Filter Changes

[deranged chipmunk]

Personally, I haven't run true filter material in any of my filters for over a decade. I keep lava rock in my filters. Canister, hang on back, what have you. It serves as an excellent bio filter and I have never had to clean out a filter because of clogging, only because I was bored and wanted something to do. I ran an fx5 filter filled to the brim on a 75 gallon heavily planted tank with fish and shrimp for 2 years before I even considered opening that sucker up.

Not that the folks here aren't knowledgable (Carlos is a wealth of knowledge), check out hydraforum.com and ask some folks over there. There is some true brilliance when it comes to aquariums/planted tanks/ect there.

[elliotulysses]

Would you say a canister filter is better than my model of filter? Or would using both be okay? I am also interested in using a sponge filter, as I have heard some good things about them?

[elliotulysses]

Personally, I haven't run true filter material in any of my filters for over a decade. I keep lava rock in my filters. Canister, hang on back, what have you. It serves as an excellent bio filter and I have never had to clean out a filter because of clogging, only because I was bored and wanted something to do. I ran an fx5 filter filled to the brim on a 75 gallon heavily planted tank with fish and shrimp for 2 years before I even considered opening that sucker up.

Not that the folks here aren't knowledgable (Carlos is a wealth of knowledge), check out hydraforum.com and ask some folks over there. There is some true brilliance when it comes to aquariums/planted tanks/ect there.

Would you say a canister is a better option? Would there be any harm in running both filters until the canister becomes my primary filter. Also what do you use to filter them? What brand would you recommend for some not-quite-grown ACFs?
I will also check out these websites.