Hi all,

My tank has a clearview 300 filter and I'm a little confused with it. It seems like most other similar designed filters have both the carbon cartridge and then some other form of media like a sponge etc to provide surface area for the bacteria. This particular filter only has the carbon cartridge, and then another plastic bit with a 3D pattern on (on left in below photo) which slides in front of the carbon filter.

Is that plastic design instead of a sponge, and if so is it effective enough or should I look at adding something else?

Thanks!

It appears that there should be a sponge - here's the link to the filter instructions http://www.aquaone.co.uk/documents/Hang ... lowres.pdf

Thanks for the link Looking at that one the setup seems to be a bit different to mine. Where that one has a sponge, mine has the plastic insert. Looking at photos of the filters I think I can make out the sponge in the H100 model, and the plastic in the H300 (my) model... so guessing the plastic in the H300 must be instead of a sponge? It just doesn't seem like the plastic grid would help to develop a good bacterial population as well as a sponge or those noodle things

Hard to tell from the picture, but it looks like the plastic bit you're talking about is just a strainer. Not a filter in anything more than the coarsest mechanical filtration sense.

When I was using AquaClear filters (same sort of thing as the Clearview) I would remove all except the sponge and add some ceramic noodles.

Thanks guys

Will try to get an overhead photo tonight so you can see how the two bits fit in. I don't think there would be any room for added media as is, but maybe as you suggested Caryl I could remove the plastic bio-grid and add some noodles where a sponge normally goes in the other versions.

Is it correct that the water flows from the tank, through the carbon filter first, then the media (sponge, noodles, plastic grid) and back into the tank?

And another quick newbie question..

How often should I be changing the carbon filter? Every 4-6 weeks seems to be common, but wanted to check.

I always removed the carbon filters and never used them. Have more space for noodles ;-)

Is there actually carbon in it? If so change it when it looks full of gunk as it won't work any more. Most people only have carbon to remove medications.

Ok, so I've removed the carbon cartridge and the plastic bit, which I've learnt was for the bacteria to breed on, but not a particularly effective form of media. Got some Aqua One Bionoods to put in the filter instead.

I'm guessing now I've changed media, my bacteria population is going to have to recuperate again and I'm almost back to the start with my cycling?

I rinsed the carbon cartridge and plastic bit in some tank water with the noodles sitting in and rubbed the ceramic noodles over the media in the hope of at least picking up some of the bacteria.

Also, do I need a sponge as well for mechanical filtration, or is it ok with just the bionoods? If so I'm not sure where to put a sponge, there isn't much room there! Maybe I should keep the carbon cartridge in and that can be the mechanical filtration (it's wool covered so picks up a lot of crap), then the bionoods where the plastic bit went for the bacteria?

You are correct about the cycling stage of the tank now you have replaced some media, it will have been knocked back. If you want to put some sort of sponge in take a look in the likes of HFF (if you are in Auckland) or your local LFS. There are packs of cut your own size sponges/carbon type sponges out there - this sort of thing, in various types of sponge which you might be able to slot into your filter.

http://www.hollywoodfishfarm.co.nz/deta ... 6cm/m/947/

http://www.hollywoodfishfarm.co.nz/deta ... 6cm/m/947/

http://www.hollywoodfishfarm.co.nz/deta ... ads/m/947/

etc etc

Thanks Adrienne! That looks like a much more cost-effective way than buying the specific carbon cartridges, which are nearly the same price for one.

Would you recommend a zeolite one for a new tank to help with ammonia?

I thought zeolite was an ion exchange resin that absorbs calcium and releases sodium ions---makes the water softer.

None of the sponges will directly help with ammonia, as in reduce it immediately. All they do is 1. collect the waste from the water and stop it returning to the tank 2. provide a surface for the 'good' bacteria to collect on hence assisting with the cycling of the tank.

Water changes are the best way to remove ammonia + reducing feeding and keeping the stocking of the tank light until the full cycle is complete.

You can get the standard sponges that you cut to size also, I just didn't scroll through all of HFF stock list. I use them in my 980 - saves me heaps.

Went and got the sponge and tried it in my filter, but unfortunately due to the design it blocked the water flow when the noodles were added as they pushed it right up against the back.

Seems to be working well with the solid carbon filter piece which also has wool on, and the noodles in replace of the plastic biogrid. The carbon piece keeps the noodles where they are supposed to be and water flow is good, so will just replace that every few weeks as needed.

Modification Success! :happy2:

I cut off the wool lining from the carbon cartridge and took the carbon pieces out so it's just a thin bit of plastic to use as a divider.

Now I've got a single layer of noodles along the bottom, then standing vertically in order of water flow I have a piece of sponge, the plastic sheet and then noodles.

Means I can easily replace the cheap sponge when needed without having issues disturbing the noodles

Back - showing bottom layer of noodles and sponge.

Front - noodle set-up (could only fit one layer deep so thought it was better to alternate direction to help agitate water flow?)

Top - water travels from left to right, then forward through the sponge, plastic sheet, noodles and back into the tank