Filtration question

[sgarron]

I have not decided what to do about mechanical filtration yet. Should I use the cannister I have with just the foam filters, should I fill the other compartment with LR rubble, or carbon or leave it empty?

If I do use it how often should it be cleaned?

Tank will be set up first week in July. I'd really like to have this last issue resolved before then. Please give me some suggestions..........

 

[lesages]

I like to keep foam and carbon in my 205. As for how often you should clean it, I rinse my foam and carbon out once a week but it really just depends on how quickly it gets dirty.

 

[WaterKeeper]

The big thing here is use it for what is was intended, that is cleaning the water mechanically. Clean it weekly to avoid it becoming a biological filter. Leave that to your LR and sand.

 

[Andrew]

Forget the canister filters and ect. The best forms of filtration for any tank is a simple fuge/sandbed/and a good amount of liverock. Than a protein skimmer will pick up the rest. Not much more is needed for proper filtration.

 

[papagimp]

Andrew, if he were talking about good biological filtering, you'd be right on the money, but for mechanical filtering, rock and sand is going to be a horrible way to go. YOu'll end up with high nitrates in the end.

Sgarron, I have recently added a fluval to a couple of my tanks, for just that reason, mechanical filtering. I removed all the biological media, filled one with phophate remover (seachem), some denitrator and matrix, and then lot's of filter floss, that I change out at least once a week. But as Lesages mentioned, it'll need to be cleaned according to how filthy it gets. And you definatly do not want it to start biologically filtering your tank, keep all the media cleaned and rinsed, even if not being replaced weekly, it should still get cleaned. Let the rock and sand biologically filter the tank.

As for using carbon or live rock in there, if you do not have a refugium going, than I'd probably pick at least one compartment to add some good rubble pieces too, if you do have a fuge, as I do, then really no point, save that last compartment for carbon or more mechanical filter media. I don't run carbon often, only after fragging alot or when alot of leathers decide to slim up on me at once. sTuff like that, otherwise it's just the stuff mentioned above.

 

[meco65]

It is my opinion that the OTB filters are good for short term particle filters and for carbon when needed. If the filter is left in it should be cleaned three or four times a week as it should not be used as part of the Bio-filter. And adds flow behind my LR.

 

[papagimp]

Meco, I started out using just the HOB filters for the same purposes, carbon mainly, but the HOB types are just not nearly as efficient as a mechanical filter as say a canister filter. canisters are a pressurized unit and this forces the water to pass through all the filter media, whereas a HOB filter, you get alot of water just passing around teh filter media, or over the top of it, but not through it.

 

[meco65]

If the filter media is kept clean 98% of the water dose go through the filter media. However I do agree with you on this point papagimp if the filter media is not changed often enough it means trouble, you have to keep up with the proper maintenance.

 

[WaterKeeper]

I've always been a fan of canisters. They come in handy to clear a sandstorm. When you scrape lots of algae off the back glass they will remove it rather than letting it settle back into the tank. Same goes for bacteria blooms. A sub-micron cartridge in a canister will clear it up in no time flat and you then rinse the cartridge and flush the bacteria down the drain. Far better than waiting for them to die and add their cell nutrients back into the water column to fuel a latter algae outbreak.

Have a sick fish with ich? Use that same micron cartridge on your hospital tank during quarantine. It removes the free swimming stage of the parasite like a miracle.

Also, as noted, they are great for running carbon and other chemical filtration media. Just use them as what they are, a mechanical filter, and let the LR and sand do the biological part.

End of Rant.

 

[Zann]

i just use pura complete and purigen in mine thats it
i do use a micro filter with my magnum if i need to and i add some diatom to it if i have a algae bloom removes it in 20 min.

 

[WaterKeeper]

BTW Sggaron,

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