QT filter floss

[reef tank 2.0]

Up to this point, I have been using the Marineland Penguin power filter cartridges for my QT tank. I usually get the box of 6 for like $15-20.

As my QT goes along, week by week, I find myself doing mini water changes to make sure it doesn't start cycling. I do see the brown haze on the glass at times. I do the water change and normally replace the filter cartridge each time as well. As you can imagine, that gets expensive.

So I thought of going the pillow floss, this stuff: https://www.amazon.com/Fairfield-Po...qid=1487127810&sr=8-1&keywords=pillow+filling

I could remove it and replace with new.

Is carbon needed?
And as for replacing the filter media, I can't just rinse it, right? Cause any ammonia would still be trapped within the media, yes?

Am I costing myself a lot of unnecessary money by swapping the media out every water change?

 

[billdogg]

I use a Marineland dual biowheel filter on my QT. I only have it running if I am going to get new livestock. I reuse the filter cartridges and always have. (I used the same filter on my 60g cube for 22 years) After several rinses they tend to wear out and then they get replaced. As for the carbon in them - if you are medicating, then you should remove them anyway because the carbon will remove the meds. I have used bags full of pillow stuffing over the years as well. It is certainly way less expensive than "filter floss" and is exactly the same stuff.

 

[reef tank 2.0]

as for carbon in this pillow filling, you don't use the normal reactor media, do you? (rox 0.8)
I would think the very small granules would fall through.

 

[Ou8me2]

The Poly-Fil stuff is just fine to use and I have been using it myself. Much better than expensive filter cartridges and filter socks. Less maintenance and cleaning and very cheap.

 

[billdogg]

No carbon with filter floss. I suppose you could put some in a fine mesh bag and sandwich it in the floss, but I wouldn't bother. The only thing it will do is take meds out of the water which would strike me as counter-productive anyway.

 

[reef tank 2.0]

I get that. But I am running prazi right now with only my bio-wheel running. I was only thinking after the prazi. I will do the water change and place the filter back in the HOB. At that point, there wouldn't be much prazi left in the tank