Dual Filters?

Question

The filter I use on my 20 gallon tank can hold two filter cartridges. One sits right behind the other.

My thoughts were; I've been running the second filter (which obvisuly doesn't gets dirty) to allow bacteria to build up in it. Then when the first filter needs replaced I move the second one forward and put the fresh filter in the second spot to allow bacteria to build up in it.

Am I rotating these correctly, or am I wasting my time and money running two filters in there?

Answer 1

You have an excellent idea there. I run this type of filter on a couple of my tanks. However, instead of two cartidges, one of them is a plastic frame that opens so I can put charcoal (carbon) in it. I also put some filter floss in with the carbon. I use 100% polyester fiber that is used for pillow stuffing (no anti mold chemicals added). A "huge" bag of this is $3.50 at the craft store VS a "small" bag at the fish store for $5-6. Probably one twentieth the cost or even less.

I just rinse off the first filter cartridge and then two weeks later, replace the carbon and the floss in the second. I have rinsed cartridges for years and save tons of cash by doing so. They are only mechanical traps for particulate matter and rinsing them off does not keep them from doing their job.

The bacteria in the carbon keep on doing their job until the cartridge builds up bacteria again and then I replace the carbon. It is basically the same priciple you use, except I don't buy new cartridges, only bulk carbon. It is much cheaper and you don't have to use a lot of carbon when you change it.

When you have a lot of tanks, it's all about saving a little cash here and there.

Answer 2

Sounds like you're doing fine, but you really don't need much carbon like those in the pre-made ones unless you're removing medicine from the tank or if the tank smells fishy. You may be incurring an unecessary expense by running 2 factory made cartridges at the same time.

If you have a bio-wheel filter, you really don't need to worry about bacterialogical cultures in the media cartridge. The bio wheel will be sufficient so you don't have to be paranoid about changing media too frequently.

I have a few similar filters, the emperor 280 and the emperor 400. In those, I have a reusable media cage. I put pillow stuffing polyester in it to act as a pre-filter in the stage before the factory made filter, and change it regularly, allowing the main filter cartridge to serve for a longer time without being disturbed. Any plain polyester pillow stuffing, with NO anti-flame retardants added will do just fine. The stuff that's like $2 a pound will last you forever and will do very well at sucking up excess phosphates from the water.

You may want to see if they sell reusable media containers for your filter. They can be hard to come by, because the manufacturers want you to buy theirs, but they are out there and It can save you a lot in maintenance costs.

Answer 3

Sounds to me like you've thought this out pretty well. While most of your bacteria will be in the substrate, there will be some in the filter media, and doubling up will create that much additional surface area for them to colonize. If you're changing what you call the second filter first, you're not even losing any filtration during the media change. (I hate seeing when people pull a filter and all the crud behind/under it washes into the tank - at least pull the intake tube first!)

Answer 4

Well i am assuming you are talking about those Emperor, Penguin or some other brand similar to it. Usually the first slot would be the mechanical filtration while the second would be chemical filtration (my marineland came with a cartridge that you can put any chemical filtration substrate like activated carbon).

Since you are using two of the same cartridges, it is still OK. You do not have to worry about beneficial bacteria growth because there should be enough in the tank itself and can build up in your tank as long as its aerated.

Answer 5

You are wasting your time.

your filter will not hold beneficial bacteria, at least not enought o make a difference. this has always been a bogus way of quickly cycling a tank. Running your tank to cycle it is the only way to build up beneficial bacteria.

You may come to find your water will become cloudy! Believe it or not over filtration can lead to cloudy tanks. Unless each filter is a 10.

Your filters are designed to remove waste and chemicals from your tank. Most will not and do not harbor bacteria in large amounts.

Your tank will still need to run the normal amount of time to cycle properly even if you are hopping filters.

Answer 6

i have never heard of a filter like that. i have 2 tanks...one takes a regular blue carbon filter and in my big take i have the 3 part biological filter. i don't think you need 2 filters. althought it depends if you have "clean" fish or "dirty" fish. it does make a difference when it comes to your fish and your filter system. good luck on figuring it out.

Answer 7

This is an excellent way to run your filter for both mechanical and bio filtration. And you are not wasting time or money, rather you are making sure to maintain a healthy nitrifying bacterial colony.

Answer 8

Yep, that's what lots of people do without any problems!