Habitat - Indoor :: XP4 Filter Media Setup / Behavior

[tbirdie]

Hello all.

I have an adult female red eared slider in my 75 gallon tank that I set up specifically for her. When I did so--in 2011--the filter media recommendation was (and my setup still is as below):

Top Basket: Rena Micro Filter Pads (20ppi) -- NOT superfine
Next Basket: Bio - Rena Ceramic Rings
Next Basket: Bio - Rena Filtration Rocks
Bottom Basket: Rena Coarse Filter Pads (30ppi)

My previous XP4 / XP XL was defective, exploded all over the living room, so they replaced it with this one. I've noticed that, for quite some time, when I clean the filter, the black, coarser 30ppi media always seems fairly clean, and the white media is FILTHY. I have never seen the black media this clean, and it keeps happening time and time again. When I would clean it out before, pretty much every media would be dirty. I don't think my turtle picked up cleaner living habits, so I'm just curious what I could be doing wrong that the first level of cleaning doesn't seem to be catching much?

Each basket is pretty full, and I can't think what we are missing here. Thanks for your help. I usually posted over at Turtle Times but I see that the forum seems to be vacant and fairly broken now... no threads will load.

[steve]

That's pretty weird. My coarse pads are always filthy. How often do you clean the filter? Are you adding anything into the water (like a waste degrader)?

[tbirdie]

I agree that it is very strange. I can't think of what I could possibly be doing differently that would send the water through the filter somehow missing these sponges.. I am not using a waste degrader and I do not add anything additional to the water.

I'm really stumped and don't want to to check or try on troubleshooting this problem. :\

[Kansasslider]

I agree your sponges should be pretty dirty.

[VeipaCray]

Water follows the path of least resistance. It's possible something is wrong with your filter and water is bypassing the first stage of filtration.

Try filling the whole darn thing up with filter floss and running it like that for a few days. When you take it apart see if the same thing happens... the lower floss staying clean. In the experiment, you're putting the same filter media in all the trays so the resistance passing through each tray SHOULD be roughly equal all things considered. We SHOULD see just the opposite. The bottom floss catching more of the dirt because it's first in line and the upper media staying cleaner than the bottom. IF we see that happening, then we know the water isn't bypassing the first tray. IF we do see it happening, then something is physically wrong with the filter or the assembly of the filter.

[Kansasslider]

I was going to say that

[EdieOnline]

Following. I have the XP3 and have always thought the default course pads that came with the filter are odd and don't seem to work as you would expect them to. I've contemplated buying another brand, but the pads that came with the filter seem very durable. Just not sure they function properly. Long story short, I always have a ton of floating gunk in the filter canister, when I open it up to clean, but not much actually in the first line of mechanical media.

[tbirdie]

Hmm. Do you think it could be the type of media we are using? I'm not sure I have that much filter floss here right now, but I'll look.

[Kansasslider]

The sponges are just that sponges. They just filter large particles and hold good bacteria. Medis shouldn't matter unless you have way too much of it. What ya useing?

[tbirdie]

Oh I meant in response to Edie's message about the coarse pads not working. I have each basket full-ish... I can't remember the exact number, but I'm fairly certain it's in line with the graphic I saw on the forum regarding quantities.

This is just so weird.

[Kansasslider]

What are you useing? For media?

[tbirdie]

Top Basket: Rena Micro Filter Pads (20ppi) -- NOT superfine
Next Basket: Bio - Rena Ceramic Rings
Next Basket: Bio - Rena Filtration Rocks
Bottom Basket: Rena Coarse Filter Pads (30ppi)

[Kansasslider]

I'm not sure whst filtration rocks are? I just use good "porous" ceramic rings. Have you looked at the filter thread? I'm not sure your sponges are in the right place.

[Kansasslider]

This is the filter thread.viewtopic.php?f=9&t=30145

[tbirdie]

Yes, I did see that a different setup was recommended in that thread. Unfortunately the article and diagram suggesting my current configuration does not seem to be loading. I guess I can move them around and see how that works out, but this is the setup I have always used, and this problem I have reported is new.