"John" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 16 Dec 2003 13:24:42 -0500, "NetMax"
-snip-
, however, I also came across this review of what I'm guessing
is
the
latest edition of the Fluvals, since they call it the MSF model:

http://www.fishinthe.net/html/reviews-11.html


You know, if you actually read the entire review you will find that
this guy is using the wrong type of media with the fluval's. He is
using "Floss" which will clog everytime! Instead of using the filter
material that is recomended by Fluval...

What a silly bugger, thanks for spotting that.


Thanks for the link. The first reviewer detailed his findings more,
but
had issues with maintenance. The next 7 reviewers thought is was easy
to
clean but offered little details. It's always interesting the
extremes
you can get from anecdotal reporting, though it's hard to imagine a
scenario which would require cleaning a canister filter every 2 weeks.
- snip-
see above

I can tell you that all my work Fluvals are on planted tanks, and some
of
them *blush* I have not cleaned in over a year. I _do_ open them
periodically, but if everything looks good, I just give the bio-max a
rinse and back in it goes. Depending on your fish-load, you might
find
that no accumulation occurs, (which one of my customers finds very
confusing, but his tank is overfiltered).

Simple question for you then netmax would be what media are you using
in your filters? Only biomax and the foam prefilters or are you also
using additional media of some other type?

Basically the vertical foam pre-filters (which can last you 20-30 years
with even the most rudimentary cleaning schedule), and Bio-max in the top
compartment (rinsing periodically so the pores do not get too clogged).
Then I start experimenting ).... peat (granules) works nicely, peat
fibre (not as effective as the granules), carbon (for new tanks only or
removing medication), crushed coral (though if it's too fine, it clogs
the grill), dolomite (sitting on a thin layer of sheet fibre) and more
Bio-max (I usually have a compartment empty so in goes more Bio-max).
I'm now experimenting with the pond version of Bio-max, which is much
larger rings. Pond versions are often a better value. Bio-max are
always in the last 1 or 2 compartments. Carbon in the first (shortest
life expectancy anyways). Peat/coral/dolomite go in the middle. The
finer they are, the higher up towards the Bio-max they go. Large sizes
can go right after the pre-filters.

All my experimenting with different media is mostly optional &
application specific. When the water parameters are fine as they are,
then it's just the vertical pre-filters and lots of Bio-max. I'm looking
around for a polishing grade of floss to put into the last compartment.
I heard of some available in Germany, but haven't seen anything in North
America yet. I wish someone would invent the aquatic version of a Hepa
filter for polishing. With over 100 tanks, I'm always fighting a bloom
of some type in one of them.

NetMax