APS 1000EF (Amazon): geni.us/g1rTAv APS 1000EF (Ebay): ebay.to/2SF8AbN SunSun HW 302 (Amazon.com): geni.us/PI49 Foams and Biohome: www.filterpro.co.uk (FilterPro site has links to suppliers in other countries) This is a really decent filter for the price with a very low cost for the UK version (from All Pond Solutions) and it holds a good amount of media too - easily taking 2.4kg biohome ultimate. That makes it suitable for normally stocked tanks of up to 240 litres (63 US gallons) or a heavily stocked tank of around 120 litres (32 US gallons) if you want to achieve a full cycle. WHAT IS A FULL CYCLE? A full cycle is completed by bacteria - the aerobic part of biological filtration which processes ammonia to nitrite and nitrite to nitrate followed by an anaerobic part which processes nitrate into soluble nitrogen which bubbles off to the atmosphere. Therefore it requires a suitable amount of excellent quality filter media to be able to provide the environment for both aerobic AND anaerobic bacteria - that is what the various forms of Biohome does perfectly but even with such good media there are limitations and we recommend the following amounts for different stocking scenarios: (1 US gallon = 3.8 litres) (1kg = 2.2 lbs) Average community tropical aquarium = 1kg per 100 litres Average coldwater aquarium = 1kg - 1.5kg per 100 litres Predator aquarium = 1.5kg - 2kg per 100 litres Large cichlid aquarium = 1.5kg - 2kg per 100 litres Malawi / Tanganyikan aquarium = 1.5kg - 2kg per 100 litres Marine aquarium = 1.5kg - 2kg per 100 litres Average mixed fish pond = 1kg per 200 litres Average koi pond = 1kg per 150 litres You may be disagreeing with the above figures but remember that they are for a FULL CYCLE not half a job - achieving 0 ammonia and 0 nitrite is quite easy since aerobic bacteria grows freely on any surface but the anaerobic bacteria responsible for COMPLETING the cycle needs more a specialized habitat. Size a filter properly, set it up sensibly and you will have perfect water - it's that simple....and your filter won't be the dreaded 'Nitrate factory'. This series of videos is all about trying to squeeze more efficiency out of internal and external aquarium filters which generally have a limited filtering capacity - If you have a filter you'd like me to feature in a video then please contact me on: sales@filterpro.co.uk 07772848730 (Richard) Anyone who sends a filter (UK only at present) will have it upgraded and returned to them for free and the only cost you will pay is how much it costs to ship it to me - I'm helping to boost your filter and the resulting videos will hopefully be useful to viewers all over the world so it's a win/win. The following videos will be useful to anyone interested in learning more about filtration, bacteria and making the conditions for your fish as good as possible: Sizing a canister properly and filter set up: goo.gl/om19un Looking INSIDE different filter media: goo.gl/hZWS6c Bacteria and filter media: goo.gl/123gAF How to clean an aquarium: goo.gl/bPMhvh Aquarium tips / filtration playlist: goo.gl/pXgqVj This channel is purely a hobby for me so I will never ask viewers to donate money for any of my projects or charge anyone for information - information should be shared freely and I certainly don't consider myself an 'expert' in anything I pursue as a hobby so please do your own research, never accept anything as 'fact', reject anyone claiming to be some sort of authority or 'expert' and make your own minds up about anything you wish to study. We all are on a long path of learning......... RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS ON AMAZON: goo.gl/jMaBWy INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/pondguru_ou... FILMING EQUIPMENT: Panasonic HC-VX870 HD camcorder geni.us/3UwE +Rode stereo microphone: geni.us/4OL +Rode 'deadcat' mic cover: geni.us/1pmn JVC Everio quad proof HD camcorder: geni.us/e09e +Rode 'deadcat' mic cover (opened up and held between tripod and camera base) geni.us/dee24 Zomei Z666 tripod: geni.us/1a1af3 Manfrotto MTPIXI-B PIXI mini tripod: geni.us/87f7 If you've enjoyed this video please check out the playlists on my channel for hundreds more - on a variety of subjects. Feel free to share or link any of my videos on facebook, twitter, forums etc. for the benefit of anyone you think may also enjoy watching. See you next time. Pondguru
@@S2yay Scoria is decent and what most of the US guys simply know as 'lava rock' but it has serious limitations. I cover it in this video (the featured video on my channel) where I show the internal structure and assess how useful lots of different types of media are with regard to supporting bacteria. Link here: th-cam.com/video/QTtAUYR67Eg/w-d-xo.html
Step 1: figure out where water from the tank first hits media in the filter Step 2: put coarse filter media as the first material the water hits, followed by medium filter media, then fine filter media Step 3: fill whatever space is left after the fine filter material with biological media Step 4 (optional): put carbon/chemical filtration in as the final layer before water returns to tank. It’s a very simple formula lol
You have forever changed the way I will arrange one of these filters. What you said made a lot of sense and I just never thought of setting one up that way. Thank you
These filters are of good value. One of the great things about them is that spare parts are readily available, unlike other budget filters. APS offers a very good fast service. Thanks, Richard, great as always.
The only thing negative about these filters is the SunSun customer service and the cheap materials that the valve compartment head is made out of. These are very good filters otherwise and they will last a long time as long as the owner does his or her part to maintain them properly. This is a very good and informative video. I hope it helps others enjoy the hoppy by heeling them to properly set up their filter thus helping them to matin their aquariums better. This video is the perfect instructional video or as you boys across the pond say “ it’s spot on “! 👍🏽
Dude! I've been looking at/for filter reviews for months now, as I expand my tank room. And this is the best I've seen, on or off youtube. Super clear, all of and only the relevant info. No bs. Subscribed and a fan
Top Job mate, all your videos are awesome, i set my EF1 4 weeks ago in the exact same way using biohome, thanks to you there are a lot of us using/utilizing the filters correctly to their max capacity ensuring the best chance for achieving a healthy and successful aquarium. Your a blessing mate thank you so much
lol, there are loads of videos in this series which are essentially exactly the same as others but I am trying to create a huge base of information online for anyone setting up or considering buying a particular model of filter. It is quite an undertaking and there's currently 28 parts with 35+ more videos shot and in need of editing (more being made weekly) - while I'm sure regular viewers will get sick of me putting these videos out I'm making them for the benefit of people who want information on specific filters so it's something I'll see through until that base of information is complete.....(it will never be complete, lol)
Great vid as usual. Can you do one with a pre filter booster. I use one but makes a big difference with Flo rate and I want to make sure it is effective as possible. Cheers
I've just watched kaveman on youtube saying the biomedia is no good and makes absolutely know difference to your aquarium! So on that note i just purchased 2kg of bio ultimate from you in defiance and defence to prove him and the rest of who say the same thing. I trust in what you say and have done over years and i have never had problems with any of my aquarium, pond or tank.👍👍👍
He's a fool, I watched him put in about a kilo into a 125 gallon fully stocked tank. He's a clown, argued with me as said my opinion doesn't matter - so I pointed out in must as he's got about 30 pages of sponsor link begging in each description. And he charges $125 an hour for mousey facetime ADVICE LOL
Thanks richard, set my EF1400 with the biohome ultimate just as you have shown, put it back together and got it up and running and watched has it started leaking ! after panicking for 10 mins like a headless chicken, i put plumbers tape round the rim and so far after two months no leaks. Great vids as allways cheers richard .
I just bought one of these. Great timing on vid! A side note : I noticed that I had to swap the empty trays around in order, so that the hoses had a tighter fit. I simply held the two trays together up to the light and looked through the black connection hose---if I saw light around the circle---I swapped it for another tray that I didn't see light come in. I imagine this allows all the water to get sucked to the bottom from the start---and not some leaking in from the media chambers before it has a chance to get out into the tank. Every little helps I think. Great video as always
Good one - thanks for the report. It is very important for viewers to share experiences in the comment section as it helps anyone watching who may be interested in buying one of these filters. Best of luck with the tank(s).
