Anyone have a Millenium 2000 filter on their tank?

[neowind]

If so there is a couple things I would like to know about this filter. I have had this filter for 3 years and used it on my systems and it has done great. Now there are 3 parts of the filter I don't know what they do.
1. The little air valv that you can flip up and it makes a air noise. What does this due? What does it control?
2. It has a place that your normal filters go where you change them out all the time. But behind is is another pullout type of filter does this one ever need to be changed? Does it need to be cleaned? What does it do can you remove it and put bio balls in or any type of other stuff.
I actually only had those 2 questions on it. not 3 thanks.

 

[saltaddict]

Question 1. It mixes air with the water to supply more oxygen. to the tank . It's noisy so I usually don't run with it up (on).
Question 2. That is a plastic sleeve which is suppose to allow bacteria to form and help with the bio-load . Very simular to what you would get if you ran bio-balls in a trickle filter. You never want to clean this it would kill the bacteria and could pike the ammonia in your tank.

 

[neowind]

Wow maybe that was a problem then. I cleaned it with skalding hot water so I bet I killed all the bacteria. I also cleaned it with a brush. Hmm. Any ideas.

 

[saltaddict]

It depends if you have Live rock in the tank you probably have enough bacteria to accomidate what you lost. It will regrow in time but avoid cleaning this it does not need it.