juwel filter

[Stefano]

Hi,

The juwel compact filter has four compartments.
The first one is the thin blue sponge, then there is a gap, then the coarse
blue sponge, then another blue sponge and then carbons and a white layer on
top. Is this correct?

Instead of having two coarse blue sponges I have a blue and a green.
Does this make any difference, i think the green coarse sponge is a nitrate
sponge.
It came with the kit and it puzzled me as the instructions only show blue
sponges.

[Flash Wilson]

On Sat, 31 Jul 2004 13:58:04 +0100, Stefano > wrote:
>The juwel compact filter has four compartments.
>The first one is the thin blue sponge, then there is a gap, then the coarse
>blue sponge, then another blue sponge and then carbons and a white layer on
>top. Is this correct?

Yes. Oh, actually I'm not sure that compacts have two course blues.
My rekord 70 has just one of each course and fine blue, then carbon,
then white. I don't buy the white ones, I just use a blob of filter
floss - much cheaper!

>Instead of having two coarse blue sponges I have a blue and a green.
>Does this make any difference, i think the green coarse sponge is a nitrate
>sponge.
>It came with the kit and it puzzled me as the instructions only show blue
>sponges.

They have had some special offers - buy a month's supply of the
other sponges, get a free nitrate sponge, etc.

I've had one and use it as the top of the two blues. It works
fine - but if you are still cycling its absorption of nitrates
(and nitrites and ammonia I wonder?) might disguise the results.
Basically I bought mine to see if it would reduce algae, but
left it in the filter after the "active" period as a normal
sponge since by then it will be populated with useful bacteria.

It didn't relieve the algae, btw.

Just use it if you want instead of a blue. No issue.
Your sponges are just things which mechanically filter big
lumps out of the water, and which home bacteria which naturally
take harmful nitrites and ammonia out of the water. As long as
what you use is inert and vaguelly appropriate, you could use
other stuff. For example cannister filters use a mix of sponges,
ceramic rings, filter floss, carbon granules... so it's not a
big issue!
--
Flash Wilson
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Word of the contest: Quim, on a triple word score (45 points)

[Stefano]

"Flash Wilson" > wrote in message
...


> Just use it if you want instead of a blue. No issue.
> Your sponges are just things which mechanically filter big
> lumps out of the water, and which home bacteria which naturally
> take harmful nitrites and ammonia out of the water. As long as
> what you use is inert and vaguelly appropriate, you could use
> other stuff. For example cannister filters use a mix of sponges,
> ceramic rings, filter floss, carbon granules... so it's not a
> big issue!


the only problem is i am cycling the tank, i don't want that green sponge to
kill my nitrites and nitrates straight away.
Tomorrow I will be building a diy CO2 kit with check valve. What is your
opinion on these?

thks

[Flash Wilson]

On Sat, 31 Jul 2004 18:07:25 +0100, Stefano > wrote:
>the only problem is i am cycling the tank, i don't want that green sponge to
>kill my nitrites and nitrates straight away.

Ok (although it's no bother if it removes nitrates unless you
specifically want them left in to fertilise plants).

You can buy another blue sponge from a fish store for a few
quid if you prefer - you'll want spares in due course anyway,
right? Might want to stock up on filter floss (or white sponges
if you prefer, but floss is far cheaper and you can cut it up
yourself) anyway.

>Tomorrow I will be building a diy CO2 kit with check valve. What is your
>opinion on these?

I'm sorry, I've never tried one so can't help - try asking in
a plants newsgroup? Guess the guys there have more experience
of CO2 systems.

Best of luck!

--
Flash Wilson
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"there's no call for prostitution in aber when students are free"
- an anonymous Aber sysadmin