GARF system and mech. filteration

[iannozzi]

Hi--I currently have a Bullet proof reef system, as advocated by GARF.ORG--the system is pure sandbed--quite large, and a skimmer, with periodic use of carbon--for approx. 12 hours weekly. Interested in getting a canister filter and polishing the water with polybio marine pads--will this counter act the biological system I have?

 

[sales weasel]

I use a HOT Magnum canister to polish my water. I use the micron filter and it works great. I use a turkey baster to blow the crud off the rocks which clouds the water for a little while until the canister filter sucks it up. I usually do it before I make a water change.

The beauty of the Garf Bullet Proof Reef is it is free of a lot of equipment.

 

[iannozzi]

Yes, but my concern is they seem to advocate that even that "crude" is beneficial to the sytem--by disturbing the system (ie causing a sand strom) and then filtering same--wouldn't I then be removing the beneficial organic matter

 

[GARFVolunteer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6590113#post6590113 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by iannozzi
Interested in getting a canister filter and polishing the water with polybio marine pads--will this counter act the biological system I have?

IMO, using a canister filter is not a good idea on any reef tank. First of all if the canister filter is used very long, it will develop bacteria to remove ammonia and nitrites from the system therefore leaving excess nitrates in the water column. The nitrates in the water column are more difficult to remove thus many mechanical filters get the name "Nitrate Factories".

The other problem with a canister filter in a reef is it filters out much of the food that your corals will consume.

I have a freind that floats poly pads in his sump and removes them once the turn real dark. He thinks they work real well. I have been meaning to try them.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6590113#post6590113 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by iannozzi
Yes, but my concern is they seem to advocate that even that "crude" is beneficial to the sytem--by disturbing the system (ie causing a sand strom) and then filtering same--wouldn't I then be removing the beneficial organic matter

The only place I ever remembering reading that GARF causes a sand storm is when you have predatory corals. Otherwise you leave the sand bed alone.

Thanks,

Scott

 

[sales weasel]

As I said in my reply, I only use it to polish the water and I've had no problems in 8-mos. I remove it and then clean the micron filter.