That's how I've got mine set up too. Although I've got the plastic balls in the settlement bottom . We had some biohome ultra mini and k1 micro off you along with a generous supply of bacteria gel balls about a month ago. Everything's going great so far Thanks Richard .
I am in the process of upgraded my APS 1000EF to biohome ultimate (over a month) and also replaced the filter foam with the 3 grades I got as part of the filter upgrade pack from filter pro. It's only been a week so the biological element hasn't changed much yet but the water is visibly clearer from having the good sponge in and the filter set up properly. Great advice in these videos and a huge upgrade to my filter already! Thank you
Hi Richard, I remember contacting you about three years ago asking advice as I was using two of the APS 2000efx with UV and running the 2,3lt EF2 booster on both. Your great advice I still use to this day. All the heavy much gets caught in the booster which holds are the foams and the main filters are packed with the Bioholme, every tray. Let me tell you and others, this is the best set up ever. Hardly have to clean the main filters and only the boosters now and again. Thanks again for the great advice Richard. Have a great day buddy.
No worries and I'm glad it's working for you - its a good combo and although the flow can suffer a bit that is a price to pay to free up and extra tray for more biological activity.
Pondguru to be honest the flow isn’t really restricted by much. Having it all run on a 5ft tank is just perfect. I’ll upload a video of the output so others can see. Thanks again buddy.
@@Photoshotgun Groovy - feel free to post link here - it will be marked as 'for review' by my over-zealous filtering system for comments but I will see it and approve it. (I have filters on to prevent all the spam I get from marketing companies)
Damn you got lucky. Had 2 of these filters in the past 5 years and both lasted about a year before leaking like crazy around the clamps. Id rather spend the extra £100 on a top quality branded filter with a better warranty.
Another great video Richard. I know how you set the filters up now but I like watching these videos to see what what you think of different filters and how they are designed. Unfortunately I’ve removed my external filter from my reef tank as I don’t think I was using enough biohome media. I also had the sponges set up in the bottom tray to trap the waste and I was trying to leave the filter for at least 3 weeks before giving it a clean so I didn’t keep disturbing the biohome media but there was quite a bit of waste in the bottom of the filter which I presume when left over a few weeks will start to break down into nitrate and phosphate. I had less than 2 kilo of biohome in the filter. My tanks 245 litres with 25 kilo of live rock in it for biological filtration. My nitrates have stayed at around 50 and haven’t come down. I’ve always learnt that filters on a reef tank need to be kept as clean as possible, so usually they need opening and floss being Changed once a week or at least every 2 weeks so your removing any waste before it has a chance to break down. I also found the biohome was getting covered with like a dust and waste and I wasn’t sure whether to rinse it in tank water or leave it. I had the filter running on the tank with biohome for 4 months. Also having osteoporosis I found the filter with biohome and water was quite heavy to lift in and out from under the tank. I’ve put the little tunze filter I sent you on the tank at the minute but I’m not sure it’s going to be good enough as I need to use about 200ml of phosphate media and its tightly packed in the filter in a media bag as there’s not much space for water to run though it so it clumps together over time which is why it’s better to run it in an external filter as you can spread it out so the water can flow through it easier. So my search goes on to find a filter that’s easy to maintain that’s not too heavy. I’ve spent so much money on filters over the years. I should really use an external filter on my system but I find internal filters so much easier to maintain. I never know quite what to do for the best. My tanks running fine and my clown fish are getting on for 9 years old so I must be doing something right. I will keep watching these videos and hopefully one day you will review a filter that will work with my system that’s easy to maintain. Thanks again for making these videos Richard. I really enjoy watching them. I look forward to the next one. Cheers. Andrew.
Just bought this media, posted yestarday to Cornwall. Can't wait to try it out. Hoping it will help with my Nitrates. I get 40 ppm straight out of the tap. Starting to get on my nerves now. Tried purigen, so far, It hasn't done anything. Great videos, taught me how to set up a external filter properly. keep up the good work.
I use this exact same filter with my fancy goldfish, and set up almost exactly the same. I went for an extra foam pad which was in-between the fine pad and medium foam. Love these filters
Brilliant video. I have the 1400 which is filled with just biohome ultimate, I also have the booster filter which houses all my mechanical filtration and that works brilliantly for my turtle tank! Only need to clean out the booster filter around every month which is great.
I'm running 2 of these on my juwel 180l, filter 1 setup, the ef filter booster pimped, course med fine then the whole main filter is just biohome ultimate, then filter 2 is just as this filter is set up Tank is spot on thanks Richard 👍
Love these videos I used one to pimp a marina 110 with filter pads x2 coarse and fine, 3x ceramics and 200g of Matrix. Works well so far.. Now upgrading to a 250ltr tank so will be using sunsun canister using matrix instead of the rings so I will see how that goes in a larger filter. 😊
I have recently purchased the 2000EF as a replacement for an Eheim Pro that was far too small for the tank. My new batch of Biohome is arriving tomorrow, can't wait to see the difference it makes once everything is set up correctly :D Thank you for your videos and the Biohome :)
@Danny ghafur I didn't notice a difference in flow but the was in much better condition. Unfortunately my 2000EF seal broke and flooded the floor. I've replaced 8t with a Fluval FX6 and it's pimped too.
Great info at a perfect time as i am just about to purchase the exact same filter for my 30g cichlid fry tank. Thanks for all your knowledge and wisdom
Thank you for the good advice on set up. Tomorrow is bull week payday! I will try the biohome, I have a 500g bag in my 1400ex now! With other stuff of course; I can use it to 'seed' the fresh stuff. I timed my outflow tonight( filled a jug!) After 4 week since a scrub,Im getting 280l/hr. Canny for my community tank of 240l. No issues. After this weekends change, after a month I will time her again.
After watching this a a few times and a fair few of your other pimp my filter videos I've just purchased a 1kg biohome plus external filter upgrade kit and an extra 1kg of biohome plus for this exact filter
I've one of these coming today with uv to go on my 300 litre already have the betta canister with uv running but feel it's not enough so hopefully both set up as you've shown will help
Best of luck - without knowing what the other filter model is or how you've set up both filters I'm in the dark but hopefully it will work for you. If not then feel free to ring me any time.
Excellent and informative post ... thank you. I bought one from ""inest filters" and after 8 months it developed a catastrophic leak mid service ... and they ""inest filters" said it was possibly due to the primary O-ring failing. Is this a known fault on Sunsun filters?
Finest Filters? The O rings are generally nice and thick on canister filters but they are easily deformed if the O ring is nipped between the base and the pump head. That can happen with any canister filter so it is worth keeping a full seal set or the O ring (as a minimum) for spares.
I've just realized that Sun Sun, Aqua Top and All Pond Solutions canisters are all the same. Anyway, Sun Suns are good but not very durable. The plastic easily breaks and the hoses are hard to work with. But they do what they are supposed to do. Another great video Sir. Richard. I bought the new Aquael Maxi Kani 500. I hope you review this canister someday. Thank you Sir.
Many thanks for all the videos! Im no means an expert on fish keeping but have some knowledge. However i have hit a wall and need some help! I have a heavy cichlid stocked BOYU LZ-810 198L tank(haters will say thats not big enough but my other tanks are shut down due to moving house soon) My question is the 1000EF sufficient for this? Keep up the videos👍
You stated, if I'm understanding you correctly, that the system filters down so that mechanical should be on the bottom, the box has a chart that seems to suggest the opposite? They have the chemical on the bottom (if using) and the bio in the middle, finishing with the charcoal in the top (if using) highest basket. Shouldn't the chem bags, if using be on the top or finish off filtration, not in the beginning as to avoid chem bags from getting fouled? If yes, they have there's on the bottom basket suggesting bottom is the finish of filtration. I'm probably wrong in my understanding so I hope you read this and reply.
