From: edwong@lims01.lerc.nasa.gov (EDMOND WONG)
Subject: Re: Poor Man's Canister Filter
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41    
Organization: NASA Lewis Research Center
Distribution: usa
Date: 12 Jan 1993 13:17 EST  

In article <1iuotlINN7uk@usenet.INS.CWRU.Edu>, dxf6@po.CWRU.Edu (Dean Fear) writes...
>  
>Hear is an idea I have been thinking about for a while.  (A very similar
>one was provided in the Dec TFH)  It is pretty simple:
> 
>Take 2 Aquaclear filter.  Operate one as a mechanical/ chemical
>filtration as you would normally.  Take the other and make it
>function solely as a biologic filter.  This is done by attaching a
>small sponge filter to the intake tube.  (I saw one well suited for
>this in Tropical Fish Hobbyist magazine.  It is called the Filter
>Max pre filter, available mail order from Daleco Master Breeders
>(219) 747-7376 for 6 or 7 dollars.)  The filter box is then filled
>with biofilter medium.  You would rinse the sponge on a regular
>basis but never change the bio media.   
.(edit)
> 
>What do you guys think?
> 
This is very similiar to the filtration setup I have on some of my tanks.
My 75 gallon discus tank is filtered by two Aquaclear 300's setup
as described above.  One is operating normally with the regular intake tube
and uses the Aquaclear sponges for the media.  I dispense with the carbon
pouch and just stack 2 of the sponges in the filter.  This serves primarily
as mechanical filtration although I'm sure there is some biological
filtration as well.  I clean the sponges regularly by squeezing them out
in old aquarium water during water changes which hopefully preserves enough
bacteria on the sponges.  The second Aquaclear has a sponge inserted on the
intake tube.  Others have posted using the Aquaclear sponges, but I wanted
a something which would trap finer debris.  I used some upholstery foam
purchased at a fabric store and cut out a rectangular block.  I then used a
knife to cut a slit 2/3 of the way into the block and inserted this over
the filter intake tube.  Inside the filter is placed biologic media which
only gets an occasional rinsing in old aquarium water.  The foam does a 
pretty good job of keeping the bio. media clean. The foam is cleaned regularly
through rigorous squeezing in tap water (since I'm not concerned about
the bacteria here).  This setup has worked well for over a year now.

On other tanks I just use the modified Aquaclear scheme with the foam
prefilter on the intake and have found that it provides sufficient
mechanical filtration.  Larger debris generally sticks to the surface of the
foam and any that falls to the tank floor is siphoned during water changes.
This filtration scheme has worked well on a 29 gallon tank with an
Aquaclear 100 and on fry tanks with an Aquaclear Mini. I've found that this
is a good way to increase the biological filtration capacity of the
Aquaclear power filters while maintaining (or even improving?) the
mechanical filtration.

One other advantage I've found is that starting up a new tank is easy with
this scheme.  I just take some of the biological media from an established
tank and place it into the filter of the new tank as well as an established
foam prefilter (which I won't clean for some time beforehand). This way
sufficient bacteria is introduced to the new filter to start biological
filtration immediately and 'new tank syndrome' is avoided completely.

Let me know what you think.

-Edmond.

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                          edwong@lims01.lerc.nasa.gov
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