HMF now and still to come

Some HOB's are new others not - but the main thing is I only run the airlift during the day when the lights are on(but with a working HMF I can removed the airlift). Current thinking - and this could change by me just installing the 600l/hr pumps that are on my desk - leave the HMF, leave the HOBs that are pimped with extra ceramic media. These are bare bottom tanks - idea is to reduce the number of tanks that need heaters during winter- move fish to these tanks. I might actually abandon the HOB's and do the internal + HMF. Fishroom has not dropped below 24 yet so we are all good for temp.

Later Ferdie

 

Did a bit of DIY today, had some sponge and found some ABS corrugated sheeting. Needed something to hold a 300l/h pump in that will feed the top tray on Lucky13 ... decided to go with a mini-HMF, corner style. Think the math is a bit wrong on this one, still better than no filtration. Will let it cure for a few days before I wash and use it.

Later Ferdie

 

Crazy week - stuck the by now well cured filter into the tank. It actually uses less visible space well. The corner that the filter is in was a dead spot for sunlight so nothing grew in that corner.


The nice thing about this 1) it is a mini HMF 2) it provides pre filtered water for the shelf on lucky 13 so circulation is from HMF, up the pump, over the shelf media and plants and 50% spill over the side the other dumping into the tank on the left. Suppose I could add extra ceramic rings, but for now it is OK.

Later Ferdie

 

It was time to take the covers off some tanks and see what was going on after the hibernation. These tanks had no maintenance done for a good few months, water was still good so the HMF's must be doing a good filtration job.


Decided to do something with one of the running empty 2ft tanks. Got used clay substrate with hydroton (middle tank was the donor), added a layer of JBL substrate (looks to me like mineralised sand) and capped it with a healthy layer of silica. Then moved the plant form the tall 2ft that had the silica and red jasper into this one.

Lucky I had some ceramic rings spare - I needed to add some support to the HMF.


Did the same with the neighbour .. not sure what I am going to do about lighting yet.



Will be doing this to the 3'rd tank also. Suppose it is time I start thinking what I want to plant in the other two.

Later Ferdie

 

@f-fish, thanks for the link. I'm subscribing to keep up to date with the thread. You have some good ideas.

 

Cool - thing about HMF's you install them and leave them alone. No rinsing, moving them around etc. I'd say this really is the easiest filtration for a planted tank. I need to take some pics of the lot of them, they have all well matured and support fish and plants with a long WC delay.

Later Ferdie

 

@f-fish, Did you do your filters across one side of your tank with the little pump and heater behind it? It's a little difficult to try make out. I'm wanting to do this on my 2ft Krib breeding tank, to see how the whole thing pans out.

 

Yeap - - for the 2ft, 3ft and the custom convict tanks I sacrifice a side panel for filtration. In all these tanks it worked well. I typically do not run heaters (and when I do they are not behind the filter) - rather add some extra media - ceramics and stuff. For a 2ft I can highly recommend the Eheim Compact 300 - 5 W max 300l/h - bit pricey so shop around. The power cable layout means you do not have to worry about damaging it by bending it funny.

The spray bar is not part of the kit but it helps break the surface for this tank.


Later Ferdie

 

Hi guys

Where do you guys get that quality sponges? With specific PPI? All the places I've been to in the cape only sell filter replacement sponges (for internal or hang on filters), or filter floss.... where can I find that nice stiff 20 PPI sponge?

 

Altum and Prof has some from time to time - best PM them @PappaBear. I have in the past purchased from both of them ...

 

Cleaned my first HMF 3ft tank from HMF now and still to come - Page 2 (the twins sitting on top of the 1.8m stand) ... man that water was black after flushing the filter in it.

ll clean and good - added some plants back, changed the light .. move some rats ... ah guppies

 

Nice Ferdie, any other findings you can share about HMF?

 

Morning Gert, sorry missed your post

Since I do not overstock (except the convict tank) and I do not do water parameters but go by my nose it is hard to make a categorical statement.

Some observations.
- low maintenance (actually the longer you leave them the better)
- very good for fry tanks, not only are the fry safe but they love to use the sponge as a restaurant
- good on planted tanks, esp if you use a small pump and not a HOB -- almost no loss of potential of CO2
- I mentioned the low maintenance, but it truly is set and forget, you will know it is time for a cleat when the water level in the tank is much higher than that behind the sponge
- I do not use it to hide things like heaters and pumps, but can see how some would like that


I never mastered the idea of planting things in my HMF filters but for some this might work.

Later Ferdie

 

So these filters in have been doing very well. Below some pics of one of the tanks that I cleaned (using the term very loosely). Cleaning really only involved removing all the old plants and leaving some stems to fend for them selves.

One day when shrimps are legal I think this tank would make the perfect home for some breeders.

Side view (note these have never been cleaned .. and maybe a WC every 4 - 7 months) plants loved this tank, so does the algae, but I am ok with that in this tank.



I am sure some cherry shrimps would love to snack here. The fry love to graze here.


Later Ferdie

 

Hey Ferdie, great thread, can we have some updates? Also wanted to bump this up for a new generation of hobbyist's to read. You're right, there is huge value in TASA's old threads, just waiting to be mined..

I've always been keen to do an HMF, I just haven't had a tank that needed one.. I know, I know, start a new tank, but I just haven't managed to convince my wife why I need to buy a new tank just so that I can spend money on a filter..

 

Actually all but the corner HMF are still running ... lowest maintenance you will ever have on a filter.

Just washed the 3 2ft tanks on Sunday - quick rinse of the sponge and all done.

Later Ferdie

 

I've never tried these, but I believe you shouldn't clean until the water level behind the sponge drops significantly. When I get back into a shrimp tank I'm definitely going this route.

 

100% correct ... and eve then you clean it by not rinsing the entire thing - if you do your wc's with a pipe, simple vacuum the sponge where it sits.

This one still has a way to go difference is probably 8mm at this stage.



The weakest link in an HMF is your pump of sorts - I was fortunate that I could import some Eheim when the R$ was better way back - and these pumps are still going. Same for the HOB's that I use two of the HMF's. The HMF's that gave me issues are the ones that I skimped on the pumping - be it cheap airpump or those small fountain pumps. Truth is that is why the corner filter stopped working - the pump did.

and do not forget ... great feeding station for all.



Later Ferdie

 

A few years on and the majority of the HMF filters are still running - as are the pumps and HOB's, I am actually wondering if I should not see what material I have left and maybe do another on the catch 22 and blackjack?


Top of this tank needs a clean - since it is 2 meters up I never see this angle ;-) - so both the 3ft HMF + HOB's are still running strong.



The 3 2ft HMF fitted tanks are also still working.



Later Ferdie

 

Open cell sponge seem to be available more readily these days.

So got the small sheet a few month back, not sure what I needed to do with it, so happens that the BIG eheim canister I have on the convicts new hone clogs within a few days - even if I add sponge and extra filtration on the in take.

So today I scratched around, found some old corrugated sheeting that was used for something before in the fish room. Did some super glue welding ... made a box that fits nicely in the tank.




Later Ferdie