EHEIM - EHFISUBSTRAT replace ??? why ???

[Bill Krosney]

I'm running an EHEIM 2224 in a 55 gal freshwater community tank and
have been very happy with my filter (shameless EHEIM plug).

In my 2224 I target to replace the fine white filter pads about every
6 months and the coarser blue filter pads about once a year. I use
the EHEIM pre-filter and find that does a good job of trapping larger
stuff first and I usually rinse that every month to two months. or
when I detect a lessening of flow from the spray bar.

I recently picked up some EHEIM filter supplies and in an instruction
booklet on EHEIM filter material in the package they talk about the
various EHEIM filter media. This is what they quote for EHFISUBSTRAT
(that "sintered glass material").

"When changing the filter medium use approximately 1/3 of the used,
uncleaned material again in order to support the new development of
the bacteria"

I can understand not wanting to replace the entire volume of the
EHFISUBSTRAT and wiping out most of your bacterial colony. My
question is why would you EVER want to replace the material at all? I
didn't think of this material as clogging like the filter pads, but
does it clog? Does it deteriorate? Does it really need to being
periodically refreshed?

This then gets me thinking about the really coarse EHFIMECH (those
hollow cermic cylindrical thingee's). Do those ever need to be
replaced?

Thanks in advance.

.... Bill

(remove spamfilter in any e-mail reply)

[Victor M. Martinez]

Bill Krosney > wrote:
>question is why would you EVER want to replace the material at all? I
>didn't think of this material as clogging like the filter pads, but
>does it clog? Does it deteriorate? Does it really need to being
>periodically refreshed?

It probably does clog, since most of its surface area is inside in very tiny
"counduits".

>This then gets me thinking about the really coarse EHFIMECH (those
>hollow cermic cylindrical thingee's). Do those ever need to be
>replaced?

Nope, those are pretty much indestructible. Only change them if they break.

--
Victor M. Martinez

http://www.che.utexas.edu/~martiv

[NetMax]

"Bill Krosney" > wrote in message
...
> I'm running an EHEIM 2224 in a 55 gal freshwater community tank and
> have been very happy with my filter (shameless EHEIM plug).
>
> In my 2224 I target to replace the fine white filter pads about every
> 6 months and the coarser blue filter pads about once a year. I use
> the EHEIM pre-filter and find that does a good job of trapping larger
> stuff first and I usually rinse that every month to two months. or
> when I detect a lessening of flow from the spray bar.
>
> I recently picked up some EHEIM filter supplies and in an instruction
> booklet on EHEIM filter material in the package they talk about the
> various EHEIM filter media. This is what they quote for EHFISUBSTRAT
> (that "sintered glass material").
>
> "When changing the filter medium use approximately 1/3 of the used,
> uncleaned material again in order to support the new development of
> the bacteria"
>
> I can understand not wanting to replace the entire volume of the
> EHFISUBSTRAT and wiping out most of your bacterial colony. My
> question is why would you EVER want to replace the material at all? I
> didn't think of this material as clogging like the filter pads, but
> does it clog? Does it deteriorate? Does it really need to being
> periodically refreshed?
>
> This then gets me thinking about the really coarse EHFIMECH (those
> hollow cermic cylindrical thingee's). Do those ever need to be
> replaced?
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> ... Bill

FYI, On the NGs, I've heard of using Bio-max as a lower cost replacement.
These ceramic cones support a bacterial distribution of 85% aerobic
bacteria and 15% anaerobic bacteria. There is also a pond version of
Bio-max, which like most pond versions, is just much bigger and is
usually an even better value. ymmv

I'm not convinced of the necessity of replacing Bio-max (or other
sintered ceramic products) on the manufacturer's recommended schedule. I
install very fine floss just before my Bio-max to minimize the amount of
debris which would potentially clog the pores. My regular filter
maintenance includes giving the Bio-max compartments a good shake and a
luke-warm water rinse (I'm on well water, no chlorine/chloramine). Mike
Edwardes suggested microwaving as needed. I've never tried this but as
Mike is a seriously credible authority on all things fishy ;~), I'd
assume he is speaking from personal experience

Regular maintenance will extent the life of all your filter media (except
carbon). The white/blue Eheim pads and sponges used in other filters can
be used for a very long time if they are never allowed to get too clogged
up. As I tell my customers, the money you save on equipment & chemicals
can be used on fish & plants ;o)

NetMax