filter media,please help!!; new tank cycling

**WendysWorld** · 03-20-2012, 04:10 PM

Hi folks. New 52 gallon tank cycling. Filter if CF-800 bought 2nd hand. Had been cleaned and put in storage. No instructions included. Internet search shows little info on media type and where to put each.

Seems water goes in canister and flows down to BOTTOM first! Then from bottom flows upward through the media. So compartment on the bottom appears to be the first compartment the water hits. The compartment in middle is second. Compartment on top of that is the last media the water passes through. (Please, be welcome to check my research if you can--maybe I am wrong about water flow for this type filter).

In any case, what kind of filter media should be placed in each compartment?
And in which order?

Right now I have the sponge in bottom (1st stage?) compartment, ceramic cyclinder thingys in the middle, and filter fiber in top (3rd stage?) compartment. Sound correct media in correct positions?

Today at pet stores explained my cycling problems: high amonia, frequent & high volume water changes, fear of nitrite levels in future, etc. THey said probably I have the filter media in wrong order or maybe don't even have the right media in the first place in the filter. They recommended these products: Elite Crystal Flo Amonia remover and Fluval Clearmax Phosphate, Nitrite, Nitrate remover.

Are these products or similar filter media good to use? Seems I WANT/NEED the amonia in order for the bacteria to grow. So removing the amonia sounds bad---but then they must sell it for some reason?? But the Clearmax nitrite/nitrate remover was really tempting since they said it goes it in the final compartment, still allowing all the bacteria to be in the filter but removing their waste before it gets into the aquarium.

HELP!!! I AM SCREAMING WITH CONFUSION!! Should have bought new filter with instructions! Please!! Help!! I have gotten so much bad advice from the local pet stores I don't want to listen anymore and trust you folks. .....So please answer!!

**imma24** · 03-20-2012, 04:21 PM

You want the water to hit the mechanical filter 1st - that's your sponges & filter floss (or pillow stuffing as many of us use) so things get trapped and don't return to your tank - at the top goes biological media such as ceramic rings or noodles which contain your bacteria and removes ammonia & nitrites.

Unless I don't know any better, there is no need for nitrite/nitrate or ammonia removers for a new tank that needs to cycle - yes, you DO need ammonia in the tank to grow bacteria (either from fish themselves or putting pure ammonia in the tank). Ammonia removers, from what I think I've read here, are for those people who live in areas where their tap water has ammonia in it - don't forget, pet store employees are there to sell products - many of them don't know about cycling unless they are keeping established tanks of their own at home.

**ridgenesss** · 03-20-2012, 04:21 PM

You filter media seems to be in the right order to me. They seem to be trying to sell you those products to make money. I dont use chemical filtration in any of my freshwater tanks(not to say activated carbon cant be useful) What is you bioload and do you have test kits get to give us some exact water parameters?

**Honey Badger 1** · 03-20-2012, 04:25 PM

You are exactly right about the ammonia remover, you don't need it, they sell it to make money, no other reason.
Here is a picture of how you want your media placed in the filter. You usually place the media in order coarse to fine.

That picture was taken from this website: http://www.aquapetbargain.com/atman-...p#.T2iuo9n8uHc

**Lady Hobbs** · 03-20-2012, 04:45 PM

My canister filter states to put the ceramic rings on top so only the cleanest water goes thru it. So I put coarse material on the bottom (sponges), fiber in the center (for fine cleaning) and ceramic rings on top (cleanest water.)

We all tend to fill out baskets just a bit different from each other. No biggie.

**WendysWorld** · 03-20-2012, 04:47 PM

Originally Posted by mommy1

You are exactly right about the ammonia remover, you don't need it, they sell it to make money, no other reason.
Here is a picture of how you want your media placed in the filter. You usually place the media in order coarse to fine.

That picture was taken from this website: http://www.aquapetbargain.com/atman-...p#.T2iuo9n8uHc

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Wow thanks for the quick replies!!

I found exact same photo on internet for my filter. But it shows like five different layers in there and I only have three seperate compartments.

Maybe I can combine more than one thing, one layer with another layer in the same compartment?

In which compartment is where most of my wonderful, precious gold bacteria??? In other words, someday in future (months away) when doing any cleaning, which filter compartment should only be changed a little at a time?

Also, current filter is rated at 960 liters per hour output. Says suitable for tank size 150 liter to 300 liter. My tank is 200 liter. Several on this forum have said it is too small for my tank size and need to get a second filter to compliment it. How much capacity am I lacking? How much capacity a second filter should have to make both together working adequate?

I have opportunity to buy 2nd hand filter currently working in a very small tank with only one cichlid. The filter is Aquael Fan-1 plus rated at 320 liters/ hour. Whould this filter be enough to help cycle my tank? Would this filter be enough to help the primary filter on permanent basis?

Again thanks!!

P.S. - Fish load is about 30 inches (yes!!--- I know it was stupid mistake to overstock while cycling new aquarium!!) Maybe that info helps with the filter questions to know about filter capacity vs. fish load---thanks so much!!

**Lady Hobbs** · 03-20-2012, 04:49 PM

Wendy, what have you been using for a filter? If you began cycling the tank with the ammonia, use the canister and the filter you have been using.

**Honey Badger 1** · 03-20-2012, 04:51 PM

Now that I think about it I have some filters that have the media coarse to fine and others that have it fine to coarse. Depends on the filter really, but that picture is supposedly a picture of the same filter you stated to have. It has four compartments, but some have more than one media in it. Just make sure the baskets are full and water flows through them, it will be fine.

**WendysWorld** · 03-20-2012, 04:59 PM

Originally Posted by Lady Hobbs

Wendy, what have you been using for a filter? If you began cycling the tank with the ammonia, use the canister and the filter you have been using.

I HAVE Atman CF-800. Will CONTINUE to use the same filter started the cycle with, no change to this filter.

But some on this forum (a different, earlier post) say the Atman CF-800 is just a little bit too small for my tank size and should add secondary filter to assist/work together with the Atman.

Since cycling, and also know that it is helpful to have bacteria from existing filter, was thinking to buy this second filter (Aquael fan-1 Plus) that is wet and already has bacteria in it to help in the cycling process and at the same time solve the problem to add filter volume to the tank. This second filter is currently being used in an existing tank. Transfer to my tank could take total five minutes to keep bacteria alive.

Bad or good idea?

**Lady Hobbs** · 03-20-2012, 05:06 PM

The larger canisters of this same make probably has more baskets. And each manufacturer will instruct differently so I would go with what that manufacturer instructs. I don't understand the ceramic rings in the dirtest water, however. Just seems to me you'd want the dirtest water filtered out before getting to the rings. (shrugs shoulders) Either way you put the media in, it will work. It all has a job to do and will do it no matter what order you use.