Rouseabout Posted November 14, 2014 Report Share Posted November 14, 2014 Just wondering, given that I have no plants in my African tank do I really need Bio Balls as the first stage of my two CF1200 filters? There is basically nothing in that part every time I rinse my media out. Would I be better off having coarse foam first instead? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zuri08 Posted November 15, 2014 Report Share Posted November 15, 2014 The bio balls are holding all the bacteria.there porous nature has a massive surface area compared to a plant. Would stick with them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rouseabout Posted November 15, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 15, 2014 agree they have a large surface area however they are solid plastic and definitely not porous! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zuri08 Posted November 15, 2014 Report Share Posted November 15, 2014 Ah assumed you were using ceramics.But still the surface area is whats needed to hold that bacteria and unless your fishless and tank is completely stocked with plants i wouldnt reccommend it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
camtang Posted November 15, 2014 Report Share Posted November 15, 2014 Gradually swap them out with noodles unless you already have some in there. Some filter wool will do the same thing as your sponge. My 1200 goes noodles with a sponge, then noodles with another sponge and then filter wool. Bottom to top. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rouseabout Posted November 15, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 15, 2014 Thanks Camtang. Yes i have ceramic noodles in the middle section of each filter. In my planted tanks the bio balls trap bits of plant debris. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Likoma Posted November 16, 2014 Report Share Posted November 16, 2014 Hey there Chris I think David R said it best a while ago. Porous material like ceramic noodle or sintered glass lose their effectiveness when they get covered with mulm. To ensure the best results with them try placing them in the final basket. Stage the mech filtration going from your most coarse foam ie 10ppi or 20ppi and then your filter wool and then your ceramic noodles. The big stuff gets taken out by appropriate material. The little bits of detritus are dealt with by your filter wool and the water that ends up in your biological stage is as clean as possible. This also means you have an extended cleaning period. Cheers Greg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rouseabout Posted November 16, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 16, 2014 :gopo: Thanks Greg, think i will try that rearrangement. Current sequence is as supplied with filter wool as the LAST stage. Cheers Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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