Efficiency biological filtration requires adequate flow of well oxygenated water (containing the majority of waste products) to the bacteria, if the flow of water is less than optimal the efficiency of the filter will be effected
So I think your point is that if your pre-filter is slowing down your flow, then (assuming plenty of biofiltration) it would make sense to remove it or at least lower the PPI.
You need <"the mechanical filtration">, in the pre-filter, to chop out any "waste" food, plant leaves, faeces etc. that will support the growth of heterotrophic bacteria, whose oxygen demand may then compromise nitrification.
I wouldn’t remove it, for 2 reasons
I have plenty of “experience” removing sawdust 😂😂😂
"Approx" 34" of fish in a 240L tank, Depending on which calculation you use its at 70 ~ 75 % stocked.
aquariumscience.org
It also depends on the bio-load you are placing the aquarium under. If you use 30PPI foam media, and your filtration can take it, then minimal cleaning is required. i.e. I have not cleaned my foam bio media (30PPI foam) for eight months so far. And that is because the filter is only at 50% of its load capacity. It would be a different matter if it was 120% - it would get clogged faster and require more cleaning.
O dear! I think I am more at the 'barbaric' end of the stocking levels. 27 fish inches in a 100L aquarium.
Thanks Fredi. Just to clarify, are you using 10PPI as your pre-filter media?
I’m using the standard 45 ppi it came with. They get a bit clogged though so I either need to get the *new input pipe or maybe switch to 30 ppi?
👍
Where did you manage to track those down?
riverwoodaquatics.co.uk
Ahh, now this is also something I have been tracking. Oase has confirmed that the new pipes are being created and replacing the old ones under the same product code (45163 in the case of the 250 pipe). However, dealers will only get the new design on fresh orders, so if they have a stock pile of the old pipe, that will get sent out first.
www.aquatix-2u.co.uk
I use the filters that Eheim supplied (1200xl same ppi in 450), not measured it, but my best guess is 10ppi
That is a really useful observation and an <"oxygen effect">, the difference between air and water caused by the disparity between the 21% O2 in <"the atmosphere"> and the ~10 mg / L (ppm) <"dissolved in water at 20 oC">.
Planted Tank
The schematic below for photosynthesis is the most important equation for (multicellular) life on earth and gave us the oxygen we breathe
A planted aquarium increase <"the potential for nitrification"> in three ways:
Compared to using plants, attempting anaerobic denitrification in a canister filter is such a bad idea, I can't actually imagine why any-one would advocate it as a viable option.
- Plants directly take up all <"forms of fixed nitrogen">.
- They are <"massively net oxygen producers">.
- They greatly <"increase the area where microbial nitrification can occur">.
Yup, can honestly say that when I used the Tunze above tank filter system which had a wet & dry trickle filter I had the clearest water I've ever had. I wish they still built it.
