If you’re having trouble achieving crystal clear aquarium water, I can help! Download my Free ebook with the best tips and advice - KaveManAquatics.com/Free-Ebook
Got a question. I have a fx4 and found the quick clear pads and they say they are fx4 compatible which is good however the max clean pad says fx5/fx6 is there a reason they don’t have the fx4 on the list or should I leave this filter off in this application?
So I have south american puffers and today I finally caved in an bought a fx6. I will definitely be setting it up like you showed in your vids. In the past thanks to you my 406 has been providing crystal clear water. Thank you
Man Kave... You're breaking my bank with all this information. I keep buying new supplies to give my fish the best home possible. Keep up the information.
You’re a game changer bro.. my tank has gone from ok to beautiful thanks to you. My water quality is amazing now after I have set up my FX4 the way to did your FX6 with Bio Home Ultimate and Chemical-pure Blues . God bless always keep it up. You’re the best!
@@KaveManAquatics I know this is a year old but I just got a small canister filter for my 75 gal & it has no trays or baskets, I watched both your videos on this & was wondering if you could answer this for me, I see that when I opened the canister for the 1st time of running it for a month that most the muck was on the top. I have like 15-20 small zebra & Leopard danios with 6 albino Corie's, the plant's that's in the tank is java ferns amazon swords jungle Val & a tiger lotus along with some other odd & end plant's. Being most the muck was on the top is that where I would put the filter floss & where would I put the ceramic bio rings in the filter the pump is at the very bottom, sorry for the long comment I've been frauded off face book so y-t is all I have.
Awesome 😎 Boy that’s a great Video Kev, I’m Impressed with the Knowledge and tips that you Bring to the Hobby , I’m Loving the Course and I usually don’t do the Facebook but I’m gonna get into the Facebook page for more information about the hobby, Hall of Fame Brother. 😎😎😎🎏🎏
Thank you my bro! Glad you enjoyed the video and the course! And I know you'll get great enjoyment from the group as well. Not only finding help, but just a great fish keeper community sharing stories and pictures of fish and tank setups...just a great group of people!
@KaveManAquatics ive got a couple canisters and i just bought a bag of garden red lava rock from lowes, it was like 40-50lbs for like $8-$12. Very porus and seems to work fine, a lot of the bio media seems excessively overpriced.
hey kev love your videos btw. i have a quick question, is there a reason why u have the fluval ceramic rings mixed with the red bio home media?? Is there something beneficial about the hollowed out ceramic rings? please lmk... thanks again for all your help.
I use to use pot scrubbers in my koi pond filter back In the day. The pond was outdoor and over 3000 gallons. I also had UV and my water was always crystal clear and no nitrites nitrates or ammonia.
I was about to get rid off my fx6s just simply because of the maintenance was way to much work. Going to try this set up when you do a follow up to it . Great video Kev thanks mate.
I chucked out all my biohome. In both my fluval 407 and FX6 I have filled the baskets with 30ppi foams cut to size. Crystal clear water and perfect water parameters. Nitrates are pretty well contained too rarely exceeding 20ppm.
I just opened my old fish hobby supplies tote. I will be starting my new job soon. Thank goodness to my past self, I will be saving money 🙏 Al the memories and knowledge are coming back 😤
Lava rock works great, very cheap. I have 2 bare tanks a 50g & 60g.4goldfish in the 60g 2 in the 50g and use lava rock in the filters w/ sponges,topped with quilt batting. Has worked for years, after 2 weeks still 0 nitrates. Really. Rocks must be well rinsed. Can't wait to see pot scrubby results, thank you!
Volume for volume, lava rock is inferior to foam or pot scrubbers at biological filtration. Even with the porous surface, the water travels only on the outside of the individual rock, while utilizing the whole volume of the foam/sponge media uniformly. Not to mention those outside pores on the rock clog up fast by ever growing bacteria, rendering them useless.
This is an interesting idea. I run a reef tank and I can tell you I am way overboard on my biological filtration. I probably have 100 lbs of reef rock in the tank. In the sump I have a Brightwell Xport brick and a bunch of marine pure cubes. This is only an 80 gallon system. Obviously pot scrubbers wouldn’t work for me since salt destroys everything, but it is an option for my wife’s new freshwater tank she’s setting up. Looking forward to the results!
Tip I've learned with my canister since they don't have on/off switches.. I bought wifi plugs for my Fx4, lights, co2. So I can control/set time schedules all from my phone. Works great for feeding time. I use Merkury wifi plugs from Walmart 8$. Fits multiple on a power strip perfectly.🤘🏼
I use those too and theyre connected to my alexa...So I say "Alexa water change" and the wavemaker, heaters, and filters turn off 😊 Its on my list of videos to make 💪
Top tray, black Fluval pads and polyfill. Middle tray, lava rock. Bottom tray, chemi pure blue and crushed coral. My Eheim pro 3 focuses more on bio and mechanical.
Correct. In terms of anaerobic bacteria...I really wouldnt stop water changing anyway, even if I did have plenty or nitrate reducing bacteria...so its a cool trade off for me 😁
I’m so glad I’m in your email list! That’s why I’m here and learned a new great tip. Just order the poly fil as you recommended. Thanks Kev!! Greetings from Colombia❤️❤️
I think you may be confusing that with the charcoal pad that comes with the filter. That does technically go last. But that isnt a fine sponge. Regardless, I dont use that charcoal pad either. needs to be replaced monthly and you'll have to dig all the way to the bottom to get it out and replace it. No bueno
You will have better success with fine filter pads in the top. You want to trap as much debris and detritus BEFORE water touches your bio-media, not after.
