Setting Up My First Canister Filter! (help)

So...Ive got a used fluval 305 canister filter...alright condition but pretty old. The lady tried **** hard to keep it perfect, even replaced parts. My question is..where and what should I put in for the media? Ive got...A LOT of stuff...here we go...

1 box, 750g Fluval pre-filter...stuff looks like biomax rings but it's not..

2 box, 500g Fluval biomax ceramic rings (I think)

2 box, Fluval 3x100g carbon packs.

1 box, 2 pack Fluval bio-foam. (Made for all 300-400 series)

2 box, 6-pack Fluval water polishing pads.

1 box, 2 pack Fluval foam.

Half a pack of marineland rite-size bonded filter pad

Filstar so filtration. 20ppI box

I have no idea what I'm doing. My idea was to use the pre-filter ring looking stuff for bottom, carbon middle, biomax top. But what do I put on the side, the space next to the canisters? And is any of this stuff or anything else better than my idea? Do I have everything I need? Please, please help, and I'll thank you forever! Thanks!

Edit: Just opened the Fluval foam, the instruction with a very confusing graph say...carbon top, biomax or pre filter in middle, and nothing on the bottom...foam in the side spot...

 

It’s all according to the water flow is it bottom to top or top to bottom? I like sponges on the first section the water goes through. First sponge has large holes second has smaller than on top of those I put floss. Next 2 levels have bio-media this is where the bb grows. I don’t use charcoal.

 

this pretty much explains the media part, the carbon is pretty much useless unless you are taking out medicine or removing tannins from the water

just don't listen to when he talks about that special filter material, your fluvial ceramic rings will be perfectly fine

 

I have a 306 and it's been running with this setup:
1st tray (bottom) has the black bio foam with polishing pads on top.
2nd tray has polishing pads and bio max on top.
3rd tray has bio max.

Make sure the trays stack up and the bio media doesn't get in the way. As mentioned, you don't need the prefilter rings or carbon.

The theory is that the 4 rectangle foam pieces will pick up most of the larger debris and the water filters to the bottom of all the trays. The first tray will filter whatever gets by with the black bio-foam and the polishing foam picking up everything else. Then it goes up to the bio media where it converts ammonia and nitrites to nitrates and then goes into your tank.

The canister (and HOB) filter isn't supposed to pick up EVERYTHING in the tank. You still need to do gravel vacs weekly and if you have larger fish, their larger poop. About once a month, you take your canister and rinse everything out in old tank water (don't scrub). It doesn't need to look like new, just rinse off the debris.

 

I have a 306 and it's been running with this setup:
1st tray (bottom) has the bla6ck bio foam with polishing pads on top.
2nd tray has polishing pads and bio max on top.
3rd tray has bio max.

Make sure the trays stack up and the bio media doesn't get in the way. As mentioned, you don't need the prefilter rings or carbon.

The theory is that the 4 rectangle foam pieces will pick up most of the larger debris and the water filters to the bottom of all the trays. The first tray will filter whatever gets by with the black bio-foam and the polishing foam picking up everything else. Then it goes up to the bio media where it converts ammonia and nitrites to nitrates and then goes into your tank.

The canister (and HOB) filter isn't supposed to pick up EVERYTHING in the tank. You still need to do gravel vacs weekly and if you have larger fish, their larger poop. About once a month, you take your canister and rinse everything out in old tank water (don't scrub). It doesn't need to look like new, just rinse off the debris.

Hmm..doesn't sound too bad. I was excited about the ceramic pre-filter media because I heard it worked good and also could hold bacteria. So what do I put in the space next to the trays? Two foam pieces? So the water runs through the in hose, through the space next to the trays, then to the bottom tray, then middle, then top, then back into tank? You don't think I should use carbon or the pre-filter ceramic media?

Edit: Also, the bio foam is too big to fit something else in the same tray, unless it was one side of a tray

 

That’s pretty much the way my filter is set up. I just don’t have all that stuff on the bottom. I have a sponge on the intake before it goes into the filter and that breaks down the large waste into smaller waste. GWR is right about the media but make sure the rings are porous. A solid ceramic ring isn’t giving bb much room to grow. Matrix works well as does his product biohome.

 

I would post pics but you're not allowed to post pics that aren't yours and I'm not going to take my canister apart just to show you.

Google your filter and you'll see everything that goes in your filter. I think you might be missing the tall red piece.

 

just don't listen to when he talks about that special filter material, your fluvial ceramic rings will be perfectly fine

I'll watch that, thank you.

I have a 306 and it's been running with this setup:
1st tray (bottom) has the black bio foam with polishing pads on top.
2nd tray has polishing pads and bio max on top.
3rd tray has bio max.

Make sure the trays stack up and the bio media doesn't get in the way. As mentioned, you don't need the prefilter rings or carbon.

The theory is that the 4 rectangle foam pieces will pick up most of the larger debris and the water filters to the bottom of all the trays. The first tray will filter whatever gets by with the black bio-foam and the polishing foam picking up everything else. Then it goes up to the bio media where it converts ammonia and nitrites to nitrates and then goes into your tank.

The canister (and HOB) filter isn't supposed to pick up EVERYTHING in the tank. You still need to do gravel vacs weekly and if you have larger fish, their larger poop. About once a month, you take your canister and rinse everything out in old tank water (don't scrub). It doesn't need to look like new, just rinse off the debris.

What do you mean 4 rectangle pieces? And I opened up the stuff for the first time..I could probably fit the polishing pads on top of the bio foam, but it'll be tight. I might try this thank you. I'm setting it up tomorrow so I have time to tinker and think. But again, what goes in the sliding, long vertical tray beside the trays? And how much biomax do you put in? Jammed packed?

That’s pretty much the way my filter is set up. I just don’t have all that stuff on the bottom. I have a sponge on the intake before it goes into the filter and that breaks down the large waste into smaller waste. GWR is right about the media but make sure the rings are porous. A solid ceramic ring isn’t giving bb much room to grow. Matrix works well as does his product biohome.

So you have a sponge in this space I'm pointing to? Would the Fluval foam pads (top pic of post) work I this space is that what they're made for? What goes in this space? And when you say make sure the rings aren't too porous, you mean the biomax rings? Or the pre-filter rings of I decide to use them?




I have the DVD, the lady kept everything. Even a bag of new spare parts! so I'll watch that. Has anyone here have any experience with the pre-filter rings? Or using carbon? So many questions!! Thanks guys!

T

I would post pics but you're not allowed to post pics that aren't yours and I'm not going to take my canister apart just to show you.

Google your filter and you'll see everything that goes in your filter. I think you might be missing the tall red piece.

Tall red piece?

 

I guess they changed the color of the tray. It's the black piece your finger is pointing to.

You need 4 sponges. They come in 2pks so you need to buy 2 packages of 2.

 

I guess they changed the color of the tray. It's the black piece your finger is pointing to.

You need 4 sponges. They come in 2pks so you need to buy 2 packages of 2.

Hmm..I haven't seen any sponges...are the 2 pack foam pieces what your referring to? They seem a little tall but they fit. I'll have to get one more two pack, I didn't notice the two slots on the other side.

But this is usually the spot people sometimes improvise on too right? Like use filter floss or anything else..ie..a sponge

Also, there is no black piece. Just the 3 trays (gray) and the sliding tray (also gray) for the sponges, to the left in the pic is just empty dark space. I believe your referring to the gray sliding tray as the black piece?

Will this work/the same thing?

 

Those are it. The tray takes 4 pieces of foam (sorry, not sponge). The 2 closest to the trays will sit slightly higher (about .5-1").

 

No I have a sponge in the tank on the end of the intake tube. Not sure what that spot is. It could be where the water goes to get to the bottom of the filter. My sponge can be removed and cleaned thus reducing the amount of cleaning the filter itself. Not sure if that fluval pad is for that filter? Does it fit in there without being cut? No I said make sure they are porous. lol.

 

No I have a sponge in the tank on the end of the intake tube. Not sure what that spot is. It could be where the water goes to get to the bottom of the filter. My sponge can be removed and cleaned thus reducing the amount of cleaning the filter itself. Not sure if that fluval pad is for that filter? Does it fit in there without being cut? No I said make sure they are porous. lol.

Oh okay haha. Yeah the pre filter rings are actually more pourous than the biomax. Maybe I'll do...but yeah the foam is made for that sliding tray, tried it again and it fits perfectly. Just got to pick up another two pack to make 4.

bottom tray: pre-filter rings one side, other side bio foam, both with polish pads on top.

Middle tray: polish pad on bottom, carbon on top (Maybe, or more bio-foam, or maybe one carbon one bio-foam?)

Top tray: all bio max

Does anyone know if it would be okay to do different things with the same tray? Like I detailed above? Like just one side of the middle tray with carbon?

But yeah, I get the whole foam thing now. I'm just a liiitle uncertain if the water goes bottom to top and back to tank, or top to bottom and back to tank...but I'm 90% sure it's bottom to top and back to tank.... haha..I found a semI decent video on it:

Those are it. The tray takes 4 pieces of foam (sorry, not sponge). The 2 closest to the trays will sit slightly higher (about .5-1").

Yeah, you nailed it. The two closest to the trays are exactly about that much higher. Thanks guys your awesome. I'm having fun with this...though African cichlids are turning out to be a hard first choice for a newcomer. All this work for these little bullies...

EDIT: Okay, maybe I won't do carbon, it seems like most people don't. They say just keep it for med removal or emergency? But I am interested in mixing in the pre-filter media rings...ill do some more research.

Does anyone have any idea how often these should be replaced or expected to be replaced/cleaned? Other than the first layer of defense foam..probably easy to tell.

 

You really don't want to mix media in the trays unless it's one side biomax and the other side for carbon. The first tray should have biofoam on both sides. The prefilter rings are supposed to be used before the foam, not next to it.

The prefilter rings are not porous like the biomax rings and is used as a mechanical filtration media, not biological filtration media. You could put them on the outside of the 4 foam filter tray if you really wanted to use them.

One other tip is to keep the output hose shorter than the intake hose so the filter motor isn't taxed and it makes priming the canister much easier.

 

You really don't want to mix media in the trays unless it's one side biomax and the other side for carbon. The first tray should have biofoam on both sides. The prefilter rings are supposed to be used before the foam, not next to it.

The prefilter rings are not porous like the biomax rings and is used as a mechanical filtration media, not biological filtration media. You could put them on the outside of the 4 foam filter tray if you really wanted to use them.

One other tip is to keep the output hose shorter than the intake hose so the filter motor isn't taxed and it makes priming the canister much easier.

So you're saying the pre-filter rings should not be in a tray? In the video, it looks like (but can't quite tell) it says it can go in the bottom tray. But thank you very much for all your help and tips...kinda the only one still answering my questions haha. I will probably do something like you described if not exactly the same. Is your biological filter very efficient? No ammonia or nitrites?

 

Watching football and that video you put up. Videos kind of fuzzy and so is Tennessee. But what I see and this filter is new to me. The water is going in and through the 4 foam pads than comes through the bottom tray up. This is a different design. Watch first video from GWR. Looks to me lowest trays get the bio-media foam next trays cut to fit that filstar foam just one layer (or floss)on top of it put whatever bio-media to fill those trays. Last set of trays also fill with bio media. You may want to put the media in the last trays in bags. This way you could remove a bag if you want to add charcoal.

 

So you're saying the pre-filter rings should not be in a tray? In the video, it looks like (but can't quite tell) it says it can go in the bottom tray. But thank you very much for all your help and tips...kinda the only one still answering my questions haha. I will probably do something like you described if not exactly the same. Is your biological filter very efficient? No ammonia or nitrites?

They're supposed to go in the 1st tray but I think it's a waste of space as the 4 foams and the bio-foam will pick up most of the debris. I'd rather have as much bio-media (biomax) as possible.

I think my canister is very efficient. I have a pair of EBAs, 2 - 2.5" plecos and 8 bronze cories. My EBA had fry last month and I split the group, leaving about 50-70 fry in the tank. They are now about .5" ea and I've had zero ammonia and nitrites and <20 nitrates because I have a lot of plants. I was able to take half a tray of biomedia to seed a 20 gallon fry tank and still not see any ammonia or nitrites.

This is at 3 weeks old. They're 4 1/2 weeks old now. My cories got a little beat up from the over protective parents when the fry were newborn to about 2 weeks.

 

Great picture darkone

 

Yes- that is a stunning fish. I love the colors