Poly Filters

[LouH]

Who runs them?

How often do you run them (intermittent or continuous)?

What color prompts you to change them out?

Any stories to share regarding their use, good or bad?

I just started to run them in my system, and in one week the filter went from white to light brown. I'm not sure if I should change it out or not. Also, does the filter strip the water of iodine?

Thanks.

Lou

 

[LouH]

Nobody runs poly filers?

 

[gh0st]

I run it regularly. I change it out once it is a pretty dark chocolate brown color.

 

[iFisch]

Re: Poly Filters

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15460905#post15460905 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by LouH
Who runs them?

How often do you run them (intermittent or continuous)?

What color prompts you to change them out?

Any stories to share regarding their use, good or bad?

I just started to run them in my system, and in one week the filter went from white to light brown. I'm not sure if I should change it out or not. Also, does the filter strip the water of iodine?

Thanks.

Lou

I do. Actually a variety of thickness filters. 1 pad collects larger pieces/food, 1 pad is a little finer, and collects small particles, then I have an ultra fine pad which collects organic matter, and finally a "water polishing" pad, which is extremely fine, and nothing gets through this pad. It is also the dirtiest, for obvious reasons.


When they change from white to a decent brown color, I turn off my pumps, and carefully take out all the pads. Rinse, dry, and put back in. Turn back on pumps.

 

[kaskiles]

I've been running PolyBio
(http://www.poly-bio-marine.com/products.html) discs:
http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/prod/211560/product.web

In my BRS reactor, they fit nicely into the cartridge. They are finer than the normal BRS sponges, so they restrict the flow more. They also seem to clog more quickly than the BRS sponges, so I have to gradually turn up the flow as the week goes on...

Anyway, I take it out week to week, and wash in RO/DI water. I replace when the RO/DI wash doesn't seem to clean them up. They can trap some GAC and GFO particles, but these seem to rinse out.

 

[HighlandReef]

gonna have to try these in my reactors... seem nice

 

[LouH]

Yeah, those look like a good product. I'm just using a sheet in my sump as a bubble trap. Right now it is brown in color. Should I change it out now or wait for it to turn black?

Lou

 

[iFisch]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15474085#post15474085 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by LouH
Yeah, those look like a good product. I'm just using a sheet in my sump as a bubble trap. Right now it is brown in color. Should I change it out now or wait for it to turn black?

Lou

Change it out. Then flip it over. (Putting the cleanest side up)

 

[kaskiles]

Here is the poly-filter FAQ on replacement:
http://www.poly-bio-marine.com/pffaq2.html

I think I'd just replace it if it's brown.

 

[LouH]

It's brown on both sides. I should probably just replace it. It only took 2 weeks to get that way. Is that unusual?

 

[iFisch]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15474342#post15474342 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by LouH
It only took 2 weeks to get that way. Is that unusual?

Try washing it. Use your fingers to gently massage the fabric, I guess you can call it.

You can get about 75% of the gunk out. Put it back in for one more week, and toss it.

 

[HighlandReef]

i do the same for my filter pads, i rinse them out a couple of times and then reuse until they are shot

 

[kaskiles]

The poly-filter is supposed to be different than regular synthetic filter pads though. It's sprayed or dipped into an organic polymer that absorbs organics and metal complexes, something like Purigen.

If it has turned brown because it has just trapped detritus and suspended particles in it, then it should rinse out in RO/DI water and turn back white. If the polymer that is sprayed on the filter pad has actually absorbed organics or metals; then it should be stained and should not rinse clean.

 

[LouH]

Kaskiles nailed it. The poly filter that I have is in use to pull out organics and metals. I'm not using it as a suspended particle capture media. It has changed color to a brown, and this is not due to captured particles. I will change it out today.

Thanks all for the help guys.

Lou

 

[ackee]

I use approx 4x5 inch Poly Filter pads, cut down from the 12x12 PolyFilter pad, with each pad placed directly under the inch and a half surface skimming returns that feed into my wet/dry. The tank is a lightly stocked 220 fowlr. Each pad is recessed into a plastic grate, and covered with a thin 8x10 polyester 100 micron filter pad. The pads get removed every other day, cleaned with a bleach soak, dechlorinated, and reused.
The Poly Filter pads are discarded about every 10 days. An excellent product that fits in well with an integrated filtration system that includes small bio ball type media in the wet/dry, lots of live rock, a small amount of hand collected biologically active Caribbean coral sand, a modest but effective skimmer; and appropriate water movement and circulation pumps.

 

[HighlandReef]

i didnt realize that poly filters are dipped like that, i am gonna have to try them out soon, so it almost sounds like they absorb stuff like a carbon reactor but on a small scale?

 

[kaskiles]

It's been around for a long time, and I think most peoples Reef Aquariums do fine without it. I believe the links on this page probably give the best overview:
http://www.poly-bio-marine.com/testing.html

Particularly this one:
http://www.poly-bio-marine.com/fama.html