Filter Media

[Eddie]

Hi,

I have some questions about the filter media in my top filter.

Below is the filter media that I currently use :
Top layer : Green Floss
Second layer : Active Carbon
Last layer : Bio - Foam

Is my arrangement correct and what is the proper sequence of layer?

Regards,
Eddie Tan

[Dinky]

"Eddie" > wrote in message
...
> Hi,
>
> I have some questions about the filter media in my top filter.
>
> Below is the filter media that I currently use :
> Top layer : Green Floss
> Second layer : Active Carbon
> Last layer : Bio - Foam
>
> Is my arrangement correct and what is the proper sequence of layer?

Well, here's my opinion.

Floss first, then sponge, allowing the floss to remove large debris. This
will protect your bio-sponge from the need to rinse frequently, and save
your bacteria buddies. Dump the carbon, unless you have a specific need for
it, like removal of tannins from bogwood.

b

[Racf]

"Eddie" > wrote in message
...
> Hi,
>
> I have some questions about the filter media in my top filter.
>
> Below is the filter media that I currently use :
> Top layer : Green Floss
> Second layer : Active Carbon
> Last layer : Bio - Foam
>
> Is my arrangement correct and what is the proper sequence of layer?
>
> Regards,
> Eddie Tan
>
>

Looks fine to me. I use white floss that I get at Wal-Mart for $2.00
for a big bag in the Sewing stuff department out of the big hopper. I
picked out a more expensive floss once, but it was short springy fibers
that I decided were no good for filter material. So I still use the
cheap polyester filler.

[Iain Miller]

"Eddie" > wrote in message
...
> Hi,
>
> I have some questions about the filter media in my top filter.
>
> Below is the filter media that I currently use :
> Top layer : Green Floss
> Second layer : Active Carbon
> Last layer : Bio - Foam
>
> Is my arrangement correct and what is the proper sequence of layer?

You don't need/want the carbon unless you are trying to remove medication
from the water. It will pull everything out (including any plant
fertilizer). Also it will last a maximum of 2-3 weeks before it stops
working - after that it just becomes extra bio-media.

I.

[NetMax]

"Racf" > wrote in message
link.net...
>
> "Eddie" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Hi,
> >
> > I have some questions about the filter media in my top filter.
> >
> > Below is the filter media that I currently use :
> > Top layer : Green Floss
> > Second layer : Active Carbon
> > Last layer : Bio - Foam
> >
> > Is my arrangement correct and what is the proper sequence of layer?
> >
> > Regards,
> > Eddie Tan
> >
> >
>
> Looks fine to me. I use white floss that I get at Wal-Mart for $2.00
> for a big bag in the Sewing stuff department out of the big hopper. I
> picked out a more expensive floss once, but it was short springy fibers
> that I decided were no good for filter material. So I still use the
> cheap polyester filler.

just an FYI

Myself, I have concerns about using products which are not designed for
constant water immersion and living creatures. Even in the aquarium
trade we went through types of glass wool which were later found to have
fibres which would enter the water column and get trapped in gills (so I
heard), and then there were the filter wools which turned into a mass of
pulp, after a long exposure to the combination of debris & bacteria.

Floss used for pillow stuffing could conceivably be sprayed with an
anti-bacterial/fungal coating, which would make a better pillow, but not
a better filter. There are also such a variety of chemicals used to
whiten, clean, sterilize and make materials inert after manufacturing
processes, that I would be leery of putting them in my aquarium water.
As an example, the white floss used to stuff pillows, sold by Dupont is
mildew resistance = fungicide = death to fish at sufficient
concentrations.

Quote "are primarily used in seat cushions, back pillows, mattresses,
decorative and throw pillows, and hand-stuffed custom upholstery. DuPont
Dacron® clusters have superior loft and retention, and unlike natural
fibres, are hypo-allergenic, non-absorbent, and mildew-resistant"
unquote, found here:
http://www.dupont.com/fiberfill/about/dacron-story2.html

Even if you find out that it's non-toxic, the manufacturer is under no
obligation to keep to a non-toxic (when submerged in water) recipe, nor
are their buyers constrained from changing supply lines, as lower quotes
come up on these commodity items. Unless it's designated for aquarium
use, there is some risk to weigh against the savings (*sigh*, fungicides
and anti-bacterial potions).

I'm just forwarding this for general interest. Note that it would be
almost impossible (and very frustrating) to diagnose and treat fish which
were suffering from low level fungicide poisoning.

