Bakpack Skimmer--Blue "Noodles"

[Pufferpunk]

Just did a 50% WC on my tank (just softies & fish), because the nitrates were 50. I did a 30% last week, for the same reason. Looks like the blue "noodles" in my Backpac skimmer is loaded w/crap again. Do they hold nitrates? Should I just use the skimmer w/o them?

 

[MrMexReefer]

that might be the cause Puff, i read somewhere that the floss in them can become a nitrate factory. I run the same skimmer without the stuff, and am always at 0 ppm. HTH

 

[amaya]

i have the same skimmer and the blue noodles have alot of crap on them, and on the bottom where the noodles are,i was going to remove but lfs told me not to,should i just remove and clean or just take it all out? only gsp and frogspawn few fish,thank you

 

[Pufferpunk]

From what I've been hearing, the noodles are the same as bio-balls & need to be removed. Nitrate factories. I replaced w/a bag of carbon that should be replaced monthly.

 

[PSam]

Most people I know who've run a CPR on a reef tank remove the "bio-bale".

I'd ditch it too.

 

[rhunt]

Ditched here within the first week of getting it.

 

[Pufferpunk]

Well, after a 50% WC, removing the noodles & rinsing out the cheato in my HOB filter, I've gotten the nitrates down to 25. I guess that makes sense. All I've done is remove 50% of the nitrates. The other 2 things I did will prevent them from rising again. Looks like I'll have to mix up more SW...

 

[suliaman007]

someone told me that the noodles can become a nitrate factory over time. when i was using the cpr back pack i took all of mine out because i had enough LR.

 

[Pufferpunk]

Thanks everyone--they're in the trash now.

 

[DaveBien]

Couldn't you knit a doggie sweater out of them?? LOL

 

[Pufferpunk]

He won't wear clothes. Can't even get him to wear the special riding goggles I bought him.

Oops, sorry, I don't know how that got so big!