I’ve just started following your channel and have been very impressed on you knowledge video quality in your progression for when you first started I know this topic is a little old but I’m currently setting up my second 125 gallon tank running it off of two FX4 and wanted to know why not just add the pot scrubbers on top of the bio wouldn’t that penetrate better than eliminating it
You could do either or. If you didnt want to spend money on any bio, you could fill it entirely with sponges. Or you could use the bio that came with the filter as well. I wanted to see how well nothing but just sponge would work to prove that it was capable. 😁
I really like that setup. It looks a lot cleaner & definitely easier to maintain. I might have to give it a try once you’re done with your test run. Good looking out brother!
polishing filter completely saturated and pristine side prefiltration? How do you do that ? The sponges on the side are the first that get hit with the incoming water, then it goes down in the middle.
Informative, clear, and interesting! Your videos are some of the best in the hobby. Easy to understand. Great quality in video and audio. Appreciate this! ❤️👌
I've used just plain old gravel in my canister filter before... Worked great. I like biomedia but I would never throw it out and then buy more. Just rinse a reuse...
Im.about to upgrade from a tank.mount to a canister. A little hesitant this video made the choice super easy. It don't look at all as scary as it sounds. Thank you
Good all around tips...I also suggest hitting your local Dollar Store to save even more $$$ on pot scrubbers and other items that can be used in the hobby. One suggestion I can add is using a sticky label either on the cannister itself, or hang a small clipboard with a plastic sheet as the paper. Use a waterproof marker to keep track of the date you performed any service on the tank/filters, Gravel cleaning/water changes, etc. etc. This way you never have to say "damn..when did i last change out my filter media...i think it's been about a month,,, ".
Question: How often should I replace my artificial plants in my aquarium. I’ve had the same ones for over a year. They are not the bright green that they were but I know they can hold beneficial bacteria for the sake of the tank. So every two years replace all the artificial plants? Let me know please.
What do you think is better to oxygenate my water change water I’ve got pumps that sit on the bottom of my 55 gallon barrel then it’s piped up and out of the barrel and then 90s back down to splash the surface or would it be better to just let the pump run without the pipe and agitate the surface
I've got a discount code for Snake river Cichlids as well for your next order 😁 Join my Facebook group for more discount codes facbook.com/groups/kavemanaquatics
@@KaveManAquatics wish I knew that yesterday haha! but i just joined! I appreciate you and your channel very much! Very informative and straight to the point. Theres nothing else like this channel. Keep it up brother! 💯
Thank you for sharing. I’m going to try this. I did a water change Friday. 120g established tank on fx6. Got the algae bloom to stop but my nitrates are too high. It’s lightly cloudy.
Plus, my top basket has the black sponges for mechanical that they came with. So do you prefer those blue and white sponges that you used in yours instead of the black ones they came with? And, I didn't know you had a Facebook group. I'll definitely be joining. Thank you man for the vidoes.
I stopped using any kind of chemical media literally decades ago other than carbon and I only use that if I am removing meds or tannins. After 40 years in the hobby I finally figured out that it was basically just a money suck, just like all of the boutique bio medias. You are one of very few experienced hobbyists that still use and recommend chemical media. In this old video you even recommend changing it monthly. Do you still do that? I am not hating on you at all...it's an honest question. BTW...we have been doing pot scrubbers since they changed from metal to plastic in the early 80's. They work great. Thanks for the videos...
Thanks for sharing your experience with me bro, I know many people that have also stopped using chemical media. But, I've literally seen a difference in my tanks when I use it and when I dont. I still use Purigen and change it out every 30-45 days, even though my tanks stay pretty crystal clear, I use it because I can tell it bumps the clarity up even more, just by a bit. For someone that doesnt have it all dialed in the way my tanks are, Purigen will prob be a bigger difference for them. I stopped using activated carbon only because of its links to HITT disease, even though I know thats not really confirmed. I've found that Purigen results in similar clarity so I go that route instead.
@@KaveManAquatics Thanks for the reply. That's what is great about our hobby! We have different paths to the same result and neither is wrong. Have a great day!
Everything can be for treatment maximal if you have money .. I always care my fish because my fish my friend in room . Cichlid fish so prety ,beautiful and mystic . I think afrika must happy for big natural wonderfull in there .. i am so interest for your treatment use sachem etc . But so exspensive i am usually use salt and some treatment in my country for cichlid . Love you sir ...
Thanks so so much my water is more crystal clear than ever! Since I been watching your video my 75 is on point👌!!! My new wave makers are awesome... I always been using Prime but I never used Stability and I want to start . How much do I use for my 75 gallon tank? Yes you are a game changer!!
Glad you're enjoying the channel and finding it helpful! 😊 You dont need to use Stability consistently, only in specific situations. Check this out - ua-cam.com/video/dfxs8MDlWV8/v-deo.html
Definitely gonna try this set up in my FX4 (mechanical, chemical then bio) Switched from the way its recommended (mechanical, bio then chemical) cause it make sense what you're saying. I usually just watch and like your videos but after watching this video I'm now a subscriber to your channel. Love your videos bro very informative 👌. Can't wait to see the results of the scrubbie experiment.!!