NetMax

[NetMax]

"Racf" > wrote in message
link.net...
>
> "NetMax" > wrote in message
> . ..
> >
> > "Racf" > wrote in message
> > link.net...
> > >
> > > "Eddie" > wrote in message
> > > ...
<snip>
> > Myself, I have concerns about using products which are not designed
> for
> > constant water immersion and living creatures.

<snip>
> Max, where in the US do you find this mysterious "glass wool" where you
> never know what could be in it? Out of your sofa pillow, perhaps...

Come on, the glass wool which made your skin really itchy (I call it
glass wool, but I don't know what it really was). It was used inside
corner filters, (around the time they invented airstones ;~). If you
can't remember that, then I'm showing my age :o( Jim... help

NetMax

> :o)~

[Jim Brown]

NetMax > wrote in message
.. .
>
> "Racf" > wrote in message
> link.net...
> >
> > "NetMax" > wrote in message
> > . ..
> > >
> > > "Racf" > wrote in message
> > > link.net...
> > > >
> > > > "Eddie" > wrote in message
> > > > ...
> <snip>
> > > Myself, I have concerns about using products which are not designed
> > for
> > > constant water immersion and living creatures.
>
> <snip>
> > Max, where in the US do you find this mysterious "glass wool" where you
> > never know what could be in it? Out of your sofa pillow, perhaps...
>
> Come on, the glass wool which made your skin really itchy (I call it
> glass wool, but I don't know what it really was). It was used inside
> corner filters, (around the time they invented airstones ;~). If you
> can't remember that, then I'm showing my age :o( Jim... help
>
> NetMax
>
> > :o)~
>
>

Gee, that was back before tanks made with silicon.
That glass wool was indeed spun glass or spun fibreglass. It worked well
but it was literally a pain to handle. I am sure I still have shards of the
stuff floating around my body.
FYI, I had a serious problem with polyester 'no additive' fibre purchased at
a sewing store. Yes, it was cheaper, but I found I was having a strange
almost jelly like growth in the tanks with this fibre. I contacted the
manufacturer and they politely refused to divulge the exact make up or
processing procedures. I then switched back to the regular aquarium floss,
the strange growth no longer happened, and the fish deaths dropped right
off.

Jim

[Flash Wilson]

On Wed, 27 Aug 2003 20:54:36 -0400, NetMax > wrote:
>> Max, where in the US do you find this mysterious "glass wool" where you
>> never know what could be in it? Out of your sofa pillow, perhaps...
>
>Come on, the glass wool which made your skin really itchy (I call it
>glass wool, but I don't know what it really was). It was used inside
>corner filters, (around the time they invented airstones ;~). If you
>can't remember that, then I'm showing my age :o( Jim... help

If you mean fibreglass kind of stuff, people still wrap it round
plant roots in pots here. Horrible stuff. I try to get rooted
plants that aren't in pots now!

--
Flash Wilson
-=-=-=-=-=-=-"Problems do have solutions you know"-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
"A lifetime of ****ing things up, fixed...
...in one determined Flash" - Trent Reznor

[mindmeld]

so, i can ditch the carbon and replace it with a sponge?... i've just had
your basic floss and carbon corner filter (10G) and it hasn't done me wrong
yet... should i perhaps mention i'm not the most compulsive filter
changer/tank maintainer?

AcH
ps. newtron is still alive. d.p.f #2 looks lonely in his little tank.

Iain Miller wrote:

> "Eddie" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Hi,
> >
> > I have some questions about the filter media in my top filter.
> >
> > Below is the filter media that I currently use :
> > Top layer : Green Floss
> > Second layer : Active Carbon
> > Last layer : Bio - Foam
> >
> > Is my arrangement correct and what is the proper sequence of layer?
>
> You don't need/want the carbon unless you are trying to remove medication
> from the water. It will pull everything out (including any plant
> fertilizer). Also it will last a maximum of 2-3 weeks before it stops
> working - after that it just becomes extra bio-media.
>
> I.

[Dinky]

"mindmeld" > wrote in message
...
> so, i can ditch the carbon and replace it with a sponge?... >

Yes, as stated before, *unless there is a specific need for it*, carbon is
generally a waste of time and money, and will make little or no difference.
It has its uses, though.

