[Gafi]

So I finally got my Eheim 2217 setup!!! What a beauty, I love it already....however, I am just curuious as to how long should I run my 3 HOB filters in regards to allowing for the bio filter in the eheim to get some good bacteria....any thoughts?

 

[KrazyFish]

Try taking some of the media from the HOBs - cut a piece of the sponge for example - and put it into one of the lower trays. This will help seed your biological media. If you do this and run the HOB's for at least two weeks you should be fine - but I would keep at least one of your HOB's going for about 4-6 weeks.

 

[Gafi]

sounds fair enough!

 

[Gafi]

anyone else have thoughts....4-6 weeks ok? too long? too short?

 

[ren]

Nice 3 HOBs plus a canister = awesome bioload. But yeah 4-6 weeks should be fine. I usually keep the older filters in longer but that's just me.

 

[Gafi]

hahaha yeah awesome bioload for sure....annoying to clean though!

 

[OverStocked]

Take the media and shove it in the eheim. Just cut the pad from the frame, if needed. NO reason to keep running.

In planted tanks, biofilters mean much less than like a cichlid tank... The plants consume ammonia very quickly.

 

[Gafi]

soudns good!