Filter media suggestion

[Bonsai reef]

Hi all,

I am setting up a 24g AIO nano cube with 4 compartments at the back. My plan is to make it mixed reef (soft & LPS) to start with + few fishes and CUC.

1st- 8 inches sponge
2nd - protein skimmer
3rd- 3 boxes- top- carbon infused media, middle- Phosphate & Nitrate Removing Media, bottom- bio media for bacteria growth (as per manufacturer claim).
4th contains the return pump (475gph)

Do you guys recommend any change/ additions to this filtration system which will help?


Note: i have about 18 lbs of rock in display. Has a wave maker 425gph added.

 

[SashimiTurtle]

Sounds good to me. I run my 20g a little bare bones as far as filtration. Just a piece of filter floss in the basket and 4 1.5" Brightwell Xport cubes. These are supposed to go anaerobic and reduce nitrates as well as the outer surface aid in aerobic ammonia reduction. I think I may have a sample of Chemipure blue in the bottom of the media basket, but I won't buy any after I toss it. I don't see much of a need for it when a 5 gallon water change will fix whatever issue I have.

 

[ylreefer]

Hi all,

I am setting up a 24g AIO nano cube with 4 compartments at the back. My plan is to make it mixed reef (soft & LPS) to start with + few fishes and CUC.

1st- 8 inches sponge
2nd - protein skimmer
3rd- 3 boxes- top- carbon infused media, middle- Phosphate & Nitrate Removing Media, bottom- bio media for bacteria growth (as per manufacturer claim).
4th contains the return pump (475gph)

Do you guys recommend any change/ additions to this filtration system which will help?


Note: i have about 18 lbs of rock in display. Has a wave maker 425gph added.

Not sure of the exact layout of the rear Chambers, but if it were me I'd rather use filter floss than a spong . This will polish the water much better and also catch smaller food particles that could make it into the bio media which would mean having to rinse that out in tank water often.

You won't want 8" of filter floss though so you may need to make a media rack from lighting defuser or some sort of support for the floss, or filter pad.

As for the carbon and no3/po4 media, in a nano tank things can chance very fast. I'd leave out any chemical media unless you have a reason to run them. So I'd leave just the bio media in this chamber and keep the middle and top free for when you need it. Another thing to think about. You say you'll use 18lbs or rock. If that's live rock you can even skip the bio media as long s you build up your stocking slowly. Theres really no need to run carbon and or other chemical media full time in a reef tank. It's very easy to strip the tank of all nutrients.

All of these will depend on how you eventually run your tank of course, ie how othen and how large a water change you plan to do, bio load, how often you feed, will you dose. Lots of things to think about. But you don't need to worry about them just yet. As time goes by and you test and test you'll figure out what needs to be added and removed.

Try to keep it simple and you'll spend more time enjoying the tank and less time with your hand in it [emoji106]

 

[Bonsai reef]

Thanks guys for the suggestions. Appreciate it

 

[SynGraves]

Im currently dealing with a bad dino outbreak in my 10g. My problem was keeping the water way too clean. I originally ran chemipure elite to help control nitrates and phosphates which it did. Apparently my phosphates and nitrates hit zero for too long and allowed the dinos to take over.

So, in my experience, I wouldn't run carbon or GFO unless you absolutely need to after the tank matures. Just run filter floss and siphon detritus out during water changes. Clean the floss once or twice per week or when needed.

 

[btmedic04]

I vote change the sponge out for filter floss and theres no need for gfo or nitrate removing media at this time. I run my tanks with just carbon to clarify the water and absorb any potential chemical warfare without issue. I have a container of high capacity gfo that I have used all of 1tbsp of and haven't had a need for it since

 

[Bonsai reef]

Will swapping the sponge with floss result in loss of beneficial bacteria growing on it? And should i wait for the cycle to complete/ establish or should change it right now?

 

[ylreefer]

Will swapping the sponge with floss result in loss of beneficial bacteria growing on it? And should i wait for the cycle to complete/ establish or should change it right now?

I'd change it out now. If you leave it until after the cycle is complete that spong will make up a portion of your bio filter, which you will then remove taking part of the bio filter with it, resulting in a change in bio capacity which we don't want to do.

 

[Peace River]

Is the 8” sponge an 8” square block? What about adding a 1” wide sponge for the water to pass through before it gets to the filter floss (in the same compartment)? That way the sponge would remove the large particulates and the filter floss would remove the smaller particulates (i.e., polishing).

 

[Bonsai reef]

I'd change it out now. If you leave it until after the cycle is complete that spong will make up a portion of your bio filter, which you will then remove taking part of the bio filter with it, resulting in a change in bio capacity which we don't want to do.

Thanks and thats what I thought.

 

[Bonsai reef]

Is the 8” sponge an 8” square block? What about adding a 1” wide sponge for the water to pass through before it gets to the filter floss (in the same compartment)? That way the sponge would remove the large particulates and the filter floss would remove the smaller particulates (i.e., polishing).

It could be a 4x4x8 block.

 

[ylreefer]

Thanks and thats what I thought.

[emoji106]If there's anything els just ask. Someone will have the answer, [emoji4]