Equipment Review and Discussion :: Old canister filter as a pre-filter?

[jonnenaarala]

Hi all!
I am going to buy Eheim Prof. II 2028 as my new canister filter and I am wondering if it is possible to use my old canister filter as a pre-filter for the new Eheim.

I would remove motor propellor from the old filter and fill the canister with mechanical filter mass. From that pre-filter the water is hosed to the new Eheim where I would have mainly biological filter substrates. From Eheim the water is pumped back into the tank.

Is this totally crazy idea and is it possible to do at all?

I would be glad for all comments and advice! Thanks!

Jonne

[mikee]

If I am following you correctly, you are trying to have the water run through the old one without power and have the new one do all the pumping. You will be adding additional friction and load for the new pump to move the water. If you add the impeller to the first one you will not be able to run them in tandem without an expansion tank. They will not pump at the same rate. If you wish to run them parallel and seperate that would be fine.

[mikee]

I might add that you will need a filter or filters that will pump at least 5 times the volume that you have in your tank. Don't fall for the the 2x your tank size at the pet stores. You never know what two times what is.

[steve]

It's an interesting idea but it does seem like a lot of work for one motor to pull water through 2 canisters. If the 2028 can handle a tank of your size, then I would just use that.

[jonnenaarala]

Yep, you could be right, it may be too much of work for the filter. It would have been nice to have a very effective pre-filter in that way though.

Jonne

[mikee]

If you want more filtration you should think about a larger filter. I am pro "more filtration" as more folks under filter than over filter. They get stuck on the fish filter times some number and in most cases it is not enough.

[jonnenaarala]

Okay, this is what I am going to do in near future:

- I will add a pre-filter inside the tank; maybe Filter-Max III or ATI Hydro Sponge or similar
- I will upgrade my present canister filter to Eheim Prof. II 2028
- I will add Pentair Aquatics Lifegard fluidized bed filter to my system
- I may add also a UV-sterilizer (like Lifegard or Aquastep)

That would be a quite fancy system!

Jonne

[steve]

UV-sterilizers are very interesting... I'm looking to get one too. As for a pre-filter, have you considered the foam type that covers the inlet?

[jonnenaarala]

I constructed yesterday self-made pre-filter using existing filter foam from an old internal filter. It is quite coarse foam so it should not be clogged too easily. I think I am going to clean it weekly when I change water.

Jonne

[jonnenaarala]

I just ordered ab Aqua Medic Biostar biorotor filter. I will report here how it is doing the job after it has been in use for few weeks. Eventually I am also going to upgrade my canister filter too.

Cheers,

Jonne