I love these videos! In the states HOB are the go to... will you do more of these from different brands? I see you’ve already pimped the popular canister filters.
I’ve just bought 1kg of biohome ultimate from this guys eBay store and my tropical aquarium is 1000000 times better in terms of water clarity. Absolutely worth the investment. I’m running a 200ltr tank with flu allergies 406 and just the 1k added has seriously made an improvement. This stuff is brilliant imho
I just got a EFX+ for my 180L (A bit overkill but.. My 206 is struggling as it doesnt have biohome, I could have sorted it by getting biohome but.. Wanted a new filter). Going to put as much biohome as possible along with the way you set this up or as you setup the 2000EF in "Canister Filters, Booster Filters and Chemical Filtration 101". Thank you for stocking Biohome.. You are the only place to buy it easily and at a good price in the UK!
(my other channel) Yes, the set up would be exactly the same regarding water flow direction and the filter is a beast for a 180 litre tank but you can never have too much filtration.
@@ThousandYardStare Well in the end I want a 300L tank as my main and only tank, would this still be great for that? As I know it says it can handle 1000L but I also know it's best to half that assumption
@@StuartD21 Yes it will still be fine for a normally stocked / moderately stocked 300 litre tank no problem as it holds plenty of media for that situation.
Bought this filter a while ago and having watched all your previous videos on cannister filters I have mine set up exactly as you do sir! I would say you have passed the test. Well done!
Sir can you please answer the following queries: Does denitrification work better..if the media is packed such that most of the water goes around the media rather than through the media ( like say the whole media in a fine mesh plastic bag..so that there is an inch of gap all around the bag in each segment) Also, does plain old pumice work as a denitrifier ( maybe less efficient than biohome..but how less efficient..in terms of..how many kilos per 100 liter?) Does reducing the outflow of a cannister via valve put more pressure ( and thus reduce longevity of the pump) ..slow flow will probably help denitrification.. Thanks..
Great video and made it easy to understand for beginners like me! I’ve a quick question, when setting this up the first time the instructions say to fill with water, but how much do I fill it with? I’m confused lol
As full as it will go as the pump will not draw water through the pipe into the filter if the inside of the filter is dry. Ideally the whole system will be full of water.
I was sooo tempted at one of these especially for the unbelievable price. It was just all the issues people have with them in the reviews I read that put me off.
Got this filter and it has some oil/cream like stuff inside of it??? Its on the top black lid and on edges where 2 parts connect, should I return it??? Or what is this? Wiping it doesn't work, its still present
(my other channel) It sounds like silicone grease and it should be present around the O ring where the pump head meets the canister. It will also be present where the in/out pipes fit into the pump head. If there is excess grease then wipe it away - it's there to prevent the seals cracking and ensure that the parts fit together properly.
I have the ef1400, I used the black balls it came with in the bottom, underneath the trays, then 3 layers of foam, then one tray of the cinted glass, and last tray with the ceramic rings that it came with.
Greg, hope all is doing fantastic! I have a couple of questions about pimping my SunSun 704B canister filter. First a little background. I am a novice fish keeper at best. My starter aquarium is a 55 gallon tank. I am using a underground filter coupled with the SunSun 704B canister filter. I have taken my two HOB’s off the tank and holding them for emergency standby. I have been watching more than several of your pimping videos and I not only enjoy them but also have learned from them. Your explanation of the mechanical, bio, and chemical (MBC) filtration is not only understandable but informative. Thank you so much, now for my questions: I have order two pounds (approx .907 kilo) of your recommend Biohome Ultimate media for my canister. The price is extremely high at approximately $35.00 US Dollars. As you know, the SunSun 704B has four large trays. Under my first tray is the cheap supplied bio material used to break up the water prior to entering the first tray. The first tray has all three of the mechanical foam, coarse, medium, and fine. Now, is there any other media that I can use along with the Biohome Ultimate? I just can not afford to fill all three remaining trays with the Biohome Ultimate Media, or send you my entire canister for your demonstration on pimping out the 704B. Sadly, it is beyond my price range, even though I would love to do so. And if I were to add another type media that you may mention, where would the placement be in reference to the tray stacking? Should the Biohome Ultimate be placed in the second, third, or fourth tray for optimum success of the complete cycle; Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate. Oh, and I also ordered the bacteria balls to add to the media, just to help get things started. I thought with the cheaper media that you may mention and I would add because of your recommendation, the bacteria balls would be a plus. Well that’s about it, for a closing question, am I over doing my filtration with the under gravel filter plus the 704B for a 55 gallon tank, which is not over loaded with our finned friends? Thank you again for you free display of knowledge, not only has it truly made me a better Aquariust but I have been able to help others. I also have recommended your TH-cam sight to all my friends! Again, thank you and I most definitely await any comments that you may have. Please address those comments or recommendations to my other email address of: mverostek@hughes.net
Can you do Hydor external filters next? I saw how you put the pre filter rings at the bottom of the filter, but my concern is that when all the trays are put back the top case of the filter with the motor won’t be a tight fit which will result in leaks. My hydor won’t even close if trays are not positioned the right way let alone adding the rings at the bottom.
Are you using the rings that come with it in the bottom (under the trays)? Or you replacing them completely out of the filter? I loathed to put the ones that come with it in the cupboard :)
i've got a 400L aquarium that will have 6 small-medium freshwater fish in. I'm looking to get the 2000L version of this, and the booster to go with it. Would there be added benefit to having the booster as my mechanical filter, but also having my bottom tray in the 2000 unit with an extra layer of course, medium and fine pads? Still leaving 3 trays of bio media. Is this overkill or an effective way to really nail the mechanical filtration? sorry i'm new to this and learning a-lot from your videos so far!
i've just bought some of this ultimate media eventually as i dont believe im getting a full cycle due to the media im using so this should definitely solve the problem - using this filter all 3 trays with biohome media Ultimate and then the filter booster as a pre filter.
Another question on an unrelated matter..does a plain deep sand bed work as a denitrifier? Say a 4-6 inch deep sand bed..with a particle size of 0.5mm maybe..( or less) (With rooted plants like amazon sword say) Same question for LECA or hydroton balls..can they work as denitrification?
What about if you add the booster on to it would that mean it can do a bigger tank. I have the 1000uv version with booster on a 350l piranha tank would another 1000ef be better or do I just go for the 2000ef. Thanks again for the vids always great to watch
Thank you for the video. I have 2 fancy goldfish in 120l tank. I set up everything exactly as you showed. And i have air filter in the tank. How often should i change filter media , please? Thank you
Just recently started using these media filtration. Love your channel but I have a couple of stupid questions, 1 do you place the media that you are going to use on top of the existing filter, under the existing filter or remove the existing filter? Thanks in advance, Richard
The main problem Im getting with this filter is bypass through the in pipe into the media trays. I got a pre filter as an easy fix however it still annoys me that the trays don’t fit well together. also i got 3killos of biohome ultimate in mine because i use the pre filter.
It's an easy fix. Get a PVC pipe and cut slits in one end so water can escape (that will go at the bottom), cut it to the length so it perfectly goes from the bottom of the canister to the lid. That will get rid of any between-tray bypass.
Would this work on a small balcony pond 80 liters - it has a few gold fish and a couple of plants, Water gets muddy very quickly. So looking for a filtration sysyem that would work. Most pond options are way to big. Thanks for any advice.
Hi Richard do you think that this filter would be better than the Eheim Pro 300? I have one but would look at buying two of the 100EF instead of another 300 Pro..or possibly the 2000EF.
How come you didn't use the carbon or the black balls ? Is it worth replacing with 'biohome Ultimate Plus' which surprisingly dont sell in your own store?
Hi Richard. Just a quick question. I am converting my tank to marine. I have Bioholme media in my fluval 306. My question is can I use the normal bioholme media in a marine tank or will I need to get the bioholme marine. Great videos as always. Thanks.
Pondguru .... i have a question , i just bought 5 pounds of the Ultimate for a Sunsun Hw 402B Three Tray canister filter with UV , i am worried that i didn't buy enough Ultimate media to fill Two ( 2 ) of the three (3) trays ..... My question is can i use any of the other Biohome media's like the Biohome plus or Biohome mini along with the Ultimate to fill up any unused space ? is it ok to mix types of Biohome media's together or possibly add some ceramic / glass rings in with the ultimate or will that do more harm then good ? just looking for suggestions on how to fill up any unused space inside the trays without spending another $25.00 - $30.00 for another 1 pound of ultimate when i have unused Ceramic and glass rings available to me . i could also order the biohome plus / or original with Amazon prime ( biohome ultimate not available with prime ) and have the plus / original in a day or two as opposed to waiting 2 weeks for 1 more pound of the ultimate to arrive in the states from 3rd party sellers . Please help ...
After a long while away from the fish keeping game I’ve decided to get back into it , i have bought mostly second hand tank ,filter etc ! I’m juggling with using this technique with the allpond 1000ef filter or just buying a fluval 307 , doesn’t seem much wrong with the filter but I’ve no idea how long the previous owner had it ,,am I safer with new fluval ?? Cheers
If the filter still works I'd stick with that as there is no point spending more money than you need to on any system. The 1000 will easily hold 2.4kg of media in the top 2 trays whereas the 307 will hold under 2kg in the top 2 trays - the more media you can have the better the water will be filtered and the healthier it will be.
if i am using this for pure bio filtration and a pre-filter for the sponges, would you recommend using one with a power head or will the double pump cause an air issue? also loving this video, just purchased one myself as the hang on the back just does not cut it! budget setups never last do they hahah!
thanks! been waiting to see this one :) just a quick question though. if i put a booster filter on, filled with foam, and used the first tray in the canister for more biohome would this be able to support a heavily stocked 180L cichlid tank with a full cycle? or would the drop in flow rate be too much?
That would allow the filter to hold about 3.6kg of media, maybe 4kg if packed in a bit neater which should be enough for a 180 litre cichlid tank to achieve full cycle but even the 2.3 litre version of the booster will possibly drop the flow rate a bit. Best stick with the foams that come with booster as they will restrict flow less than adding fine pads there. If it is African cichlids they could really do with a bit more flow than will be offered by the 1000EF with a booster. I'd personally say do without the booster and step up the filtration to a 2000EF - that's the one I featured in my older video titled "Why your filter is too small and not cycled" but I will be featuring it in this series too at some point.
Help 😭 I've just followed this set up for my filter but I have the 2000 version and have four trays... what do I put in the forth tray and where will I put it in line of what's been used in this video🙈🙈🙈 Thank you
Did you know the units sold outside of China are often sold under various brands, but are also refurbished units, All Ponds Solutions do this but sell as new, check your unit thoroughly and for a few pennies more you can get a more well known reliable model. Theres a reason they can sell them even cheaper than a Sunsun lol
on my 240L malawi cichlid tank i run a 2000ef with 1kg Biohome ultimate and 1kg Biohome Mini Ultra and 1kg Biohome Plus and a fluval 306 with 500g off Lava Rock and 500g off Alfagrog do you think my filters are ok?
Isn't yhe floss (or floss pads in your case) used to polish the water therefore should be used within very last stage? This also makes it easy and quick to replace when clogged. Placing it in the middle will make your filter maintenance little bit more involving and thay is so unnecessary.
Is the Bio Home ultimate used for fresh water aquariums as well? I’m new to canister filtration. I’ve seen two great videos where they use the Biohome Ultimate but not sure if they are setting these up for fresh water
I'm curious about the Nitrate situation and the anaerobic bacteria. If we have a planted aquarium, do we want all that anaerobic bacteria consuming the nitrates that will feed our plants?? As I understand it, that's a no. Am I wrong?
Hi I've just got the 2000ef+ setup as per Ur advice and got it running. The power is to strong so much so I've had to lower my water by 3 inches to stop it coming over the side. Have u any advice please or should I send it back. The tank is 200 litre
Great Video! Just bought this filter for my 100 litre tank and bought your Biohome Ultimate and pads to go in it! Thank you! How long does the Biohome last please?
what external filter would you recommend for a 125 litre community tank (would say it is well stocked). i want to get rid of my U3. Was going to go with the eheim eccopro 300 as i wanted extra filtration, but watched your vid and you recommended it would really only do 100 odd litres. any advise would be great
Would this filter be suitable if I have shrimp in with my fish? The shrimp reproduce alot so babies need to be protected from the filter? Is there a way to modify it to be shrimp friendly?
APS 1000EF (Amazon): geni.us/g1rTAv
APS 1000EF (Ebay): ebay.to/2SF8AbN
SunSun HW 302 (Amazon.com): geni.us/PI49
Foams and Biohome: www.filterpro.co.uk
(FilterPro site has links to suppliers in other countries)
This is a really decent filter for the price with a very low cost for the UK version (from All Pond Solutions) and it holds a good amount of media too - easily taking 2.4kg biohome ultimate.
That makes it suitable for normally stocked tanks of up to 240 litres (63 US gallons) or a heavily stocked tank of around 120 litres (32 US gallons) if you want to achieve a full cycle.
WHAT IS A FULL CYCLE?
A full cycle is completed by bacteria - the aerobic part of biological filtration which processes ammonia to nitrite and nitrite to nitrate followed by an anaerobic part which processes nitrate into soluble nitrogen which bubbles off to the atmosphere.
Therefore it requires a suitable amount of excellent quality filter media to be able to provide the environment for both aerobic AND anaerobic bacteria - that is what the various forms of Biohome does perfectly but even with such good media there are limitations and we recommend the following amounts for different stocking scenarios:
(1 US gallon = 3.8 litres)
(1kg = 2.2 lbs)
Average community tropical aquarium = 1kg per 100 litres
Average coldwater aquarium = 1kg - 1.5kg per 100 litres
Predator aquarium = 1.5kg - 2kg per 100 litres
Large cichlid aquarium = 1.5kg - 2kg per 100 litres
Malawi / Tanganyikan aquarium = 1.5kg - 2kg per 100 litres
Marine aquarium = 1.5kg - 2kg per 100 litres
Average mixed fish pond = 1kg per 200 litres
Average koi pond = 1kg per 150 litres
You may be disagreeing with the above figures but remember that they are for a FULL CYCLE not half a job - achieving 0 ammonia and 0 nitrite is quite easy since aerobic bacteria grows freely on any surface but the anaerobic bacteria responsible for COMPLETING the cycle needs more a specialized habitat.
Size a filter properly, set it up sensibly and you will have perfect water - it's that simple....and your filter won't be the dreaded 'Nitrate factory'.
This series of videos is all about trying to squeeze more efficiency out of internal and external aquarium filters which generally have a limited filtering capacity - If you have a filter you'd like me to feature in a video then please contact me on:
sales@filterpro.co.uk
07772848730 (Richard)
Anyone who sends a filter (UK only at present) will have it upgraded and returned to them for free and the only cost you will pay is how much it costs to ship it to me - I'm helping to boost your filter and the resulting videos will hopefully be useful to viewers all over the world so it's a win/win.
