canister content question....

[ml430]

I currently have 2xFluval 303 canister filters on 60Gallon. And the content of two 303 are 2x sponges, 2xchemipure and 2x denitrates. I'm planning to leave the sponges in and the rest of the 4remaining chambers filled with crushed cured live rocks. And add a small aquaclear 100g/h cheapo filter with a pack of chemipure in it as chemical filtration.
Will this work better than my current setup? Any comment or reply is greatly appreciated.

[steve1s]

The rock in a canister will not really function all that well. I use a canister as well and find the Fluval Max works quite well. Very porous tubes similar to bio-balls but much smaller and with much more surface area.

The water in mine flows from bottom to top back to the tank. The media is placed from the bottom...>>sponges>>fluval max>>chemi-pure.

On a side note, if the denitrate you are using is the granular type(?) it will not work well in a canister filter. They require low flow water areas to perform well. The micro chambers in them employ anaerobic bacteria for nitrification and fast water will just feed it O2.

[ml430]

Fluval 303 has the sponge at the top and warned it shouldn't be remove from the top first chamber unless to wash. So do that mean I should place them from the bottom: chemipure, fluval bio-max, sponge(at the top)? JUST TO MAKE SURE b4 I DO SOMETHING STUPID.

[steve1s]

It's always best to follow the manufacturer warnings.

The max and chemi pure just work better if they are not first, but since you can't I would place the max then chemipure and finally the sponge as the maker suggests.

Cheers
Steve

[ml430]

Will the tank takes dramatic effect which leads to the fish lost if I change to the above media we mentioned all at one time?
It takes awhile for the bio-max to kick in, about 4 weeks for it to grow bacteria. SO should I just change one chamber by one chamber every 2 weeks? or Should I just change it all I once. Not to mention two of my 4 fishes got ich. And one has been suffered from it over 2 month. I've tried all the methods possible to help them and I have 8 fishes originaly and now down to four. However, the only treatment I give those two fish are garlic extract soaked into their food. I see the progress but slow.

sincerely,
Bill

[steve1s]

I would only change one basket at a time and give each new addition time to develope. As long as the filter is not inactive for too long there will be no damage done and make sure you never clean it with fresh water.

Put whatever new media in the middle, that way it will have a much easier time with bacteria migrating to it. Each time you add new media I would swap out the middle slot for the new and move the old down one.

[Sean Smith]

What is the Chemi-pure chaps?

I use Rowa Phos, sponges and recently carbon.

[steve1s]

http://www.boydenterprisesonline.com/chemipure.html

Cheers
Steve

[killroysrevenge]

I have floss filter in the bottom basket and biomax in the other 2 in my Fluval 304. I have slowed my flow rate to allow for more contact time.

[Sean Smith]

how do you slow the flow rate on a fluval?

[killroysrevenge]

On the canister itself, between the inlet and outlet tubes there is a lever. It is the same lever that stops water flow for cleaning. It is not the lever that removes the inlet/outlet tubes. Just adjust it to your liking. :idea: :wink: :twisted: