EHEIM BioPower 240 Filter Tweaking

I have the EHEIM BioPower 240 in my 25 Gallon tank. The tank is fully stocked and recently I have added few plants like Hornwort and anacharis as well. I have guppies, Platies, Betta, Electric Blue RAM and couple of otocinclus in the tank.

The EHEIM BioPower 240 comes with 5 trays/ compartments/ canisters. It has Sponge in the bottom tray/ compartment, then 3 trays above the sponge have EHEIM Substrate Pro bio Media and the last/ top tray has another sponge. So water goes in at the bottom, flows through the sponge (Mechanical) and then through 3 Bio media trays for Biological filtration and then through top tray which can be used with carbon for chemical or left with sponge and water comes out into the tank.

My questions are:
1) Are these trays/ compartments available to buy as spare parts? If yes, can I add 1 or 2 more of these trays to my filter and add more Substrate pro bio media to them? Will that cause any issues with the filter apart from reducing the flow further? Will it be beneficial, if it could be done?
2) If adding 1 or 2 more trays is possible to this filter, Will adding more substrate pro bio media create anoxic zones within the filter to remove nitrate? Is any other media better than Substrate pro for this process?

 

I have the EHEIM BioPower 240 in my 25 Gallon tank. The tank is fully stocked and recently I have added few plants like Hornwort and anacharis as well. I have guppies, Platies, Betta, Electric Blue RAM and couple of otocinclus in the tank.

The EHEIM BioPower 240 comes with 5 trays/ compartments/ canisters. It has Sponge in the bottom tray/ compartment, then 3 trays above the sponge have EHEIM Substrate Pro bio Media and the last/ top tray has another sponge. So water goes in at the bottom, flows through the sponge (Mechanical) and then through 3 Bio media trays for Biological filtration and then through top tray which can be used with carbon for chemical or left with sponge and water comes out into the tank.

My questions are:
1) Are these trays/ compartments available to buy as spare parts? If yes, can I add 1 or 2 more of these trays to my filter and add more Substrate pro bio media to them? Will that cause any issues with the filter apart from reducing the flow further? Will it be beneficial, if it could be done?
2) If adding 1 or 2 more trays is possible to this filter, Will adding more substrate pro bio media create anoxic zones within the filter to remove nitrate? Is any other media better than Substrate pro for this process?

1) will more trays fit in the filter? If so, here are a couple of websites with spare parts for sale, they may have additional trays for sale:

I don't know the answer to the rest of your questions sorry.

 

If it copes with ammonia and nitrites now there is no use to add more. These extra compartments won't be anaerobic and won't reduce nitrates.

 

If it copes with ammonia and nitrites now there is no use to add more. These extra compartments won't be anaerobic and won't reduce nitrates.

Yes it is coping with Ammonia and Nitrite. I have 0 reading for both after the tank cycled. However due to my stocking, Nitrates are going greater than 40 in a week. Even though I feed the fish only once a day the amount that they finish in 2 minutes.

What if I reduce the flow rate in the filter and add compartments, still no anaerobic bacteria?

Thank you for your reply.

1) will more trays fit in the filter? If so, here are a couple of websites with spare parts for sale, they may have additional trays for sale:

I don't know the answer to the rest of your questions sorry.

Thank you for replying. So the compartment comes as spare part but I am not sure If I can add it as extra compartment to my filter or not without affecting anything.

 

Thank you for replying. So the compartment comes as spare part but I am not sure If I can add it as extra compartment to my filter or not without affecting anything.

That would be something you'd need to ask the manufacturer, Eheim, I think.

 

Yes it is coping with Ammonia and Nitrite. I have 0 reading for both after the tank cycled. However due to my stocking, Nitrates are going greater than 40 in a week. Even though I feed the fish only once a day the amount that they finish in 2 minutes.

What if I reduce the flow rate in the filter and add compartments, still no anaerobic bacteria?

