filtration question for sps

[fishguy597]

in my sump i have a drip tray. i have been running pura pads in them for a long time. i'm thinking about ditching them and just running my skimmer. but im a little conflicted because i see all gunk it gets out. so what do you guys think should i ditch them or keep using them. thx

 

[allsps40]

If it aint broke dont fix it.

 

[Reefsi]

I have an SPS tank and in my sump had a bunch of filter pads. I thought the same thing after seeing all the gunk that it would take out of tank. Everytime I would clean out the filter pads i would get nasty gunk even after 4 days. I eventually took them all out and learned really its just a collection for phosphates that leach back out into the system. I thought that for a minute it would lead to dirtier water without the pads but as i learned my water is now more clear and with less phosphates. I now just run my skimmer, carbon, and GFO. I used to get tons of skimmate and now since i removed the pads it only skims after i feed. IMO i would ditch them, its all a matter of preference.

 

[fishguy597]

im just woundering how many sucessful tanks use pads or socks. a lot of the posts on here say to get rid of the socks so i would think that the pads would fall in the same line. its like anything else you forget about it from time to time and then its holding nitrates. its just a notion im toying with. my reef is ok( itll be better now that i have something monitoring my alk another story for another time) but i wounder if it would be better without it.

 

[Dustin1300]

I think it all depends on whether you plan on cleaning/replacing the pads/socks often. Ones that religiously change the sock and clean on a regular basis have great success and helps filter lots of junk that would have entered the sump which in turn saves maintenance in cleaning out sump.

 

[fishguy597]

good point i still have the sponge material after the pads im considering keeping for any big chunks. i would also imagine that without the pads that the skimmer would produce more skimmate.