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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 5/1/2008 5:54:59 PM
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| I currently have a 45 gallon tank with a sump, using a biowheel. I am changing it to a canister filter. It has been running well for over a year with huge cardinals that I do NOT want to lose! Should I just run both filter simultaneously for a while? Will there be another ammonia spike? (ugh!!) Suggestions? Thanks!
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Group: Administrators
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| Yes I would run both filters at the same time for at least a couple of weeks (I personally would go about 4-6 weeks) and then once you get rid of the biowheel sump, feed lightly and do some small frequent water changes just in case. HTH,
________________________________________________ Keith "Simply put, you believe that things or people make you unhappy, but this is not accurate. You make yourself unhappy." Wayne Dyer
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| do you think I will get a ammonia spike?
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It is possible, but the longer you keep the two filters going the less chance of that happening. If possible you might even try slowly turning down the flow from your return pump so less and less water goes to the biowheel. That way the canister filters biological filter will become more and more active. Very light feedings and some small water changes once the biowheel goes off line for about 2 weeks should help minimize the chances.
________________________________________________Keith "Simply put, you believe that things or people make you unhappy, but this is not accurate. You make yourself unhappy." Wayne Dyer
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Group: Forum Members
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| All went well. I switched to a Eheim cansiter filter. The instructions with the unit say I do not need to change anything in the cansiter for 4-6 MONTHS!! Is that right?
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Which Eheim filter do you have and what media are you using?
________________________________________________Keith "Simply put, you believe that things or people make you unhappy, but this is not accurate. You make yourself unhappy." Wayne Dyer
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Group: Forum Members
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| Besides the carbon pad that I don't use, my Eheim media (ceramic, glass and sponge pads) are over 6 years old... I clean them every 4-6 months and only replace the finer pads on top which I cut from a roll of filter material... I use the classic 2217 canisters on 55-120g tanks. Smaller canisters would require more frequent servicing but most of the media should last a very long time. Using a pre-filter greatly reduces the frequency of such cleanings too! Hope that helps
Giancarlo Podio
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Wow, I know the Eheim is one of the best canister filters, but I didn’t know you don’t have to change anything for 4-6 mos.; I use a Fluval 405 on my 100 gal. tank, and I do water change every 3 week and filter cleaning every 6 week, it be great if I can skip that to every 4 mos., but I notices that the water flow is the strongest right after a filter cleaning and slow down the longer I wait to clean it, can this happen to the Eheim too?
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| Absolutely, this will happen to any filter. It really all depends on how much debris your tank generates and the size of the canister in relationship to the tank's size. However Eheim's placement of media also helps greatly. By using ceramic discs as the first mechanical media, they trap large particles without clogging as much as a sponge block would. I can tell the difference when I setup any other filter, Eheim included, with different media placement or more traditional Sponge block as first media. Where I use a pre-filter I wash it at every water change and can run the canister for about a year between servicing. Keep in mind that the rate of flow you see when the canister is very clean is not the "ideal" rate of flow for the filter, they are actually at their best when a little dirty and the rate slows down a little. Take a look at the Eheim site and their suggested order of media, then try to do something similar in your canister... it works very well. Hope that helps
Giancarlo Podio
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Thanks for the info. Giancarlo Podio, on the Fluval 405 I put pre-filter ceramic discs on the bottom, carbon on 2 & 3 plus polishing pad, and BioMax on the top tray, most of the media are fairly clean when I cleaned it in six week, but the Fluval manual recommended replace carbon every month, BioMax every three months, I normally clean it once or twice before I replace the carbon media and a little longer on the BioMax, I think Fluval want me to spend my money on their media, I think I will start checking the water condition closer to find out maybe I don't need to clean my filter that often.
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