Doc Bio Filter, UV Filter and Plants

[lugger007]

I've been kicking around the idea of building the Doc Bio Filter for a while now. I want my water cleaner, plus I need an area to swap out some plants once the fish eat most of the roots.

I plan to build the Doc Bio Filter, but I have two questions. 1) I was thinking about putting my UV filter before the Bio Filter but wasn't sure. 2) Is it a good idea to put the plants at the top of the filter for extra cleaning power? I'm worried about the roots clogging any thing up.

I plan to put the filter behind my water fall but might need to downsize it as I don't have a lot of room because of the fence.

Thank for all the help.

Brian

 

[Otter]

Generally, you want the UV between your mechanical filter and your bio filter.

I've never planted a static filter, but I've seen it done and haven't heard any complaints about the roots. That's always seemed a possibility to me too, though. I doubt it would clog completely, but it might be difficult to clean the media if it were bound together with roots.

 

[koiguy1969]

i fill the top of my stocktank with hiacynths and it causes no problems,you do get some roots grabbing your media, but no big deal. and I believe Dr Dave put plants in the top of his barrel. they trap fines with their fiberous roots and give an a extra boost with veggy filtration. even if your plants just start to look a little shabby a couple days in the filter top and they will perk right up with that stream of nutrition flowing across the roots. check out these hiacynths.......

 

[DrCase]

You can screen off a small section at your drum outlet to hold the plants back if needed

 

[3qtkidz]

I am building a stocktank filter now and I plan on putting plants on the top. I have read several different threads that have nothing but good things to say about it. Offers more filtration plus, it can help hide that big ole' filter.