I would normally say wait, lol But Its been over a month and I just did it again to my second FX6 and still everything looking good...so have at it! lol 🤣
I want to run two fx6’s and plum them together! One input, one output! First one mechanical filtration, second biological and chemical! What are thoughts on this! Can’t find any details on how everyone is running two filters. Make a video on this please!
Question : raising salmon for school salmon in the class room for Michigan DNR Explain each media tray setup To control nitrates and nitrites Please advice tray setup chemical bio and mechanical, there will be about 80 eggs Had a hard time last year controlling nitrates
Great video. Nice to see someone offer quantitative parameters for N byproducts. It also looks like you planned and outlined your delivery, rather than just making it up as you went along. Thanks. Subscribed.
Hi Kave man ive just got an fx6 for a 240l I know it's abit too much but they say you can never have too much filtration! I was just wondering if you'd put a video on how to control the outlet for agitation If its to much how to turn it down etc thankyou
my nitrates are insanely high. Great video. You really have me thinking. I have one tank with 3 cannisters. Im gonna turn one of the 3 into a mechanical reactor....add chemipure and zeolite etc
That would be great! When I used to have 3 canisters on my 210, my 3rd canister was exactly that, a polishing canister with only mechanical and chemical. That way I only had to pop that one open monthly while the other 2 could go 4-6 months without touching.
Hi keV I've I've 0' amonina 0' nitrites but my nitrates keep creeping up I don't let them get to 20' I'm doing 25% water change sometimes 50% but can't get rid of it and my P:h keeps dropping to 7'8 I've got mbuna what's the best thing to do thank you all your fish are looking great
That was a good video 👍 I think expensive media like biohome is not necessary too. You can use anything so long as it has decent surface area and is inert. And like you said lots of the surface area is in the tank itself, especially if you have lots of decorations. Lots of good info in this video 🙂
Biohome is aimed at lowering the nitrate levels, due to supposedly enabling the anaerobic bacteria to flourish deep inside. The aerobic bacteria that uses nitrite grows pretty much everywhere. I love how KaveMan had the smart way of putting the sponges on top of the bio media.
You need more than surface area to lower nitrates which is the claim good biological media can do and for that, you need very slow-moving areas in the media that can host de-nitrifying bacteria. That's why something like filter floss even though it has good surface area never could do the work of good biological media.
I have 2 out of the 3 trays in my 307 filled with matrix and I'm upgrading to a fx6 along side my 407. Will I go through a mini cycle by just throwing my seeded bio media in the new fx6 along with newly added matrix? It's a 75 gallon peacock cichlid tank with 15 fish.
If you're keeping the same amount of fish, no you shouldn't. The seeded media you have in your 307 has enough bacteria in it to cover your current bio-load. By transferring the seeded media over you'll keep the new tank cycled. Congrats on the upgrade!
Those pot scrubbers,is there anything to look for? They look like plastic, should I worry about chemicals on the scrubbers like from production or are just plain plastic pot scrubbers ok? ,do they need to be made out of a special material?
Do you still run this setup and will it be fine to run same setup with freshwater, if not do you have any recommendations to get the most out of the fx6. Thanks
The pot scrubbers worked to perfection for over a year. After concluding they did work I switched to Seachem Matrix in order to also get anaerobic bacterial growth for reducing nitrates. The one thing the pot scrubbers couldn’t do. But besides that, they were a great home for beneficial bacteria!
Fantastic, informative and great precise delivery. Can you connect two FX6 in parallel. That way you only have one intake and one output in the take. One tank would be totally biomedia and next tank all chemical. What do you think.
This theory has been discussed many times but many dont do it because you'll lose the turn over rate that 2 filters give you. If 1 FX6 provides say, 400GPH (With media inside) 2 will turn your tank over at 800 GPH. Combining them in parrallel will not produce 800 GPH turn over rate.
@@KaveManAquatics Good point. Should have mentioned 125g African C tank. Was thinking of crystal clear water. First tank bio the second tank chemical would give perfect water & less tubing in tank.
Here's another good reason...You dont need an entire FX6 with chemical. That's overkill. But 2 fx6's worth of bio-media is MUCH better than 1. Here's an idea for you, add a 3rd filter, either a small canister or an HOB for polishing. Nothing but fine mechanical media and chemical. Watch this - ua-cam.com/video/fgug3v6DtJs/v-deo.html
This is an awesome channel, always full of educational and straight to the point information delivered by a fish keeper who has most probably forgotten more than others know. Always a 5 ⭐️ delivery. Would be interesting to see what the tests show after a month or two running the fx6 with the pot scrubbers Kev before you change the other.
Thank you bro! I appreciate that positive feedback. Maybe that’s a good Idea to throw in that video as well. That way I make it into a 3 part series 😁 Thanks for the idea 💪
Depends on the species of fish, size of fish, your source tap water PH, what PH you're trying to get to....I suggest you watch this playlist which could answer many of your questions 😊 ua-cam.com/play/PLP5OXTIIDO8NYvhUHAmwAd54WFmS4d8er.html
Question, I just got a Marineland 360 canister and it has filtration in the order mechanical, chemical and then bio... I'm setting up for a turtle, does the bio & chemical order make any difference in my situation, or any for that matter. Kinda seems like you don't believe so!
The best and correct order is mechanical, bio, then chemical. But I've discovered that even when you put chemical before bio it does not harm your cycle or bacteria. I keep bio then chemical in every filter other than my FX6 which I keep chemical then Bio because of the canisters design. Great Question!
