Marineland emperor 400 and activated carbon

So I have a 55 gallon tank cycled, with a marineland emperor 400 as well as a small aquaclear 30 to help on both sides of the tank.

I recently cleaned a whole lot of algae up and I believe it made the water very cloudy. I've been doing slight water changes daily to help bring it along. I also decided to add activated carbon to help but i didn't realize I needed to put it into a grey media tray first.

I pretty much ended up putting the bag of activated carbon in between two sponges and placed them behind my filter pad. The way I have it now had more surface area for bacteria to grow, but will I be okay with having the actual carbon bag in the tank. The carbon can't get out of the bag or anything so I think it should be.

 

I don't think carbon will filter out cloudiness caused by debris floating in your tank. You should try adding some poly-fill/floss to your filter, where you have the carbon now, to polish the water. I think it will do much better. Carbon is a chemical filter, and it works well removing substances like meds, and odors, but not so much on debris. You need mechanical filtration for that.

 

I don't think carbon will filter out cloudiness caused by debris floating in your tank. You should try adding some poly-fill/floss to your filter, where you have the carbon now, to polish the water. I think it will do much better. Carbon is a chemical filter, and it works well removing substances like meds, and odors, but not so much on debris. You need mechanical filtration for that.

Ahh, where's the easiest place to get filter floss. I thought the filter pads would do that but seems like it's not

Would this be good? The reviews seem good and it's cut to fit

 

I place poly fill where the biowheels go. You I also have small rectangles of 1/2in 30ppi foam after it but that’s not necessary. You just have to watch because it will catch a lot after a few days and as soon as you flip the lid it will flop out. So I recommend rinsing daily or unplugging filter before you check it out. The extra layer of foam helps keep it all Place and I just rinse that out during water changes.

Let me know if you have more questions. I have the 400 as well. With spray bars removed.

Fairfield PF16B Poly-Fil Premium Polyester Fiber, 16 Oz, White Amazon.com: Fairfield PF16B Poly-Fil Premium Polyester Fiber, 16 Oz, White: Arts, Crafts & Sewing

 

Ahh, where's the easiest place to get filter floss. I thought the filter pads would do that but seems like it's not

Would this be good? The reviews seem good and it's cut to fitView attachment 692510

That would work great, but plain poly-fill is a lot less expensive .

I place poly fill where the biowheels go. You I also have small rectangles of 1/2in 30ppi foam after it but that’s not necessary. You just have to watch because it will catch a lot after a few days and as soon as you flip the lid it will flop out. So I recommend rinsing daily or unplugging filter before you check it out. The extra layer of foam helps keep it all Place and I just rinse that out during water changes.

Let me know if you have more questions. I have the 400 as well. With spray bars removed.

Fairfield PF16B Poly-Fil Premium Polyester Fiber, 16 Oz, White Amazon.com: Fairfield PF16B Poly-Fil Premium Polyester Fiber, 16 Oz, White: Arts, Crafts & Sewing

I use basically the same thing, but I get mine from WalMart. I put mine between my sponge and my media bag, but I have a Tidal HOB with a media basket, so my water flow is a little different.

 

I place poly fill where the biowheels go. You I also have small rectangles of 1/2in 30ppi foam after it but that’s not necessary. You just have to watch because it will catch a lot after a few days and as soon as you flip the lid it will flop out. So I recommend rinsing daily or unplugging filter before you check it out. The extra layer of foam helps keep it all Place and I just rinse that out during water changes.

Let me know if you have more questions. I have the 400 as well. With spray bars removed.

Fairfield PF16B Poly-Fil Premium Polyester Fiber, 16 Oz, White Amazon.com: Fairfield PF16B Poly-Fil Premium Polyester Fiber, 16 Oz, White: Arts, Crafts & Sewing

Are the bio wheels not good? I've heard they're decent. And from my understanding the emperor shoots the water from the back to the front so my filter floss should be furthest to the back to stop debris right

 

You can get Poly fil at Walmart for like 4-5$ . Its the kind in sheets that you can cut out what size you need.

 

You can get Poly fil at Walmart for like 4-5$ . Its the kind in sheets that you can cut out what size you need.

I'll get that instead then thanks

 

I'll get that instead then thanks

I wish I would of got the sheets after the fact. The lose stuff works well but I think the sheets will help eliminate the issue I described. I get mine at Walmart as well!

Are the bio wheels not good? I've heard they're decent. And from my understanding the emperor shoots the water from the back to the front so my filter floss should be furthest to the back to stop debris right

I read conflicting opinions. There are some people that claim they are nitrate factories. If you do an internet search there are some posts about them you find on various forums. I have used Marineland filters forever and can’t say I thought they caused an issue.

In all honestly I just removed them because I have 3in thick of foam in each side of my emperor that I think I get plenty of BB capacity on. And removing the biowheels makes them much quieter that’s my main reason. However with the Emperors you need to do something to either stop or defuse the water from the spray bars. The Penguin models it’s not an issue.

They do get a lot of gunk on them in time so no one can tell you do nothing. But I don’t think they are critical. Ether way I love the Marineland filters and it’s my go to.

 

I wish I would of got the sheets after the fact. The lose stuff works well but I think the sheets will help eliminate the issue I described. I get mine at Walmart as well!

