, i could just spray away with my garden hose just like you said, i remember long ago when i first had tanks (nearly 10 yrs ago), i used to do mad cleanup sessions and add my fish back, and cant remember any dying, also same with the filter. I used to do whole tank water changes and rescapes and filter cleans then put fish back in. its just now ive read about this and heard about people losing their bacteria. Back then i wasnt aware of this and just did what i pleased as i didint have internet then so not much research either.

Anyway so do you think i should do this?

 

Sorry clive, I was just refering to the fact that washing with tap water does kill bacteria on filter media, which from the above I asume it does? but just not in enough quantities to cause major damage, which I agree with. I understand that larger equipment may need to be cleaned with tap water from a hose and this will not ruin a tank. But TKO was talking about starting a new filter, so surely if you admit that tap water does kill 'some' bacteria then washing with tank water and not killing any is better than killing some?

 

Ok i feel something brewing here!!!

 

no no no

I agree with clive on the point that a filter media can't be destroyed by washing with tap water.

my point was just that tap water does kill bacteria even if it's only a small amount and 'none' is better than 'some'

 

To further agree with Clive's points the bacteria in filters do not exist as individuals sitting on the media and other surfaces but, when established, are part of a biofilm which is a very resilient film which the bacteria are enmeshed inside and move around. It is very hard to kill bacteria living in this, especially the deeper parts of it.

Washing a filter under chlorinated tap water will kill some bactera (as will washing in tank water as some will be removed, just not as many) but an established filter will bounce back very rapidly. I regularly wash filter media from my tanks at school under the tap as it is so much easier for me there to do that and I never have much time to maintain them. Never lost a fish or even had any problems that I could blame on that action.