@@KaveManAquatics Thanks! On my first filter change, I believe I'll switch it around to chemical last! One other question, is there any harm in mixing different chemical and biological medias? Such as- Bio balls, ceramic cylinders, biohome, matrix all together to get a mix of benefits? Same with chemical; activated carbon, zeolite, purigen, deionizing resin? Can some of each be a good idea in a canister or are there risks/ disadvantages of running a WHOLE Buffet of things?
One further question, Chemipure Blue says it's optimized for reef & marine aquariums. Would Chemipure Elite be a better option for freshwater? Or just stick with Marineland resin/ Purigen?
Do you think the black foam pad that comes with the fx6 is worthless if I do the blue and white pads you do? And I'm guessing I wouldn't need the carbon pad either if I end up using chemipure elite?
I havent confirmed its effectiveness yet...But I can say this was recorded almost 2 weeks ago and I havent seen any spike in ammonia or nitrite! So its lookin good so far 😁
If you’re having trouble achieving crystal clear aquarium water, I can help!
Download my Free ebook with the best tips and advice - KaveManAquatics.com/Free-Ebook
No more sponge filter? Haven’t seen one in your tank in a while or am I missing it? Keep it up the good work!
Got a question. I have a fx4 and found the quick clear pads and they say they are fx4 compatible which is good however the max clean pad says fx5/fx6 is there a reason they don’t have the fx4 on the list or should I leave this filter off in this application?
Thanks!
WOW, Thank you!! 😁 Sorry I didnt notice this sooner. I appreciate your support! 💪
Salute to the Marine in the picture
Thank you Sir! That’s me 20 years ago!
@@KaveManAquatics thank you for your service. Even happier I’m subbed now.
Nope
@@KaveManAquatics semper fi devil dog 💪👊
So I have south american puffers and today I finally caved in an bought a fx6. I will definitely be setting it up like you showed in your vids. In the past thanks to you my 406 has been providing crystal clear water. Thank you
Glad I could help! Congrats on the new beast! 😊
Man Kave... You're breaking my bank with all this information. I keep buying new supplies to give my fish the best home possible. Keep up the information.
Sorry, not sorry! 🤣🤣 Glad to know your fish are in good hands 👍
You’re a game changer bro.. my tank has gone from ok to beautiful thanks to you. My water quality is amazing now after I have set up my FX4 the way to did your FX6 with Bio Home Ultimate and Chemical-pure Blues . God bless always keep it up. You’re the best!
Awesome! Glad I could help! 😊💪
@@KaveManAquatics I know this is a year old
but I just got a small canister filter for my 75 gal
& it has no trays or baskets, I watched both your
videos on this & was wondering if you could
answer this for me, I see that when I opened
the canister for the 1st time of running it for
a month that most the muck was on the top.
I have like 15-20 small zebra & Leopard danios
with 6 albino Corie's, the plant's that's in the tank
is java ferns amazon swords jungle Val & a tiger
lotus along with some other odd & end plant's.
Being most the muck was on the top is that
where I would put the filter floss & where would
I put the ceramic bio rings in the filter the pump
is at the very bottom, sorry for the long comment
I've been frauded off face book so y-t is all I have.
Awesome 😎 Boy that’s a great Video Kev, I’m Impressed with the Knowledge and tips that you Bring to the Hobby , I’m Loving the Course and I usually don’t do the Facebook but I’m gonna get into the Facebook page for more information about the hobby, Hall of Fame Brother. 😎😎😎🎏🎏
Thank you my bro! Glad you enjoyed the video and the course! And I know you'll get great enjoyment from the group as well. Not only finding help, but just a great fish keeper community sharing stories and pictures of fish and tank setups...just a great group of people!
Kev, love seeing you keeping it real man. Keep rocking!
Thank you bro! 😁💪
Thanks I'm learning so much watching your videos
Glad to hear it! 😊💪
@KaveManAquatics ive got a couple canisters and i just bought a bag of garden red lava rock from lowes, it was like 40-50lbs for like $8-$12.
Very porus and seems to work fine, a lot of the bio media seems excessively overpriced.
hey kev love your videos btw. i have a quick question, is there a reason why u have the fluval ceramic rings mixed with the red bio home media?? Is there something beneficial about the hollowed out ceramic rings? please lmk... thanks again for all your help.
Thnx for the pot scrubbiez. The companies probably wanna put a hit on yah. But they work really good!
lol, Yea, I've heard they've gone up in price too...I wonder why 🤣
I use to use pot scrubbers in my koi pond filter back In the day. The pond was outdoor and over 3000 gallons. I also had UV and my water was always crystal clear and no nitrites nitrates or ammonia.
I was about to get rid off my fx6s just simply because of the maintenance was way to much work. Going to try this set up when you do a follow up to it . Great video Kev thanks mate.
Yea hold off a few more months until I can confirm this 😊
Glad I could help!
Without a doubt, my fav channel for learning about my new tank with African cichlids. Great work as always!
Awesome, thank you!
I chucked out all my biohome. In both my fluval 407 and FX6 I have filled the baskets with 30ppi foams cut to size. Crystal clear water and perfect water parameters. Nitrates are pretty well contained too rarely exceeding 20ppm.
That’s what I’m talking about right there!!! 😁💪💪💪
Can you send a link to the foam ?