The following videos will be useful to anyone interested in learning more about filtration, bacteria and making the conditions for your fish as good as possible:
Sizing a canister properly and filter set up: goo.gl/om19un
Looking INSIDE different filter media: goo.gl/hZWS6c
Bacteria and filter media: goo.gl/123gAF
How to clean an aquarium: goo.gl/bPMhvh
Aquarium tips / filtration playlist: goo.gl/pXgqVj
This channel is purely a hobby for me so I will never ask viewers to donate money for any of my projects or charge anyone for information - information should be shared freely and I certainly don't consider myself an 'expert' in anything I pursue as a hobby so please do your own research, never accept anything as 'fact', reject anyone claiming to be some sort of authority or 'expert' and make your own minds up about anything you wish to study.
We all are on a long path of learning.........
RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS ON AMAZON: goo.gl/jMaBWy
INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/pondguru_ou...
FILMING EQUIPMENT:
Panasonic HC-VX870 HD camcorder geni.us/3UwE
+Rode stereo microphone: geni.us/4OL
+Rode 'deadcat' mic cover: geni.us/1pmn
JVC Everio quad proof HD camcorder: geni.us/e09e
+Rode 'deadcat' mic cover (opened up and held between tripod and camera base) geni.us/dee24
Zomei Z666 tripod: geni.us/1a1af3
Manfrotto MTPIXI-B PIXI mini tripod: geni.us/87f7
If you've enjoyed this video please check out the playlists on my channel for hundreds more - on a variety of subjects.
Feel free to share or link any of my videos on facebook, twitter, forums etc. for the benefit of anyone you think may also enjoy watching.
See you next time.
Pondguru
www.bunnings.com.au/20kg-bag-scoria_p0760533
Would this be an ok filter media to use?
@@S2yay Scoria is decent and what most of the US guys simply know as 'lava rock' but it has serious limitations. I cover it in this video (the featured video on my channel) where I show the internal structure and assess how useful lots of different types of media are with regard to supporting bacteria. Link here: th-cam.com/video/QTtAUYR67Eg/w-d-xo.html
Will pillow stuffing be a good substitute for the fine pad?
Have you left us stranded ?! No more pond videos ? You left us ! 😳
Have you got a video where you have pimped a sunsun hw-5000 been lookijg for a good video on setting one up correctly
I've watched enough of these that I know what to do, but I can't help watching every new one that comes out. Haha.
My thoughts ecactly.
Haha, same here. Must mean we're filter geeks.
Ditto. I run two of these on my 230 litre tank, both set up exactly as in this video. And I still watched it right to the end!
Same here. It's weirdly relaxing.
Step 1: figure out where water from the tank first hits media in the filter
Step 2: put coarse filter media as the first material the water hits, followed by medium filter media, then fine filter media
Step 3: fill whatever space is left after the fine filter material with biological media
Step 4 (optional): put carbon/chemical filtration in as the final layer before water returns to tank.
It’s a very simple formula lol
Hold on, those plastic balls are really quite useful!
My cats love to play with them.
i stuck mine in the bottom, under the first tray.
You have forever changed the way I will arrange one of these filters. What you said made a lot of sense and I just never thought of setting one up that way. Thank you
These filters are of good value. One of the great things about them is that spare parts are readily available, unlike other budget filters. APS offers a very good fast service. Thanks, Richard, great as always.
The only thing negative about these filters is the SunSun customer service and the cheap materials that the valve compartment head is made out of. These are very good filters otherwise and they will last a long time as long as the owner does his or her part to maintain them properly.
This is a very good and informative video. I hope it helps others enjoy the hoppy by heeling them to properly set up their filter thus helping them to matin their aquariums better.
This video is the perfect instructional video or as you boys across the pond say “ it’s spot on “! 👍🏽
Dude! I've been looking at/for filter reviews for months now, as I expand my tank room. And this is the best I've seen, on or off youtube. Super clear, all of and only the relevant info. No bs. Subscribed and a fan
I'm glad the video was useful and thanks for watching.
Top Job mate, all your videos are awesome, i set my EF1 4 weeks ago in the exact same way using biohome, thanks to you there are a lot of us using/utilizing the filters correctly to their max capacity ensuring the best chance for achieving a healthy and successful aquarium. Your a blessing mate thank you so much
You are a legend when it comes down to filter setup. Great share mate and all of your video are full of information.
lol, there are loads of videos in this series which are essentially exactly the same as others but I am trying to create a huge base of information online for anyone setting up or considering buying a particular model of filter. It is quite an undertaking and there's currently 28 parts with 35+ more videos shot and in need of editing (more being made weekly) - while I'm sure regular viewers will get sick of me putting these videos out I'm making them for the benefit of people who want information on specific filters so it's something I'll see through until that base of information is complete.....(it will never be complete, lol)
Great vid as usual. Can you do one with a pre filter booster. I use one but makes a big difference with Flo rate and I want to make sure it is effective as possible. Cheers
I've just watched kaveman on youtube saying the biomedia is no good and makes absolutely know difference to your aquarium!
So on that note i just purchased 2kg of bio ultimate from you in defiance and defence to prove him and the rest of who say the same thing.
I trust in what you say and have done over years and i have never had problems with any of my aquarium, pond or tank.👍👍👍
He's a fool, I watched him put in about a kilo into a 125 gallon fully stocked tank. He's a clown, argued with me as said my opinion doesn't matter - so I pointed out in must as he's got about 30 pages of sponsor link begging in each description. And he charges $125 an hour for mousey facetime ADVICE LOL
@@mistadobalina1093 same can’t convince him he had 1.5 kg in his fx6 on 210g cichlid tank
Thanks richard, set my EF1400 with the biohome ultimate just as you have shown, put it back together and got it up and running and watched has it started leaking ! after panicking for 10 mins like a headless chicken, i put plumbers tape round the rim and so far after two months no leaks. Great vids as allways cheers richard .
I just bought one of these. Great timing on vid! A side note : I noticed that I had to swap the empty trays around in order, so that the hoses had a tighter fit. I simply held the two trays together up to the light and looked through the black connection hose---if I saw light around the circle---I swapped it for another tray that I didn't see light come in. I imagine this allows all the water to get sucked to the bottom from the start---and not some leaking in from the media chambers before it has a chance to get out into the tank. Every little helps I think. Great video as always
40 years keeping tropical fish this is a brilliant filter using the 2000EFX X2 not a problem with any them
Good one - thanks for the report. It is very important for viewers to share experiences in the comment section as it helps anyone watching who may be interested in buying one of these filters.
Best of luck with the tank(s).
I've just bought the uv version of this now I will have to go buy the media it should have come with thank you .
That's how I've got mine set up too. Although I've got the plastic balls in the settlement bottom . We had some biohome ultra mini and k1 micro off you along with a generous supply of bacteria gel balls about a month ago. Everything's going great so far Thanks Richard .
Eyyyyyy!!! About time we got round to it! Thank you for taking your time on these videos rich we appreciate it.
I am in the process of upgraded my APS 1000EF to biohome ultimate (over a month) and also replaced the filter foam with the 3 grades I got as part of the filter upgrade pack from filter pro. It's only been a week so the biological element hasn't changed much yet but the water is visibly clearer from having the good sponge in and the filter set up properly. Great advice in these videos and a huge upgrade to my filter already! Thank you
Thanks Pond Guru! I have this filter and thanks to your advice on filter pimpin', I have happy fish and turtles!
Hi Richard, I remember contacting you about three years ago asking advice as I was using two of the APS 2000efx with UV and running the 2,3lt EF2 booster on both. Your great advice I still use to this day. All the heavy much gets caught in the booster which holds are the foams and the main filters are packed with the Bioholme, every tray. Let me tell you and others, this is the best set up ever. Hardly have to clean the main filters and only the boosters now and again. Thanks again for the great advice Richard. Have a great day buddy.
