handy-andy Posted March 8, 2006 Report Share Posted March 8, 2006 Picked up my new filter yesterday - got an excellent price on an Aqua One CF1200 from a local supplier (Redwood Aquatics). No freight charges, and filter media included! Not practical for me to run two filters simultaneously (not enough space) so I am planning on transferring all my old filter media (except the sponges which are the wrong shape) to the new filter, and topping up with new media as required (the new filter is considerably bigger, woo hoo!). The new filter came with mechanical media, bio mechanical media, coarse sponge, fine sponge and filter wool. What's the word on filter wool? I was going to chuck it out. I used it once before and it clogged ridiculously quickly, and struck me as a cheap filter media solution, rather than a good solution. What's the best way to arrange the filter media? I was planning: - mechanical media, coarse sponge in bottom tray - bio mechanical media in middle tray - chemical (I'm using Phosphex) and fine sponge in top tray If there's room I'll pop one of my old sponges in the top tray too. Comments or suggestions? How long does bio-mechanical media last? Mine is 12 years old, came with my Fluval, and looks like pumice tubes. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faran Posted March 8, 2006 Report Share Posted March 8, 2006 pumice tubes you say? Interesting. I suppose they used to be ceramic tubes and have degraded considerably with time. I recommend replacing that media or just using a bit of it to "seed" the new filter media. Filter wool is a pain, you're much better off replacing it with sponges. Good luck with the upgrade! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
handy-andy Posted March 8, 2006 Author Report Share Posted March 8, 2006 No ... I have ceramic (smooth) tubes too, which I understand is purely mechanical. The "pumice like" tubes have always looked like that (I have two unused pieces left that never made it to the filter in my box of random goodies :lol: ) - I understand they are bio mechanical; the rough texture providing a greater surface area for bacteria to accumulate on. Perhaps I'll aim for a half and half mix of old and new ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mustcooktea Posted March 8, 2006 Report Share Posted March 8, 2006 I'd be inclined to use all the old media, since it hasn't actually deteriorated. It sounds like you will be adding new stuff anyway to fill it up. MCT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanksman Posted March 9, 2006 Report Share Posted March 9, 2006 I would have thought boiling your old media would clean it up good as new? Gotta be cheaper. In My CF 700 there was not enough bio balls and noodles to fill the baskets so I put them in the bottom basket and have pumice gravel in the middle - works a treat and cheap as. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DiverJohn Posted March 9, 2006 Report Share Posted March 9, 2006 Hi Andy, I think all the ways mentioned are valid, personally I would be inclined to mix old and new. But keep them seperate. That might sound dumb so... I would use the new media in the bottom. Put the old in the middle tray, finally if you can fit it in, new ( + a phosex bag) in the top. In a weeks time, change out media the middle tray, for new. QED. Hth John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
handy-andy Posted March 9, 2006 Author Report Share Posted March 9, 2006 Boiling the old media would kill all the useful bacteria wouldn't it? In any case I suppose as long as the old media is not crumbling to bits then it's fine. Interesting Diver John that you'd recommend not mixing old and new media in the same tray. Why is this? I was planning on keeping all my old media and topping it up as required with new media, because to me the old looks like better quality stuff (the new media was free, which is nice, but do you get what you pay for?). Perhaps I'm making this more complex than it is. I've always previously taken a seat of pants type approach. Then again I did keep my original filter sponges for 10 years (eeeuuurrrgghhh!) :oops: , which in retrospect wasn't so clever ... but represented terrific value for money! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DiverJohn Posted March 9, 2006 Report Share Posted March 9, 2006 Only cos it sounded like you wanted your "new filter" all... well.... new. You did indicate your prefered method would be to set up the new filter and run it in the tank for a week, then de-commision the old one. But you couldnt do that... so thats why i suggested the alternative. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
handy-andy Posted March 9, 2006 Author Report Share Posted March 9, 2006 Ahh okay, I see what you mean. I thought for a moment that mixing old and new media in the same trays might be a big no-no for reasons I had yet to figure out! Having viewed your tanks I was willing to take your word for it. V nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DiverJohn Posted March 9, 2006 Report Share Posted March 9, 2006 Why thank you very much Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanksman Posted March 9, 2006 Report Share Posted March 9, 2006 Boiling it would kill the bacteria for sure - but it should clean it up if you are concerned about its condition. I think this is another area where hobbyists get ripped off into expensive "dirt and clay and rock" that goes in the filter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
handy-andy Posted March 9, 2006 Author Report Share Posted March 9, 2006 I can relate to that. Last time I bought ceramic noodles they came in a HUGE box, costing $40 or so, of which I needed about a third. I was assured I'd use it all eventually. I carefully check my ceramic noodles for the promised wear and tear each time I maintain my filter, but, they seem to be lasting better than anticipated . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suphew Posted March 9, 2006 Report Share Posted March 9, 2006 Using the old media is a very good idea, the only reasons not would be if had been out of water/flow for a while in which case the bactria would be dead and polute the tank or if the pore in the media are really clogged and even then I would still use it then remove and clean it once the new media is up and going. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faran Posted March 10, 2006 Report Share Posted March 10, 2006 All the proper cermaic/pumice media should last for ages until you can see it physically deteriorating. The one and only "media" that I can think of that NEEDS replacing is carbon/charcoal. Make sure that stuff doesn't stay in your filter/tank longer than 6 months or it releases all the nasties that it has pulled out of the water. Not something I'd ever want to happen in my tanks. As for the rest of the stuff, including sponges, if it ain't broke don't fix it. Be sure and give all your filter media a rinse in tank water once a month but don't gravel vac at the same time. Enjoy the new filter! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
handy-andy Posted March 12, 2006 Author Report Share Posted March 12, 2006 Installed the filter over the weekend. What a joy to be able to just fill it up, plug it in and see it actually pump water back into the aquarium. And it's silent too. I can't believe I persevered with my noisy old filter for so long ... it put the "mental" in temperamental. Thanks for all your input folks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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