Got pot scrubbers in my fx6 also. Best cheapest media ever
Agreed! 😁
I just opened my old fish hobby supplies tote. I will be starting my new job soon. Thank goodness to my past self, I will be saving money 🙏 Al the memories and knowledge are coming back 😤
Welcome back! 😁💪
Lava rock works great, very cheap. I have 2 bare tanks a 50g & 60g.4goldfish in the 60g 2 in the 50g and use lava rock in the filters w/ sponges,topped with quilt batting. Has worked for years, after 2 weeks still 0 nitrates. Really. Rocks must be well rinsed. Can't wait to see pot scrubby results, thank you!
Yes Lava rock is another great, cheap bio-media 👍Thanks for sharing
Volume for volume, lava rock is inferior to foam or pot scrubbers at biological filtration. Even with the porous surface, the water travels only on the outside of the individual rock, while utilizing the whole volume of the foam/sponge media uniformly.
Not to mention those outside pores on the rock clog up fast by ever growing bacteria, rendering them useless.
This is an interesting idea. I run a reef tank and I can tell you I am way overboard on my biological filtration. I probably have 100 lbs of reef rock in the tank. In the sump I have a Brightwell Xport brick and a bunch of marine pure cubes. This is only an 80 gallon system. Obviously pot scrubbers wouldn’t work for me since salt destroys everything, but it is an option for my wife’s new freshwater tank she’s setting up. Looking forward to the results!
If you have a planted tank expensive biological media is not only a waste of money it could be counterproductive as plants want nitrate to grow.
Tip I've learned with my canister since they don't have on/off switches.. I bought wifi plugs for my Fx4, lights, co2. So I can control/set time schedules all from my phone. Works great for feeding time. I use Merkury wifi plugs from Walmart 8$. Fits multiple on a power strip perfectly.🤘🏼
I use those too and theyre connected to my alexa...So I say "Alexa water change" and the wavemaker, heaters, and filters turn off 😊 Its on my list of videos to make 💪
Nice
I have a reef tank (lots of equipment) and run two Kasa Smart Strips. They are amazing and under 50 bucks for 6 controllable plugs.
Top tray, black Fluval pads and polyfill. Middle tray, lava rock. Bottom tray, chemi pure blue and crushed coral. My Eheim pro 3 focuses more on bio and mechanical.
You are the best brother because of you my tank is running perfect
Thank you! Glad you're finding the channel helpful! 😁💪
I use those scrubs in my pond filter! Works real well.
I been using cheap dollar store sponges for years never had a problem lol they are great
Totally agree! 😊💪
In terms of static media, it's the best in surface area. Good for Ammonia, Nitrite, but 0 anaerobic bacteria.
Correct. In terms of anaerobic bacteria...I really wouldnt stop water changing anyway, even if I did have plenty or nitrate reducing bacteria...so its a cool trade off for me 😁
I’m so glad I’m in your email list!
That’s why I’m here and learned a new great tip.
Just order the poly fil as you recommended.
Thanks Kev!! Greetings from Colombia❤️❤️
Awesome! Glad you enjoyed the video and found it helpful! 😁
I know how the water cycle in the filter. I have a FX5, the manual says to put the fine filter on the bottom basket, with the ceramic rings .
I think you may be confusing that with the charcoal pad that comes with the filter. That does technically go last. But that isnt a fine sponge.
Regardless, I dont use that charcoal pad either. needs to be replaced monthly and you'll have to dig all the way to the bottom to get it out and replace it. No bueno
@@KaveManAquatics Fluval fine filter pads, Bottom Media Basket. This what my manual says
@@KaveManAquatics even the polishing filter says it goes in the bottom basket
You will have better success with fine filter pads in the top. You want to trap as much debris and detritus BEFORE water touches your bio-media, not after.
@@KaveManAquatics thank you for your help.
I’ve just started following your channel and have been very impressed on you knowledge video quality in your progression for when you first started I know this topic is a little old but I’m currently setting up my second 125 gallon tank running it off of two FX4 and wanted to know why not just add the pot scrubbers on top of the bio wouldn’t that penetrate better than eliminating it
You could do either or. If you didnt want to spend money on any bio, you could fill it entirely with sponges. Or you could use the bio that came with the filter as well. I wanted to see how well nothing but just sponge would work to prove that it was capable. 😁
Was it? By the way I’m in NC from New York also New Rochelle!!
Absolutely, I used nothing but sponges for over a year! Checkout the series - ua-cam.com/play/PLP5OXTIIDO8MN8NdRvlfuvcNkS8GUbAdt.html
I really like that setup. It looks a lot cleaner & definitely easier to maintain. I might have to give it a try once you’re done with your test run. Good looking out brother!
I agree! Cant wait to make the update video for you guys!
polishing filter completely saturated and pristine side prefiltration? How do you do that ? The sponges on the side are the first that get hit with the incoming water, then it goes down in the middle.
Video is on point kev!
Thank you bro! Glad you enjoyed it!
@@KaveManAquatics I'm o.c.d though I thought you could have stacked the pads on top of each other rather than lay flat
Your work is appreciated my friend wow❤️👍😊Love from India🇮🇳
Thank you so much 😀
Informative, clear, and interesting! Your videos are some of the best in the hobby. Easy to understand. Great quality in video and audio. Appreciate this! ❤️👌
Thanks 👍 Glad you're enjoying the channel!
I've used just plain old gravel in my canister filter before... Worked great. I like biomedia but I would never throw it out and then buy more. Just rinse a reuse...
