Stripping nutrients

[airwaybill]

Anyone ever have problems with Polyfilters stripping nutrients from the water? I try to keep polyfilters in the system all the time, but I'm having some problems with corals receding and I can't figure it out.

I'm thinking I'm losing too many nutrients in the system and the corals are suffering.

I posted about this somewhere else but I just thought of this other possibility.

 

[Julio]

what are yoru water parameters? What kind of fish and flow do you have on your system?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Anyone ever have problems with Polyfilters stripping nutrients from the water? I try to keep polyfilters in the system all the time, but I'm having some problems with corals receding and I can't figure it out.

I don't think that is at all likely unless you are using massive amounts of polyfilters. IMO, they will not be especially effective at that.

 

[MCsaxmaster]

Most corals use particulate sources for most of their N and P needs and zooxanthellae for a good portion of their C needs. If the corals aren't getting well fed, feed them some particulate food. Polyfilters probably aren't going to draw dissolved inorganic N and P below the low levels on natural reefs. I'm not sure on their ability to take up dissolved organic C, N, and P (how low can they get these?) but again I doubt they are going to take those lower than on a reef...

Chris

 

[airwaybill]

I didn't think so but thought I would bring it up.

Can they leach out toxins they have taken up, though? I think this may be a possibility.

 

[rustybucket145]

IMO polyfilters should be cleaned and changed very often or they will start to accumulate detrius and other matter that could become toxic. Is there a specific reason you are using poly? I am just asking b/c I do not use them on my tank and was just wondering if there was a specific problem you are using the polyfilters to counteract?

 

[airwaybill]

For a while I was using tap water and my Ro is not a di so, I was using it for the phosphate and silicate removal. I was getting trace of both.

I only run them for a week or two and then throw them away. It depends on how dirty they get. Because I've been using them my phosphates are undetectable. They work really well for me.

I was having some problems with corals receding. I think I got it licked though. I treated with interceptor because several colonies were suffering from the bugs. I do treatment two today.

 

[aquadog]

Without knowing anything else I would consider adding a DI unit as an add on to your RO unit as well as making sure you RO units membrane and filters are actually still working. It is always better to keep whatever it is you are trying to keep out of your system then allowing it to get in there and then trying to get it out. Poly filters are not the way to go at least IMO but I am sure there are some people who use them successfully. Too much work for me. Good luck...