filtration for crs

[marleunited]

Hi guys,

which do you think is the best filtration system for crs?

Canister filter? IOS? Hang on?

I am currently using 2 hang on filter ( 1 put biohome, 1 put wool) for my 1feet... but filtration i can say still not a extremely good standard.

I heard from a good crs keeper saying ios is good, considerg it but wanna hear about your comments.

yup..

thanks.

[ice-cream]

hi guys,

which do u think is the best filtration system for crs?

canister filter? ios? hang on?

i am currently using 2 hang on filter( 1 put biohome, 1 put wool) for my 1feet... but filtration i can say still not a extremely good standard..

i heard frm a good crs keeper saying ios is good.. considerg it but wanna hear abt ur comments..

yup..

thanks.
No hard and fast rule, if your crs can do well with your current filtration system, why want to do changes. Many people swear that their system is the best, but each have their pros and cons. IOS cannot say no good, but in my opinion, it is good for louhan. Have you wonder why those japaneses crs breeder all use canister filter??

[marleunited]

My filtration system i must admit not very appealing and makes use of 2 plugs.. yup..

Nope, haven't wondered, is it becaus canister provides good cover for bb to grow well?

[silane]

No hard and fast rule, if your crs can do well with your current filtration system, why want to do changes. Many people swear that their system is the best, but each have their pros and cons. IOS cannot say no good, but in my opinion, it is good for louhan. Have you wonder why those japaneses crs breeder all use canister filter??

ice-cream,
What make you say IOS is good for louhan? Please enlighten me. :)

marleunited,
How big you want your tank to be? When choosing a filter, one have to take tank size into consideration.

[ice-cream]

ice-cream,
What make you say IOS is good for louhan? Please enlighten me. :)

marleunited,
How big you want your tank to be? When choosing a filter, one have to take tank size into consideration.
In olden days, i think we don't use IOS. IOS became widely use in singapore during the luohan craze. That's why i say IOS is good for luohan. Personally, I do not think IOS is good for sensitive shrimp like crs. If you want to wash the filter material, the dirt will seep out of the IOS into the main tank.

[silane]

In olden days, i think we don't use IOS. IOS became widely use in singapore during the luohan craze. That's why i say IOS is good for luohan. Personally, I do not think IOS is good for sensitive shrimp like crs. If you want to wash the filter material, the dirt will seep out of the IOS into the main tank.

I think IOS has its place for fishes that produce large amount of waste, the wool and such can be maintained easily. Cost wise, it was the cheapest (much cheaper compare to canister filter then), if not for the recent flood of China made cheap canister filter. And it is easy to use.

IOS take up a portion of the tank space for filtration purpose, it is not suitable for a small size tank, as the filtration medium can take up a significant amount of space in a volume limited size tank. However, this self-containing feature can be useful when there is no space to place a canister filter, particularly useful in a large tank.

Undergravel filter provides excellent bio and mechcanical filter, however it requires weekly vacuuming to remove detritus from the gravel, while vacumming the gravel shrimplet can be suck up together with the detritus. Some detritus will end up trapped under the filter plate which require regular breakdown (removal of gravel and clean understand the plates) for a complete cleaning. Placing of diftwood and rock can create dead spots, water cannot be drawn from such spot and lower the efficience of such filter.

Water takes the path of least resistance and with uneven gravel, water will bypass most part of the substrate for undergravel filter and about 1/2 of the medium in a IOS filter with side partition.

Unlike a canister filter, where water is pressurised in the filter, water has to reach every part of the medium in a constant velocity, water is also being forced to pass through porous core of some of the brand of the bio medium where anaerobic bacteria live and denitrifying process can take place. Canister filter does not have dead spot, does not have low water resistance path, and thus can provide good effiency cross all medium. This is not something hang on side/top, IOS filter can offer.

Maintaining a canister filter is more tedious than hang on side/top, UGF and IOS filter.

The above is my thought, correct me if I am wrong. I go for canister. :) I can't comment on other type of filter as I have no experience on them.