Agreed, bio-media should never be replaced.
Im.about to upgrade from a tank.mount to a canister. A little hesitant this video made the choice super easy. It don't look at all as scary as it sounds. Thank you
It's really not! You can do it!
Taking it to the next level ....... Respect!
Thank you! Glad you're finding the channel helpful! 😁💪
Good all around tips...I also suggest hitting your local Dollar Store to save even more $$$ on pot scrubbers and other items that can be used in the hobby. One suggestion I can add is using a sticky label either on the cannister itself, or hang a small clipboard with a plastic sheet as the paper. Use a waterproof marker to keep track of the date you performed any service on the tank/filters, Gravel cleaning/water changes, etc. etc. This way you never have to say "damn..when did i last change out my filter media...i think it's been about a month,,, ".
Question: How often should I replace my artificial plants in my aquarium. I’ve had the same ones for over a year. They are not the bright green that they were but I know they can hold beneficial bacteria for the sake of the tank. So every two years replace all the artificial plants? Let me know please.
What do you think is better to oxygenate my water change water I’ve got pumps that sit on the bottom of my 55 gallon barrel then it’s piped up and out of the barrel and then 90s back down to splash the surface or would it be better to just let the pump run without the pipe and agitate the surface
Hey man, you should make a video on how you quarantine fish once you get them in and what meds you use! Also a video on how to treat ich!
Quarantine new fish right now, that video will be out next week 😁
@@KaveManAquatics appreciate the quick reply! i just ordered new fish off SRC, and would love to see that video, especially for these expensive fish!
I've got a discount code for Snake river Cichlids as well for your next order 😁 Join my Facebook group for more discount codes facbook.com/groups/kavemanaquatics
@@KaveManAquatics wish I knew that yesterday haha! but i just joined! I appreciate you and your channel very much! Very informative and straight to the point. Theres nothing else like this channel. Keep it up brother! 💯
Where did you find the fluval pads for $3 and $5?
Your tanks look great so do the fish
I’m a smaller guy but still but yours is very vivid
Thank you! 😊
Great video I’ll be trying that biohome media for sure
Does it matter what size media you use
Kevin what is the best size biohome media to use in a canister filter or does it even mater
Damn Kev!!! Thanks for the hook up again brotha!!
My Pleasure!
Thank you for sharing. I’m going to try this. I did a water change Friday. 120g established tank on fx6. Got the algae bloom to stop but my nitrates are too high. It’s lightly cloudy.
I talking the about the white ring do I keep them in there
Plus, my top basket has the black sponges for mechanical that they came with. So do you prefer those blue and white sponges that you used in yours instead of the black ones they came with? And, I didn't know you had a Facebook group. I'll definitely be joining. Thank you man for the vidoes.
Thanks for your great videos.
My pleasure! Glad you're finding the channel helpful 😁
Awesome video as usual, video quality has improved substantially. Thank you for serving our country and citizens.
Thank you bro! And I appreciate that you noticed. I’m trying to improve my skills with every video! 😁💪
Great vid Kev, that's an awesome setup. Thank you sharing your experience to help step up the fish game.
My pleasure bro! Glad you enjoyed it! 😊
Will this same set up work in a FX4?
Absolutely! You're just short 1 tray of bio-media
I stopped using any kind of chemical media literally decades ago other than carbon and I only use that if I am removing meds or tannins. After 40 years in the hobby I finally figured out that it was basically just a money suck, just like all of the boutique bio medias. You are one of very few experienced hobbyists that still use and recommend chemical media. In this old video you even recommend changing it monthly. Do you still do that? I am not hating on you at all...it's an honest question. BTW...we have been doing pot scrubbers since they changed from metal to plastic in the early 80's. They work great. Thanks for the videos...
Thanks for sharing your experience with me bro, I know many people that have also stopped using chemical media.
But, I've literally seen a difference in my tanks when I use it and when I dont. I still use Purigen and change it out every 30-45 days, even though my tanks stay pretty crystal clear, I use it because I can tell it bumps the clarity up even more, just by a bit. For someone that doesnt have it all dialed in the way my tanks are, Purigen will prob be a bigger difference for them.
I stopped using activated carbon only because of its links to HITT disease, even though I know thats not really confirmed. I've found that Purigen results in similar clarity so I go that route instead.
@@KaveManAquatics Thanks for the reply. That's what is great about our hobby! We have different paths to the same result and neither is wrong. Have a great day!
@@rantsandreviews Totally agree 💪
Just set mine up with all the chemical up top thanks to you and Jeff
Awesome! 😊💪
Everything can be for treatment maximal if you have money ..
I always care my fish because my fish my friend in room . Cichlid fish so prety ,beautiful and mystic . I think afrika must happy for big natural wonderfull in there .. i am so interest for your treatment use sachem etc . But so exspensive i am usually use salt and some treatment in my country for cichlid . Love you sir ...
Thank you bro, yes salt is a great treatment! And thank you for joint and supporting the channel!! 😁💪
Thanks so so much my water is more crystal clear than ever! Since I been watching your video my 75 is on point👌!!! My new wave makers are awesome... I always been using Prime but I never used Stability and I want to start . How much do I use for my 75 gallon tank? Yes you are a game changer!!
