Dophin c1600 media order

Hi guys

I just wanted to find out what media you use in the Dophin c1600 canister filter? My dad has this filter and this past weekend, I went over to help him set it up. I noticed that the trays are stored in the opposite direction of the tetra ex1200 plus i.e the dophin has the sponge at the bottom vs what I see on the tetra box which has it on top.

Anyway he currently has the black sponge and thin filter wool in the bottom tray. Then he has bio media(lava rock, bio-balls, ceramic rings) in the next 3 trays and then he has carbon in the top most tray.

Would you say that this is good? The tank it supports is a boyu ea150(472 liter). The fish he has are small to medium sized rainbows, angelfish, torpedo barbs, distichidus, gouramis(not overstocked).

Any advice will help

 

Also have my Dophin set up with filter wool / sponge at bottom getting progressively larger media in each try above it.

Works well, although I stick some filter wool on the sides of the trays to get proper seal.

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Yup, sounds good. Both filters move water from bottom to top. Using fine wool/sponge as the last layer isn't generally recommended, rather put it just before the bio media. This stops fine debris from clogging the bio media which would gradually make it less effective.

I ran a Dophin C1000 for a bit, and i used a mix of Seachem Matrix and some cheap spherical bio media. I had a 3 thin layers of sponge in the bottom tray, ranging from coarse to fine to progressively filter out mechanical debris. I also put some ceramic rings in the very bottom, below the last tray where there is a gap. This slows down and distributes the flow of water, meaning larger debris would settle out before getting to the mechanical media. Not super necessary, and made getting the trays to seat properly a bit of a mission.

If your dad has the remaining trays packed to the brim with his biomedia, then i don't see any issues with how the filter is setup

 

Yup sounds correct the 1600 has lots of trays and I would fill them all except the bottom one with as much bio type media as possible. Lava rock is usually good as well and the matrix as mentioned above. Dont use any plastic media like the bio balls they are all rubbish and just waste space. I once purchased an orange size back full of lava rock for like R50 from Pet masters in Alberton and it was brilliant stuff.

 

And forgot to mention, I had the same filter on almost the identical size tank and it just about kept up with the bioload, which were mainly oscars and parrots, so if the tank is not over stocked it should be fine. Just keep any eye on the flow rate.

 

Thank a lot. So you don't use any activated carbon in the top layer?

 

I actually do, I have been a big fan of carbon for more than 25 years and I find it works particularly well in a canister if its in the right place, usually at the top in most cases. I find it always gives the water a nice polish and also removes some of the nasty stuff that could be in our tap water. But not all carbon is equal, most of the chinese stuff soled by LFS is all junk. I prefer to use the type used in water filtration and purification. Some of the more organised online stores that specialize in water filters should have it. I purchased a 20kg bag from one of our customers that's in industrial water purification and its lasted me almost 5 years now.

 

Thanks, appreciate the feedback