> yet... should i perhaps mention i'm not the most compulsive filter
> changer/tank maintainer?
>

Keeping your tank in good order is important, but changing media too often
is not needed and can have a negative affect. In both my power
(hang-on-tank) and canister filters, I only service them if the water isn't
going through fast enough to suit me. I don't use carbon, so no worries
there, and as long as the media isn't gunked up and impeding water flow,
your filter is doing it's job. Every time you remove and replace a bit of
media, you're losing some of your bio-filter bacteria colony. If you remove
too much, you may end up with an ammonia spike, and a mini-cycle has to
occur before the bacteria multipy, and everything evens out again.

billy

[Racf]

"Dinky" > wrote in message
...
>
> "mindmeld" > wrote in message
> ...
> > so, i can ditch the carbon and replace it with a sponge?... >
>
> Yes, as stated before, *unless there is a specific need for it*,
carbon is
> generally a waste of time and money, and will make little or no
difference.
> It has its uses, though.
>
> > yet... should i perhaps mention i'm not the most compulsive filter
> > changer/tank maintainer?
> >
>
> Keeping your tank in good order is important, but changing media too
often
> is not needed and can have a negative affect. In both my power
> (hang-on-tank) and canister filters, I only service them if the water
isn't
> going through fast enough to suit me. I don't use carbon, so no
worries
> there, and as long as the media isn't gunked up and impeding water
flow,
> your filter is doing it's job. Every time you remove and replace a bit
of
> media, you're losing some of your bio-filter bacteria colony. If you
remove
> too much, you may end up with an ammonia spike, and a mini-cycle has
to
> occur before the bacteria multipy, and everything evens out again.
>
> billy
>
>

Here is a article on Activated Carbon that I thought was interesting:

http://www.resintech.com/Content/TechArticles/Activated%20Carbon%20Filtration.pdf

[mindmeld]

ok... so can i just keep the 'spent' carbon as a sponge alternative (ie.
bio-collector/host substance) and just replace all the floss?

Of course, this seems pretty much what i have been doing... except i've been keeping
a little of the floss each time.

AcH, the non-compulsive filter maintainer. ( i let the newts tell me when to change
it)

>
> > "mindmeld" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > so, i can ditch the carbon and replace it with a sponge?... <snip>
> >
> > Yes, as stated before, *unless there is a specific need for it*,
> carbon is
> > generally a waste of time and money, and will make little or no
> difference.
> > It has its uses, though.
> <snip>
> > your filter is doing it's job. Every time you remove and replace a bit of
> > media, you're losing some of your bio-filter bacteria colony. If you remove
> > too much, you may end up with an ammonia spike, and a mini-cycle has to
> > occur before the bacteria multipy, and everything evens out again.
> >
> > billy
> >
> >
>
> Here is a article on Activated Carbon that I thought was interesting:
>
> http://www.resintech.com/Content/TechArticles/Activated%20Carbon%20Filtration.pdf

[Racf]

"mindmeld" > wrote in message
...
> ok... so can i just keep the 'spent' carbon as a sponge alternative
(ie.
> bio-collector/host substance) and just replace all the floss?

Yes.... and another point to also consider is that the nitrifying
bacteria colonise all surfaces within the environment that provides food
and O2. More generally colonise the filter because of the high water
flow. I have seen various estimates concerning the percentages..... My
guess is between 20% - 60% are on tank, gravel, and decoration surfaces.
These bacteria can double in less than a day given proper conditions.


>
> Of course, this seems pretty much what i have been doing... except
i've been keeping
> a little of the floss each time.
>
> AcH, the non-compulsive filter maintainer. ( i let the newts tell me
when to change
> it)
>
> >
> > > "mindmeld" > wrote in message
> > > ...
> > > > so, i can ditch the carbon and replace it with a sponge?...
<snip>
> > >
> > > Yes, as stated before, *unless there is a specific need for it*,
> > carbon is
> > > generally a waste of time and money, and will make little or no
> > difference.
> > > It has its uses, though.
> > <snip>
> > > your filter is doing it's job. Every time you remove and replace a
bit of
> > > media, you're losing some of your bio-filter bacteria colony. If
you remove
> > > too much, you may end up with an ammonia spike, and a mini-cycle
has to
> > > occur before the bacteria multipy, and everything evens out again.
> > >
> > > billy
> > >
> > >
> >
> > Here is a article on Activated Carbon that I thought was
interesting:
> >
> >
http://www.resintech.com/Content/TechArticles/Activated%20Carbon%20Filtration.pdf
>