No worries and I'm glad it's working for you - its a good combo and although the flow can suffer a bit that is a price to pay to free up and extra tray for more biological activity.
Pondguru to be honest the flow isn’t really restricted by much. Having it all run on a 5ft tank is just perfect. I’ll upload a video of the output so others can see. Thanks again buddy.
@@Photoshotgun Groovy - feel free to post link here - it will be marked as 'for review' by my over-zealous filtering system for comments but I will see it and approve it. (I have filters on to prevent all the spam I get from marketing companies)
Pondguru th-cam.com/video/7aERFIa1pFY/w-d-xo.html
Pondguru I’ve linked it above buddy
Have had this filter with biohome for 4/5 years now, hasn't missed a beat!! Good filter half the price of others on market.
Damn you got lucky. Had 2 of these filters in the past 5 years and both lasted about a year before leaking like crazy around the clamps. Id rather spend the extra £100 on a top quality branded filter with a better warranty.
Another great video Richard. I know how you set the filters up now but I like watching these videos to see what what you think of
different filters and how they are designed.
Unfortunately I’ve removed my external filter from my reef tank as I don’t think I was using enough biohome media.
I also had the sponges set up in the bottom tray to trap the waste and I was trying to leave the filter for at least 3 weeks before giving
it a clean so I didn’t keep disturbing the biohome media but there was quite a bit of waste in the bottom of the filter which
I presume when left over a few weeks will start to break down into nitrate and phosphate.
I had less than 2 kilo of biohome in the filter. My tanks 245 litres with 25 kilo of live rock in it for biological filtration.
My nitrates have stayed at around 50 and haven’t come down.
I’ve always learnt that filters on a reef tank need to be kept as clean as possible, so usually they need opening and floss being
Changed once a week or at least every 2 weeks so your removing any waste before it has a chance to break down.
I also found the biohome was getting covered with like a dust and waste and I wasn’t sure whether to rinse it in tank water or
leave it.
I had the filter running on the tank with biohome for 4 months.
Also having osteoporosis I found the filter with biohome and water was quite heavy to lift in and out from under the tank.
I’ve put the little tunze filter I sent you on the tank at the minute but I’m not sure it’s going to be good enough as I need to
use about 200ml of phosphate media and its tightly packed in the filter in a media bag as there’s not much space for water to
run though it so it clumps together over time which is why it’s better to run it in an external filter as you can spread it out so the water can
flow through it easier.
So my search goes on to find a filter that’s easy to maintain that’s not too heavy.
I’ve spent so much money on filters over the years.
I should really use an external filter on my system but I find internal filters so much easier to maintain.
I never know quite what to do for the best.
My tanks running fine and my clown fish are getting on for 9 years old so I must be doing something right.
I will keep watching these videos and hopefully one day you will review a filter that will work with my system that’s easy to
maintain.
Thanks again for making these videos Richard. I really enjoy watching them.
I look forward to the next one.
Cheers.
Andrew.
Just bought this media, posted yestarday to Cornwall. Can't wait to try it out. Hoping it will help with my Nitrates. I get 40 ppm straight out of the tap. Starting to get on my nerves now. Tried purigen, so far, It hasn't done anything. Great videos, taught me how to set up a external filter properly. keep up the good work.
I use this exact same filter with my fancy goldfish, and set up almost exactly the same. I went for an extra foam pad which was in-between the fine pad and medium foam. Love these filters
Legend Sir, thanks again. The world needs more people like you !!
Not sure I could stand bumping into doppelgangers of myself every day, lol
Brilliant video. I have the 1400 which is filled with just biohome ultimate, I also have the booster filter which houses all my mechanical filtration and that works brilliantly for my turtle tank! Only need to clean out the booster filter around every month which is great.
How much media fits into each basket? I want to buy this model.
I'm running 2 of these on my juwel 180l, filter 1 setup, the ef filter booster pimped, course med fine then the whole main filter is just biohome ultimate, then filter 2 is just as this filter is set up
Tank is spot on thanks Richard 👍
Love these videos I used one to pimp a marina 110 with filter pads x2 coarse and fine, 3x ceramics and 200g of Matrix. Works well so far.. Now upgrading to a 250ltr tank so will be using sunsun canister using matrix instead of the rings so I will see how that goes in a larger filter. 😊
Hi there Richard,
Great video as always, thanks for sharing it with us, thumbs up and best regards from New Zealand.
I have recently purchased the 2000EF as a replacement for an Eheim Pro that was far too small for the tank.
My new batch of Biohome is arriving tomorrow, can't wait to see the difference it makes once everything is set up correctly :D
Thank you for your videos and the Biohome :)
@Danny ghafur I didn't notice a difference in flow but the was in much better condition. Unfortunately my 2000EF seal broke and flooded the floor. I've replaced 8t with a Fluval FX6 and it's pimped too.
@Pondguru just bought some of your pumice filter media for my trickle filter... looking forward to adding it to the system
Very well done. Thank you. Can’t wait for the final mega filter video
Great info at a perfect time as i am just about to purchase the exact same filter for my 30g cichlid fry tank. Thanks for all your knowledge and wisdom
Dont know if u have done this already but put a sponge on the intake.. so it doesn't suck up your Fry.
yeah i fingered that one out 👍🏽
Thank you for the good advice on set up. Tomorrow is bull week payday! I will try the biohome, I have a 500g bag in my 1400ex now! With other stuff of course; I can use it to 'seed' the fresh stuff.
I timed my outflow tonight( filled a jug!) After 4 week since a scrub,Im getting 280l/hr. Canny for my community tank of 240l. No issues.
After this weekends change, after a month I will time her again.
A tad quicker!
1.58 l in 9.79s
370 l/h
After watching this a a few times and a fair few of your other pimp my filter videos I've just purchased a 1kg biohome plus external filter upgrade kit and an extra 1kg of biohome plus for this exact filter
I've one of these coming today with uv to go on my 300 litre already have the betta canister with uv running but feel it's not enough so hopefully both set up as you've shown will help
Best of luck - without knowing what the other filter model is or how you've set up both filters I'm in the dark but hopefully it will work for you. If not then feel free to ring me any time.
These are very good filters for the money you won't get a better canister than these for around the 57/60pound mark
Excellent and informative post ... thank you. I bought one from ""inest filters" and after 8 months it developed a catastrophic leak mid service ... and they ""inest filters" said it was possibly due to the primary O-ring failing. Is this a known fault on Sunsun filters?
Finest Filters?
The O rings are generally nice and thick on canister filters but they are easily deformed if the O ring is nipped between the base and the pump head. That can happen with any canister filter so it is worth keeping a full seal set or the O ring (as a minimum) for spares.
I've just realized that Sun Sun, Aqua Top and All Pond Solutions canisters are all the same.
Anyway, Sun Suns are good but not very durable. The plastic easily breaks and the hoses are hard to work with. But they do what they are supposed to do.
Another great video Sir. Richard.
I bought the new Aquael Maxi Kani 500. I hope you review this canister someday.
Thank you Sir.
Many thanks for all the videos! Im no means an expert on fish keeping but have some knowledge. However i have hit a wall and need some help! I have a heavy cichlid stocked BOYU LZ-810 198L tank(haters will say thats not big enough but my other tanks are shut down due to moving house soon)
My question is the 1000EF sufficient for this?
Keep up the videos👍
You stated, if I'm understanding you correctly, that the system filters down so that mechanical should be on the bottom, the box has a chart that seems to suggest the opposite? They have the chemical on the bottom (if using) and the bio in the middle, finishing with the charcoal in the top (if using) highest basket. Shouldn't the chem bags, if using be on the top or finish off filtration, not in the beginning as to avoid chem bags from getting fouled? If yes, they have there's on the bottom basket suggesting bottom is the finish of filtration. I'm probably wrong in my understanding so I hope you read this and reply.