Glad you're enjoying the channel and finding it helpful! 😊 You dont need to use Stability consistently, only in specific situations. Check this out - ua-cam.com/video/dfxs8MDlWV8/v-deo.html
Definitely gonna try this set up in my FX4 (mechanical, chemical then bio) Switched from the way its recommended (mechanical, bio then chemical) cause it make sense what you're saying. I usually just watch and like your videos but after watching this video I'm now a subscriber to your channel. Love your videos bro very informative 👌. Can't wait to see the results of the scrubbie experiment.!!
Awesome! Glad you found the video helpful and thanks for the sub!
Im going to do this right now!
I would normally say wait, lol But Its been over a month and I just did it again to my second FX6 and still everything looking good...so have at it! lol 🤣
Yea im definitely copying that fluval pad and chemical media on top tray strategy😂
Glad I could help! 😊💪
I have also used lava rocks and broken them up and very inexpensive like $6 for a 20 lb bag
Another great source of very cheap media! 😁💪
Just came across your channel very informative. Good stuff
Instead if polyfil, you cannuse quilt batting. Can get soooo much and it is already pressed into a mat.
LOVE your videos! Can I use filtered drinking water to clean my media without damaging my bacteria?
I want to run two fx6’s and plum them together! One input, one output! First one mechanical filtration, second biological and chemical! What are thoughts on this! Can’t find any details on how everyone is running two filters. Make a video on this please!
I hit the like button just because u sacrificed perfectly good biohome just to experiment for ur audience lol 🤙🏻
I’ve done a few more experiments for the audience as well, surf around the channel 😊
Absolutely this is my first video I've seen of urs I'll be sure to subscribe
Question : raising salmon for school salmon in the class room for Michigan DNR
Explain each media tray setup
To control nitrates and nitrites
Please advice tray setup chemical bio and mechanical, there will be about 80 eggs
Had a hard time last year controlling nitrates
Absolutely love your videos! Such useful information
Thank you! Glad you’re enjoying them! 😁
Great video. Nice to see someone offer quantitative parameters for N byproducts. It also looks like you planned and outlined your delivery, rather than just making it up as you went along. Thanks. Subscribed.
Not many notice that! Most are my videos are planned and organized but I also throw in the ocasional freestyle. Glad you enjoyed this! 😁
Hi Kave man ive just got an fx6 for a 240l I know it's abit too much but they say you can never have too much filtration! I was just wondering if you'd put a video on how to control the outlet for agitation If its to much how to turn it down etc thankyou
keep up the great work big guy!!
Thanks bro! Will do!
Great info. Pot scrubbers are definitely the way to go.
I have them in my Eheim 2260
Yup, so far my tank is doing great with them 👍
Thanks for the info enjoyed the video
Glad it was helpful!
I have a 125 gallon Cichlid Tank. I am going to change my filter to what you recommend. How often do I need to clean the filter with this new setup.
This video should be helpful for you! - ua-cam.com/video/Mz6CL14xGu0/v-deo.html
Just got the fx6 its great
Awesome! You're gonna love it!
my nitrates are insanely high. Great video. You really have me thinking. I have one tank with 3 cannisters. Im gonna turn one of the 3 into a mechanical reactor....add chemipure and zeolite etc
That would be great! When I used to have 3 canisters on my 210, my 3rd canister was exactly that, a polishing canister with only mechanical and chemical. That way I only had to pop that one open monthly while the other 2 could go 4-6 months without touching.
My water is crystal clear and I don't use polishing media. 30ppi foam is the finest I have and I takes many months to clog
Can I use in planted aquariums?
I remember you said you've used a fx6 on your 75 gallon tank. How did you set your flow? Did you have valves open half way or full blast?
Full blast. African Cichlids love a good current.
@@KaveManAquatics fx6, wave maker and your 407??? That's crazy flow lol. No wonder you're water is really clear!
Hi keV I've I've 0' amonina 0' nitrites but my nitrates keep creeping up I don't let them get to 20' I'm doing 25% water change sometimes 50% but can't get rid of it and my P:h keeps dropping to 7'8 I've got mbuna what's the best thing to do thank you all your fish are looking great
That was a good video 👍
I think expensive media like biohome is not necessary too. You can use anything so long as it has decent surface area and is inert.
And like you said lots of the surface area is in the tank itself, especially if you have lots of decorations. Lots of good info in this video 🙂
Thank you bro! Glad you enjoyed it and found it helpful! 😊💪
Biohome is aimed at lowering the nitrate levels, due to supposedly enabling the anaerobic bacteria to flourish deep inside. The aerobic bacteria that uses nitrite grows pretty much everywhere.
I love how KaveMan had the smart way of putting the sponges on top of the bio media.
You need more than surface area to lower nitrates which is the claim good biological media can do and for that, you need very slow-moving areas in the media that can host de-nitrifying bacteria. That's why something like filter floss even though it has good surface area never could do the work of good biological media.
I have 2 out of the 3 trays in my 307 filled with matrix and I'm upgrading to a fx6 along side my 407. Will I go through a mini cycle by just throwing my seeded bio media in the new fx6 along with newly added matrix? It's a 75 gallon peacock cichlid tank with 15 fish.
If you're keeping the same amount of fish, no you shouldn't. The seeded media you have in your 307 has enough bacteria in it to cover your current bio-load. By transferring the seeded media over you'll keep the new tank cycled. Congrats on the upgrade!
@@KaveManAquatics thanks man
Those pot scrubbers,is there anything to look for? They look like plastic, should I worry about chemicals on the scrubbers like from production or are just plain plastic pot scrubbers ok? ,do they need to be made out of a special material?
