Filter confusion!!

[Brancho]

Hi need some help as I'm getting conflicting information!! I have 1 130g tank with sump. Running 8 9 weeks was all good until I took my filter pads out every few weeks now I've been struggling with ammonia spikes and high nitrates. Guy in the local shop said do away with my cotton filter pads and replace with marine pure block which I have I've also been adding NO3POX for 3 days plus bought the polyplab rock booster . Indo have other biomed in a bag plus Carbon. My question is as the water is not crystal clear should I be used the filter pads to eliminate this? Then don't throw them away just transition them? I've heard purigen is good? Also I'm hoping with everything I've added nitrates should come down? I am doing 20% water changes a week. Normally I'm ammonia 0 nitrite and nitrates 20ish. Any advice appreciated

 

[Spare time]

If you have ammonia, dump a big ol' bottle of cycling bacteria in. You should always have a filter pad or sock. The marine put has nothing to do with mechanical filtration and is often unnecessary unless you have no sand and little rock.

 

[Brancho]

If you have ammonia, dump a big ol' bottle of cycling bacteria in. You should always have a filter pad or sock. The marine put has nothing to do with mechanical filtration and is often unnecessary unless you have no sand and little rock.

Ok thanks. Plenty of rock. And I did put in some micro bacter the other day as well as some genesis 2 days ago which gave me a bacterial bloom! I've put a filter back in! So I have a spo nge some bio in a bag and the filter? Too much? And is this bio block a waste do have too much now? Was also thinking of getting a skimmer and putting where the block is or can I just out it next to my pump in the last chamber?

 

[reefingaz]

I would not add NoPox to a new tank at ALL. I use it on it on my large reef and it’s amazing but in a tank less than a year I would say stop dosing or it will Be more problems down the road for you. Water changes for nutrient export not NoPox on new tanks

 

[Brancho]

I would not add NoPox to a new tank at ALL. I use it on it on my large reef and it’s amazing but in a tank less than a year I would say stop dosing or it will Be more problems down the road for you. Water changes for nutrient export not NoPox on new tanks

Ok thanks just done the 3 days dosing so I'll stop and continue with the water changes. Any suggestions on the sump media / filters? Ty

 

[Spare time]

Ok thanks. Plenty of rock. And I did put in some micro bacter the other day as well as some genesis 2 days ago which gave me a bacterial bloom! I've put a filter back in! So I have a spo nge some bio in a bag and the filter? Too much? And is this bio block a waste do have too much now? Was also thinking of getting a skimmer and putting where the block is or can I just out it next to my pump in the last chamber?

The marine pure is fine. You can't have too much. The nice thing about biomedia is that it quickly allows you to seed new tanks rapidly if needed.

Skimmers need constant water height unless it's an external skimmer. If the water height is constant then sure. You might also want to check out algae scrubbers, algae reactors, refugium, and such.


NOPOX absolutely requires a skimmer. Hence why you got the bloom Check out carbon dosing articles on here to learn more