I love these videos! In the states HOB are the go to... will you do more of these from different brands? I see you’ve already pimped the popular canister filters.
I’ve just bought 1kg of biohome ultimate from this guys eBay store and my tropical aquarium is 1000000 times better in terms of water clarity. Absolutely worth the investment. I’m running a 200ltr tank with flu allergies 406 and just the 1k added has seriously made an improvement. This stuff is brilliant imho
I just got a EFX+ for my 180L (A bit overkill but.. My 206 is struggling as it doesnt have biohome, I could have sorted it by getting biohome but.. Wanted a new filter). Going to put as much biohome as possible along with the way you set this up or as you setup the 2000EF in "Canister Filters, Booster Filters and Chemical Filtration 101". Thank you for stocking Biohome.. You are the only place to buy it easily and at a good price in the UK!
(my other channel) Yes, the set up would be exactly the same regarding water flow direction and the filter is a beast for a 180 litre tank but you can never have too much filtration.
@@ThousandYardStare Well in the end I want a 300L tank as my main and only tank, would this still be great for that? As I know it says it can handle 1000L but I also know it's best to half that assumption
@@StuartD21 Yes it will still be fine for a normally stocked / moderately stocked 300 litre tank no problem as it holds plenty of media for that situation.
@@ThousandYardStare Thank you for your knowledge and help! (Again thank you for stocking biohome.. I dont know where else even sells the stuff in UK)
Bought this filter a while ago and having watched all your previous videos on cannister filters I have mine set up exactly as you do sir! I would say you have passed the test. Well done!
Sir can you please answer the following queries:
Does denitrification work better..if the media is packed such that most of the water goes around the media rather than through the media ( like say the whole media in a fine mesh plastic bag..so that there is an inch of gap all around the bag in each segment)
Also, does plain old pumice work as a denitrifier ( maybe less efficient than biohome..but how less efficient..in terms of..how many kilos per 100 liter?)
Does reducing the outflow of a cannister via valve put more pressure ( and thus reduce longevity of the pump) ..slow flow will probably help denitrification..
Thanks..
Great video and made it easy to understand for beginners like me!
I’ve a quick question, when setting this up the first time the instructions say to fill with water, but how much do I fill it with? I’m confused lol
As full as it will go as the pump will not draw water through the pipe into the filter if the inside of the filter is dry. Ideally the whole system will be full of water.
@@pondguru perfect Thankyou so much! I’m just waiting for the foams to arrive then I can get it set up
I was sooo tempted at one of these especially for the unbelievable price. It was just all the issues people have with them in the reviews I read that put me off.
Put some plumbers white tape under the top of the filters o ring to make a tight fit that would be the only place it would leak if it does
@@TURKO2424 just brought a eheim instead pal. Proper made filter 💪🏻
@@English-Sparta wich one exactly ? I still haven't bought another filter yet i heard eheim is good
@@TURKO2424 yeah they are tbf. I brought the Eheim pro 4 350 and 600
So many pros don’t like to use carbon. I was wondering why is that? I always feel like having it must be better than not?
Got this filter and it has some oil/cream like stuff inside of it??? Its on the top black lid and on edges where 2 parts connect, should I return it??? Or what is this? Wiping it doesn't work, its still present
(my other channel) It sounds like silicone grease and it should be present around the O ring where the pump head meets the canister. It will also be present where the in/out pipes fit into the pump head. If there is excess grease then wipe it away - it's there to prevent the seals cracking and ensure that the parts fit together properly.
@@ThousandYardStare thank you!!
I have the ef1400, I used the black balls it came with in the bottom, underneath the trays, then 3 layers of foam, then one tray of the cinted glass, and last tray with the ceramic rings that it came with.
Greg, hope all is doing fantastic! I have a couple of questions about pimping my SunSun 704B canister filter. First a little background. I am a novice fish keeper at best. My starter aquarium is a 55 gallon tank. I am using a underground filter coupled with the SunSun 704B canister filter. I have taken my two HOB’s off the tank and holding them for emergency standby. I have been watching more than several of your pimping videos and I not only enjoy them but also have learned from them. Your explanation of the mechanical, bio, and chemical (MBC) filtration is not only understandable but informative. Thank you so much, now for my questions: I have order two pounds (approx .907 kilo) of your recommend Biohome Ultimate media for my canister. The price is extremely high at approximately $35.00 US Dollars. As you know, the SunSun 704B has four large trays. Under my first tray is the cheap supplied bio material used to break up the water prior to entering the first tray. The first tray has all three of the mechanical foam, coarse, medium, and fine. Now, is there any other media that I can use along with the Biohome Ultimate? I just can not afford to fill all three remaining trays with the Biohome Ultimate Media, or send you my entire canister for your demonstration on pimping out the 704B. Sadly, it is beyond my price range, even though I would love to do so. And if I were to add another type media that you may mention, where would the placement be in reference to the tray stacking? Should the Biohome Ultimate be placed in the second, third, or fourth tray for optimum success of the complete cycle; Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate. Oh, and I also ordered the bacteria balls to add to the media, just to help get things started. I thought with the cheaper media that you may mention and I would add because of your recommendation, the bacteria balls would be a plus. Well that’s about it, for a closing question, am I over doing my filtration with the under gravel filter plus the 704B for a 55 gallon tank, which is not over loaded with our finned friends? Thank you again for you free display of knowledge, not only has it truly made me a better Aquariust but I have been able to help others. I also have recommended your TH-cam sight to all my friends! Again, thank you and I most definitely await any comments that you may have. Please address those comments or recommendations to my other email address of: mverostek@hughes.net
Another awesome pimp my filter video today Richard !! 🤦♂️👌🎥💚When are these companies going to start listening to you......🤣🤣🤣
Can you do Hydor external filters next? I saw how you put the pre filter rings at the bottom of the filter, but my concern is that when all the trays are put back the top case of the filter with the motor won’t be a tight fit which will result in leaks. My hydor won’t even close if trays are not positioned the right way let alone adding the rings at the bottom.
Oh, my god. No wonder I've had such issues with my filtration. I had been doing it all wrong.
Thanks for this video!
Are you using the rings that come with it in the bottom (under the trays)? Or you replacing them completely out of the filter? I loathed to put the ones that come with it in the cupboard :)
great little filter
I’ve just got a 1400ef delivered 😃 will be getting biohome ordered shortly. What water conditioner do you recommend using? Thanks PS love the videos 🔥
I have a sunsun HW-402B and i have the bio balls in the bottom and plan on getting bio home ultimate to put in it
i've got a 400L aquarium that will have 6 small-medium freshwater fish in. I'm looking to get the 2000L version of this, and the booster to go with it. Would there be added benefit to having the booster as my mechanical filter, but also having my bottom tray in the 2000 unit with an extra layer of course, medium and fine pads? Still leaving 3 trays of bio media. Is this overkill or an effective way to really nail the mechanical filtration? sorry i'm new to this and learning a-lot from your videos so far!
fantastic video Richard
Great vid. Ive just ordered and filter upgrade kit your website.
Would be good to see the clarity of water etc after running this set up for a while. As that's the proof in the pudding
i've just bought some of this ultimate media eventually as i dont believe im getting a full cycle due to the media im using so this should definitely solve the problem - using this filter all 3 trays with biohome media Ultimate and then the filter booster as a pre filter.
Another question on an unrelated matter..does a plain deep sand bed work as a denitrifier?
Say a 4-6 inch deep sand bed..with a particle size of 0.5mm maybe..( or less)
(With rooted plants like amazon sword say)
Same question for LECA or hydroton balls..can they work as denitrification?