So just to make sure I do it right this time. Starting from the back to front, this is the correct order of biological media. Filter floss, some sponges to hold BB, then carbon if I want? I would like to get away from using the filter pads provided for them because I know they're not space efficient. However I'm scared that I'll crash my cycle if I take it out

 

Put the poly fill last. You want the finest media in the discharge side. This will also prevent it from plugging up premature since the media before should handle the big stuff

 

Put the poly fill last. You want the finest media in the discharge side. This will also prevent it from plugging up premature since the media before should handle the big stuff

Oh okay, so poly fill last, and the sponges first?

Also if you don't mind what should I do about the pads. As it is I don't have much space because the sponges take up one slot and the marineland filter pads take up the other. I'm not sure if I could fit much polyfil with the space I have.

I appreciate your help by the way

 

Oh okay, so poly fill last, and the sponges first?

Also if you don't mind what should I do about the pads. As it is I don't have much space because the sponges take up one slot and the marineland filter pads take up the other. I'm not sure if I could fit much polyfil with the space I have.

I appreciate your help by the way

I would do one side and let it run for 2 week, then do the other side. I would also cut the fabric off of the cartridge frame and stuff it into whichever side your modding. The old fabric will still be holding a lot of BB that you don't want to loose.

 

You really don’t need a lot. As long as you can get a chunk that some water passes through you’ll be fine.

I do agree also that If your running sponge I wouldn’t worry much about keeping the stock pads. Not sure how big your sponges are but they are probably carrying most of the weight for you right now anyways.

Edit: just kind of play around with it and keep in mind that since it’s a media and will catch a lot. It’s cheap and you get a lot so you have plenty to waste.

 

I would do one side and let it run for 2 week, then do the other side. I would also cut the fabric off of the cartridge frame and stuff it into whichever side your modding. The old fabric will still be holding a lot of BB that you don't want to loose.

Hm alright, my cartridges are FILTHY. Like almost black

You really don’t need a lot. As long as you can get a chunk that some water passes through you’ll be fine.

I do agree also that If your running sponge I wouldn’t worry much about keeping the stock pads. Not sure how big your sponges are but they are probably carrying most of the weight for you right now anyways.

They're aquaclear 50 sponges and I fit 3 in. As of right now one side had them so there are 3 bacteria bearing sponges in there. I'll most likely start with that side and I added some sponges to the other side so they can develop bacteria.

 

Hm alright, my cartridges are FILTHY. Like almost black
They're aquaclear 50 sponges and I fit 3 in. As of right now one side had them so there are 3 bacteria bearing sponges in there. I'll most likely start with that side and I added some sponges to the other side so they can develop bacteria.

Yeah if you get the sheets just cut a layer of that and place it after your sponge. Or if you get the loose stuff just stuff it in after your sponge.

The emperors come with some empty grey cartridges. If you still have those and you can fit them in with the sponge, you can stuff the poly fill inside of those.

 

Yeah if you get the sheets just cut a layer of that and place it after your sponge. Or if you get the loose stuff just stuff it in after your sponge.

The emperors come with some empty grey cartridges. If you still have those and you can fit them in with the sponge, you can stuff the poly fill inside of those.

I forgot about the grey cartidges. I know for sure I can fit sponges in the front, the grey cartidge after and I can even fit a layer or two of polyfill after the grey tray.

Should I put polyfill in the grey tray AND after it or maybe cut the current cartidge with BB up and place that in the gray tray for now

 

You really won’t need a ton of the poly fill. So don’t worry about getting too many layers. You also don’t want to have too much and restrict flow. Just play with it though you’ll obviously be able to tell if water seems to be backing up.

The poly fill will hold BB to so even with that you can rinse and reuse it for a while like your other media. You will just need to service it a little more often since it’s going to dirty up faster.

Also that would be a good way to transition away from your stock filters by putting so of
That Just as you described.

The fun of filter mods!

 

You really won’t need a ton of the poly fill. So don’t worry about getting too many layers. You also don’t want to have too much and restrict flow. Just play with it though you’ll obviously be able to tell if water seems to be backing up.

The poly fill will hold BB to so even with that you can rinse and reuse it for a while like your other media. You will just need to service it a little more often since it’s going to dirty up faster.

Also that would be a good way to transition away from your stock filters by putting so of
That Just as you described.

The fun of filter mods!

Lol I'll do that to make sure I don't crash my cycle, if anything I might just put more sponges or possibly some crushed lava rock. Thanks again everyone lol tomorrow I'll be getting the polyfil

Yeah if you get the sheets just cut a layer of that and place it after your sponge. Or if you get the loose stuff just stuff it in after your sponge.

The emperors come with some empty grey cartridges. If you still have those and you can fit them in with the sponge, you can stuff the poly fill inside of those.

Hey, so I bought this and put it in.


However, I had to stuff if mostly all the way down because if it was too high it actually stopped the biowheels. If it's the low down will it still filter anything out or would I need it to be placed to cover more surface area

 

Did it stop the biowheels because it was touching them?


I would try rolling it up so it looks like a little burrito and wedge it between your foam and where the dump out is. If that makes sense. Or just have a few layers cut to that level.

 

Did it stop the biowheels because it was touching them?


I would try rolling it up so it looks like a little burrito and wedge it between your foam and where the dump out is. If that makes sense. Or just have a few layers cut to that level.

I won't lie I'm not sure what you mean by that lol

And yes the water current slowly pulled it so that it got under the wheel