[marleunited]

wow.. good thought..

oh my tank is 1ft~

however, i have plans to get a 1.5ft n diy IOS~

[gnatster]

I use a sponge, but then again I am not looking at beauty but function. Listing tank size as 1ft or 1.5 ft does little good as tanks come in many shapes. Simply making the tank taller or wider increases the size quite a bit. My tank sizes range from 2.5 gal to 20 gal with sponges.

[turbomkt]

I think the easiest for me is a sponge filter. It does a few things. First, there is quite a bit of area for bacteria to colonize. Second, I use an air pump with a diffusor stone on it, so I'm getting some decent aeration and a little bit of water movement.

Also, it gives a spot for some detritus to collect and the shrimp to feed on it. I even like the idea of relatively low water flow in the tank (not a big deal since my tank is relatively wide open).

[simcb]

IOS or Canister i guess also it all comes down to whether the user can accept part of their display tank taken up for filtration. IOS works better for 2ft and above .... My preferences = i voted Canister :) .

[marleunited]

what about filtration for a 1.5ft x 1ft x 1ft tank?

what do u guys think of ios for this setup?

i think its the better one at the moment cos canister will be too strong~

[wifi]

Seems like you have made up your mind on IOS, goes for it, there are pros and cons for every filter type, you have to decide what you want for your shrimps and for yourself. No one filter will affect your CRS in short term, however, for a mid to long term, it appears that for certain filter type is not performing well and low death rate regularly (can be almost everday) for CRS is common. I have yet to draw any conclusion on that filter type, I will not make further any comment on this.

Both IOS and canister filter are power head driven, with different flow specification. A low flow canister filter from Eheim is about 400l/hr, a low flowrate power head is also about 400l/hr. There is no fix rule that canister filter ought to have higher flowrate then IOS. lol If high flowrate is your concern, a good choice is spong filter.

Canister filter comes with tap that can be used to reduce flow, the same thing can be done with a additional gadget connect to power head for your IOS. I have no problem using a 1000l/hr canister filter in a standard 2 feet shrimp tank, with carefully position output spray bar to reduce current for the shrimps.

If I were you, I will go for 2 feet tank if you see the advantage to use IOS, I tend to agree with simcb on that. I more to think a 3 feet tank is more suitable for IOS. For 1.5 feet, it is too small to have IOS, you will have to fork out space inside the tank for filter compartment, you can't reduce the compartment size, shrimps need good biological filter, and to have good biological filtration, you will need large volume of biofilter medium.

BTW, Ehiem ECCO is only 5W, that means it adds little heat to the water, wattage of power head should be a factor to consider since it add heat to water.

Good luck for your quest of best filter for CRS. Update us on its long term performance :)

[Muddy Waters]

Guys, don't you think shrimplets will be sucked up by a canister? Not a problem with IOS or sponge. So your choice is also a matter of whether you're aiming for breeding or just want a nice display tank for adult CRSs.

[simcb]

Hi Muddy waters,

There are ways to prevent the sucking in of shrimplets. Like attaching a sponge or fine meshes to the inlet of the canister filter.

[marleunited]

sure guys... will update u all~

[NanoDave]

Just a heads up for any caninister users- you may want to try extending your caninister's inflow and outflow to create a mild current on the bottom and see if there is any difference :)

http://www.shrimpnow.com/forums/showpost.php?p=5945&postcount=44

(unfortunately if all your red is the thick thick type then maybe you cannot see any difference...)

[marleunited]

interesting post u have there nanodave~!

[NanoDave]

Thanks marleunited :)

[marleunited]

hi guys.

may i ask what filter media do u guys use for ur crs tanks?

im starting a 1.5ft ios tank soon n plan to use biohome, seachem matix, activated carbon and wool to be included in the tank.

any comments will be much appreciated. :joking:

[NanoDave]

Actually you don't need wool.. I use sponge on the top layer and it works well. :)

[krabbie]

Do you guys add carbon in the filter? I use those carbon wool .. is it recommended for shrimps?

[Walter]

Do you mean activated carbon? If so, I think A.carbon aren't really neccessary but no harm using it. Just remember to change after 3-6months depending on bioload, for shrimps I guess you can change every 4-6months. :)