Again a nice video👍. Love the Facebookgroup very much. And yeah Jeff always has great advice aswell🙌👍
Great to hear!
Boss I am cringing at the water dripping 😄 probably need a basin under. Great vid by the way. Cheers
You and me both!
Your a legend. Thanks again,
Thank you! 😁💪
Been using scrubbies for a few years now. You will be happy.
So far so good! 😊
Awesome advice!!
Thanks! Glad it was helpful!
Do you still run this setup and will it be fine to run same setup with freshwater, if not do you have any recommendations to get the most out of the fx6. Thanks
Hey, Kav! After serval years, how are they holding up if you're still using them?
The pot scrubbers worked to perfection for over a year. After concluding they did work I switched to Seachem Matrix in order to also get anaerobic bacterial growth for reducing nitrates. The one thing the pot scrubbers couldn’t do. But besides that, they were a great home for beneficial bacteria!
@@KaveManAquatics thanks for the quick reply. Your videos have helped me out a lot since starting my new hobby!
Glad to hear it! 😁
Love your videos. Which canister would u recommend for a 55 tank. Marineland or fluval.
I have a biased opinion because I love my Fluval Canisters lol Go with the Fluval 407 and you cant go wrong!
@@KaveManAquatics thank u
great stuff my friend
keep it up
Thanks, will do!
Is this setup also good for Red Eared Sliders with an Fluval FX6?
Fantastic, informative and great precise delivery. Can you connect two FX6 in parallel. That way you only have one intake and one output in the take. One tank would be totally biomedia and next tank all chemical. What do you think.
This theory has been discussed many times but many dont do it because you'll lose the turn over rate that 2 filters give you. If 1 FX6 provides say, 400GPH (With media inside) 2 will turn your tank over at 800 GPH. Combining them in parrallel will not produce 800 GPH turn over rate.
@@KaveManAquatics
Good point. Should have mentioned 125g African C tank. Was thinking of crystal clear water. First tank bio the second tank chemical would give perfect water & less tubing in tank.
Here's another good reason...You dont need an entire FX6 with chemical. That's overkill. But 2 fx6's worth of bio-media is MUCH better than 1.
Here's an idea for you, add a 3rd filter, either a small canister or an HOB for polishing. Nothing but fine mechanical media and chemical.
Watch this - ua-cam.com/video/fgug3v6DtJs/v-deo.html
This is an awesome channel, always full of educational and straight to the point information delivered by a fish keeper who has most probably forgotten more than others know. Always a 5 ⭐️ delivery.
Would be interesting to see what the tests show after a month or two running the fx6 with the pot scrubbers Kev before you change the other.
Thank you bro! I appreciate that positive feedback. Maybe that’s a good Idea to throw in that video as well. That way I make it into a 3 part series 😁 Thanks for the idea 💪
@@KaveManAquatics looking forward to the uploads on the results.
Hi Kevin how much crurshed corol do u put in a 120 gollon fish tank and how many fish can u have in 120 gollon
Depends on the species of fish, size of fish, your source tap water PH, what PH you're trying to get to....I suggest you watch this playlist which could answer many of your questions 😊 ua-cam.com/play/PLP5OXTIIDO8NYvhUHAmwAd54WFmS4d8er.html
Question, I just got a Marineland 360 canister and it has filtration in the order mechanical, chemical and then bio... I'm setting up for a turtle, does the bio & chemical order make any difference in my situation, or any for that matter. Kinda seems like you don't believe so!
The best and correct order is mechanical, bio, then chemical. But I've discovered that even when you put chemical before bio it does not harm your cycle or bacteria. I keep bio then chemical in every filter other than my FX6 which I keep chemical then Bio because of the canisters design. Great Question!
@@KaveManAquatics Thanks! On my first filter change, I believe I'll switch it around to chemical last! One other question, is there any harm in mixing different chemical and biological medias? Such as- Bio balls, ceramic cylinders, biohome, matrix all together to get a mix of benefits? Same with chemical; activated carbon, zeolite, purigen, deionizing resin? Can some of each be a good idea in a canister or are there risks/ disadvantages of running a WHOLE Buffet of things?
One further question, Chemipure Blue says it's optimized for reef & marine aquariums. Would Chemipure Elite be a better option for freshwater? Or just stick with Marineland resin/ Purigen?
Sales after this video 📈
🤣 I hope so bro!
Another very informative video Kev, hats off to you. Top job 👏
Glad you enjoyed it 😁
Do you think the black foam pad that comes with the fx6 is worthless if I do the blue and white pads you do? And I'm guessing I wouldn't need the carbon pad either if I end up using chemipure elite?
Yes, you are correct. I dont use the bio-foam black pad or the chemical pad.
I’m running a FX 6 and a FX 4 on my 6 x 2 x 2, I think I’ll try this on the FX 4, thanks for the idea 👍
I havent confirmed its effectiveness yet...But I can say this was recorded almost 2 weeks ago and I havent seen any spike in ammonia or nitrite! So its lookin good so far 😁
Your videos are fantastic!! Thank you for your work!
My pleasure! Glad you're enjoying them 😊
Nice to see your videos back in my subscription feed, seems UA-cam didn't push your last few ones to me...
I missed a few uploads due to my course. Have been working on completing that. Now that it’s done I’ll be able to get back to regular uploads 😁