What about if you add the booster on to it would that mean it can do a bigger tank. I have the 1000uv version with booster on a 350l piranha tank would another 1000ef be better or do I just go for the 2000ef.
Thanks again for the vids always great to watch
Thank you for the video. I have 2 fancy goldfish in 120l tank. I set up everything exactly as you showed. And i have air filter in the tank. How often should i change filter media , please?
Thank you
This is so useful thanks! Could I just use the media the filter comes with?
Just recently started using these media filtration. Love your channel but I have a couple of stupid questions, 1 do you place the media that you are going to use on top of the existing filter, under the existing filter or remove the existing filter? Thanks in advance, Richard
Love ur videos,I have a reef tank with a all ponds solutions canister with a uv bulb
The main problem Im getting with this filter is bypass through the in pipe into the media trays. I got a pre filter as an easy fix however it still annoys me that the trays don’t fit well together. also i got 3killos of biohome ultimate in mine because i use the pre filter.
Same here.
It's an easy fix. Get a PVC pipe and cut slits in one end so water can escape (that will go at the bottom), cut it to the length so it perfectly goes from the bottom of the canister to the lid. That will get rid of any between-tray bypass.
Would this work on a small balcony pond 80 liters - it has a few gold fish and a couple of plants, Water gets muddy very quickly. So looking for a filtration sysyem that would work. Most pond options are way to big. Thanks for any advice.
Hi Richard do you think that this filter would be better than the Eheim Pro 300? I have one but would look at buying two of the 100EF instead of another 300 Pro..or possibly the 2000EF.
I have had a sun sun filter on my planted 55 have had no problems
How come you didn't use the carbon or the black balls ?
Is it worth replacing with 'biohome Ultimate Plus' which surprisingly dont sell in your own store?
Hi Richard. Just a quick question. I am converting my tank to marine. I have Bioholme media in my fluval 306. My question is can I use the normal bioholme media in a marine tank or will I need to get the bioholme marine. Great videos as always. Thanks.
Hello, in your demo not showing any activated carbon. Is that not necessary? I am new fish keeper, please let me know, thanks
I noticed these filters come with a built in UV for just a few pounds extra. Is the UV worth having? Cheers all
Pondguru .... i have a question , i just bought 5 pounds of the Ultimate for a Sunsun Hw 402B Three Tray canister filter with UV , i am worried that i didn't buy enough Ultimate media to fill Two ( 2 ) of the three (3) trays ..... My question is can i use any of the other Biohome media's like the Biohome plus or Biohome mini along with the Ultimate to fill up any unused space ? is it ok to mix types of Biohome media's together or possibly add some ceramic / glass rings in with the ultimate or will that do more harm then good ? just looking for suggestions on how to fill up any unused space inside the trays without spending another $25.00 - $30.00 for another 1 pound of ultimate when i have unused Ceramic and glass rings available to me . i could also order the biohome plus / or original with Amazon prime ( biohome ultimate not available with prime ) and have the plus / original in a day or two as opposed to waiting 2 weeks for 1 more pound of the ultimate to arrive in the states from 3rd party sellers . Please help ...
I know how to set a filter up perfectly so i don't really need these videos....but its so satisfying to watch them
After a long while away from the fish keeping game I’ve decided to get back into it , i have bought mostly second hand tank ,filter etc ! I’m juggling with using this technique with the allpond 1000ef filter or just buying a fluval 307 , doesn’t seem much wrong with the filter but I’ve no idea how long the previous owner had it ,,am I safer with new fluval ?? Cheers
If the filter still works I'd stick with that as there is no point spending more money than you need to on any system.
The 1000 will easily hold 2.4kg of media in the top 2 trays whereas the 307 will hold under 2kg in the top 2 trays - the more media you can have the better the water will be filtered and the healthier it will be.
Top man , thank you 👌
I may have missed this in the video but why was the carbon not put in the filter?
I wish I'd seen this a couple of years ago. NOW I know why my nitrates have always been so high
Yes me too. I know Im overstocked but keep a regular feed and clean routine. Thankful for this hopefully effective set up
@@RoflJoker1994 my regime and tank has changed since then
if i am using this for pure bio filtration and a pre-filter for the sponges, would you recommend using one with a power head or will the double pump cause an air issue?
also loving this video, just purchased one myself as the hang on the back just does not cut it! budget setups never last do they hahah!
I have the 2000EFX and all 3 trays took a max of 5.8kg of BioHome Ultimate
thanks! been waiting to see this one :) just a quick question though. if i put a booster filter on, filled with foam, and used the first tray in the canister for more biohome would this be able to support a heavily stocked 180L cichlid tank with a full cycle? or would the drop in flow rate be too much?
That would allow the filter to hold about 3.6kg of media, maybe 4kg if packed in a bit neater which should be enough for a 180 litre cichlid tank to achieve full cycle but even the 2.3 litre version of the booster will possibly drop the flow rate a bit. Best stick with the foams that come with booster as they will restrict flow less than adding fine pads there. If it is African cichlids they could really do with a bit more flow than will be offered by the 1000EF with a booster. I'd personally say do without the booster and step up the filtration to a 2000EF - that's the one I featured in my older video titled "Why your filter is too small and not cycled" but I will be featuring it in this series too at some point.
@@pondguru thanks for the quick reply i will do that then :)
Help 😭 I've just followed this set up for my filter but I have the 2000 version and have four trays... what do I put in the forth tray and where will I put it in line of what's been used in this video🙈🙈🙈
Thank you
Did you know the units sold outside of China are often sold under various brands, but are also refurbished units, All Ponds Solutions do this but sell as new, check your unit thoroughly and for a few pennies more you can get a more well known reliable model. Theres a reason they can sell them even cheaper than a Sunsun lol
on my 240L malawi cichlid tank i run a 2000ef with 1kg Biohome ultimate and 1kg Biohome Mini Ultra and 1kg Biohome Plus and a fluval 306 with 500g off Lava Rock and 500g off Alfagrog do you think my filters are ok?
this helped me out i have the same filter in a 430 litre tank and my nitrates no3 are always high, have to do water changes every second day
Same for me
Would this set up work for the smaller All Pond Solutions canister filters? Specifically the 250?
Hello
I goot 250 liters turtle aquarium
Wat you think abaut adding the external buster filler to this one
Isn't yhe floss (or floss pads in your case) used to polish the water therefore should be used within very last stage? This also makes it easy and quick to replace when clogged. Placing it in the middle will make your filter maintenance little bit more involving and thay is so unnecessary.
Is the Bio Home ultimate used for fresh water aquariums as well? I’m new to canister filtration. I’ve seen two great videos where they use the Biohome Ultimate but not sure if they are setting these up for fresh water
I'm curious about the Nitrate situation and the anaerobic bacteria. If we have a planted aquarium, do we want all that anaerobic bacteria consuming the nitrates that will feed our plants?? As I understand it, that's a no. Am I wrong?
Hi I've just got the 2000ef+ setup as per Ur advice and got it running. The power is to strong so much so I've had to lower my water by 3 inches to stop it coming over the side. Have u any advice please or should I send it back. The tank is 200 litre
Great Video! Just bought this filter for my 100 litre tank and bought your Biohome Ultimate and pads to go in it! Thank you! How long does the Biohome last please?
Well over 10years
Hi pond guru mine has a button on top and no reference to its use. It seems to do nothing when I press it lol
what external filter would you recommend for a 125 litre community tank (would say it is well stocked). i want to get rid of my U3. Was going to go with the eheim eccopro 300 as i wanted extra filtration, but watched your vid and you recommended it would really only do 100 odd litres. any advise would be great
Would this filter be suitable if I have shrimp in with my fish? The shrimp reproduce alot so babies need to be protected from the filter? Is there a way to modify it to be shrimp friendly?