I might be wrong but I don't think you can have an anoxic (anaerobic) bacteria growing in a container where water containing dissolved oxygen is continually flowing throughout it. I would suggest that you either reduce your stocking, get a bigger tank for the stocking you have or do bigger or more frequent water changes. Another thing yoy can do is add a product to your canister that removes nitrates.
Here is a website that lists 10 of the products that do that. Be sure to read carefully the effects of these products. Some, or all, of them also remove ammonia and/or nitrites and over time can disrupt your biological bacteria in your system.
https://www.amoskeagfishways.org/best-nitrate-removers-for-freshwater/

 

I might be wrong but I don't think you can have an anoxic (anaerobic) bacteria growing in a container where water containing dissolved oxygen is continually flowing throughout it. I would suggest that you either reduce your stocking, get a bigger tank for the stocking you have or do bigger or more frequent water changes. Another thing yoy can do is add a product to your canister that removes nitrates.
Here is a website that lists 10 of the products that do that. Be sure to read carefully the effects of these products. Some, or all, of them also remove ammonia and/or nitrites and over time can disrupt your biological bacteria in your system.
https://www.amoskeagfishways.org/best-nitrate-removers-for-freshwater/

Thank you. I will check it.

 

Can you post a pic of the Eheim filter?

That model is not available in the States.

 

Can you post a pic of the Eheim filter?

That model is not available in the States.

https://www.eheim.com/en_GB/products/technology/internal-filters/biopower-240

 

Mine has only 3 compartments so I am pretty sure you can add more.

 

Mine has only 3 compartments so I am pretty sure you can add more.

I think you must have EHEIM BIOPower 160
https://www.eheim.com/en_GB/products/technology/internal-filters/biopower
There is a difference in pump power as well. 160 has 180L - 550l per hour power and 240 has 280l - 750L per hour.

I want to know if I add another compartment to 240, apart from reducing the flow, will it affect anything else. Like will it put more stress on the pump or will it affect nitrogen cycle in any way (good or bad way).

 

Okay, some of your questions, as I said, would be better posed to the manufacturer--There's no way for anyone unfamiliar with the motor on that unit to know what "stress" would be put on the motor by adding another chamber to the filter. I think your original question about additional chambers creating an anoxic (anaerobic) environment for the breakdown of nitrates was answered. As to your question "will it affect nitrogen cycle in any way (good or bad way)"--Any time water flow is reduced through filter media in an aquarium pump the processing if ammonia and nitrites is affected. Slower waterflow equals less volume turnover, that in turn decreases total water volume exposure to nitrifying bacteria. So yes, slowing flow will affect the oxidation rate of ammonia and nitrites in the tank at least at first. However, the additional surface area provided by media in that new chamber may provide enough surface area for bacteria growth to eventually compensate for slower water flow through that media.
I think what you are really wanting to know is: can you tweak the canister so you won't have to do as many water changes to keep nitrate levels down. That's a No. You won't be able to tweak that canister to be able to grow anaerobic bacteria, to process a significant amount of nitrates. You're still either going to have to do the water changes, reduce your stocking or get a bigger tank.

 

Okay, some of your questions, as I said, would be better posed to the manufacturer--There's no way for anyone unfamiliar with the motor on that unit to know what "stress" would be put on the motor by adding another chamber to the filter. I think your original question about additional chambers creating an anoxic (anaerobic) environment for the breakdown of nitrates was answered. As to your question "will it affect nitrogen cycle in any way (good or bad way)"--Any time water flow is reduced through filter media in an aquarium pump the processing if ammonia and nitrites is affected. Slower waterflow equals less volume turnover, that in turn decreases total water volume exposure to nitrifying bacteria. So yes, slowing flow will affect the oxidation rate of ammonia and nitrites in the tank at least at first. However, the additional surface area provided by media in that new chamber may provide enough surface area for bacteria growth to eventually compensate for slower water flow through that media.
I think what you are really wanting to know is: can you tweak the canister so you won't have to do as many water changes to keep nitrate levels down. That's a No. You won't be able to tweak that canister to be able to grow anaerobic bacteria, to process a significant amount of nitrates. You're still either going to have to do the water changes, reduce your stocking or get a bigger tank.

Thank You Momgoose56 . Appreciate your help.