Basketcase!

**sarahbobarah** · 09-22-2005, 08:39 AM

Sweet!!!!!

Scored a new Fluval 404 for 5 bucks!

Now, I've had my trusty lil 204 for about a year now. The media that comes with the baskets fit just right.

But with the 404, there's not that much media to spread out among all the baskets. Do I need to buy more to fill them (I'm talking about the ceramic biorings)? Or is the space in the baskets ok being empty?

Also, do I really need the prefilter rings (the ones that are hexagonal tubes) that are supposed to go in the first bottom basket?

jimmydrsv · 09-22-2005, 09:13 AM

How did you manage that? I been scouring craigslist for two months. There were a few free ones but all north bay. I hope i get lucky eventually.

Kyle · 09-22-2005, 01:56 PM

I'd try maybe using some sort of floss in the lower two baskets, then ceramic rings in the top two.

I use my 404 on my turtle tank so I use 2 baskets of carbon and 2 of rings.

TheOtherGeoff · 09-22-2005, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimmydrsv

How did you manage that? I been scouring craigslist for two months. There were a few free ones but all north bay. I hope i get lucky eventually.

whats the craigslist??

As for the 404 media you cn put whatever you want in the open baskets. they usually have one basket open so you can put a different filter media then what comes with them in it. say you want a peat moss buffer, you can fill the basket with that, or if you want to add more bio balls, or rings.

GraFFix · 09-22-2005, 03:23 PM

Craigslist is kinda like the classifieds in the newspapaer only online, its free to list and you can select your local cities. Lots of free stuff and really cheap stuff. I brouse over it every once in a while.

http://www.craigslist.org/

**Jason Baliban** · 09-22-2005, 03:41 PM

We know that "good" bacteria will grow and thrive in balance with the load of the tank. So this extra area to put media may not really make a difference. You could fill it with more noodle's, but it isnt going to increase the "good" bacteria. It may spread the colonies out a bit, but I dont know if there is an advantage to this.

I might add a bit more noodles and some more floss. I think what you have gained here is more flow through the tank. Also it probly will help the efficiancy of an inline reactor if you are using one. And for 5 bucks.....sounds like a tasty deal to me.

jB

09-22-2005, 08:39 AM	#1
sarahbobarah LOTR BFME (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: May 2005 Location: South Bay Area Posts: 1,159	Basketcase! Sweet!!!!! Scored a new Fluval 404 for 5 bucks! Now, I've had my trusty lil 204 for about a year now. The media that comes with the baskets fit just right. But with the 404, there's not that much media to spread out among all the baskets. Do I need to buy more to fill them (I'm talking about the ceramic biorings)? Or is the space in the baskets ok being empty? Also, do I really need the prefilter rings (the ones that are hexagonal tubes) that are supposed to go in the first bottom basket? __________________ "What do you want to be when you grow up?" "The world's sexiest ichthyologist." - Eheim Madame 172 Best Dressed Member of SVAS, SFBAAPS. (I sit at the cool kids' table)

09-22-2005, 01:56 PM	#3
Kyle Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2/100%) Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Phoenixville, PA Posts: 335	I'd try maybe using some sort of floss in the lower two baskets, then ceramic rings in the top two. I use my 404 on my turtle tank so I use 2 baskets of carbon and 2 of rings. __________________ 10gal / Bleeding heart tetras, angel & silver hatchets / Filstar XP2 / 8wpg PC / 2.5lbs of Co2 / Hydor inline

09-22-2005, 03:23 PM	#5
GraFFix Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: N.W. Chicago Posts: 277	Craigslist is kinda like the classifieds in the newspapaer only online, its free to list and you can select your local cities. Lots of free stuff and really cheap stuff. I brouse over it every once in a while. http://www.craigslist.org/ __________________ My tanks: 20g - 10g - 5g - 2.5g Add yourself to the Planted Tank map!

09-22-2005, 03:41 PM	#6
Jason Baliban Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (90/100%) Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Phoenixville, PA Posts: 1,941	We know that "good" bacteria will grow and thrive in balance with the load of the tank. So this extra area to put media may not really make a difference. You could fill it with more noodle's, but it isnt going to increase the "good" bacteria. It may spread the colonies out a bit, but I dont know if there is an advantage to this. I might add a bit more noodles and some more floss. I think what you have gained here is more flow through the tank. Also it probly will help the efficiancy of an inline reactor if you are using one. And for 5 bucks.....sounds like a tasty deal to me. jB __________________ Aquascapes - www.projectaquarium.com Project Aquarium on Facebook High Sundry Music Jason Baliban Photography

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09-22-2005, 09:13 AM	#2
jimmydrsv Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4/100%) Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Los Gatos, CA Posts: 708	How did you manage that? I been scouring craigslist for two months. There were a few free ones but all north bay. I hope i get lucky eventually.