Filter tips

[NewbieSeth]

Hello, all! Been a while since I’ve posted but need some advise. I have a 30g tank full of coral and a few fish. I currently have a HOB protein skimmer and a HOB fuge. The problem I’m having is that I have no sort of filter media since I don’t have a sump. I notice after water changes and scraping the glass, ect I often have mixed sizes of particles that float around the water until they finally settle. I think this is part of my problem with algae is that the skimmer isn’t pulling out enough large floating particles and they end up just settling out on the rocks or sand until the next water change. I’ve considered putting some filter floss in the return section of my fuge but that concerns me that it will stop pods from entering the tank. The main purpose of the fuge is to feed my mandarin who has been happy and fat for over 2 years. Any tips on how to add filter media for particles that won’t cause a problem with pods. I’m afraid if I put it on the intake that pods will take up residence in it and when I wash or change it they will be removed. Any ideas that don’t involve hanging another filter on the tank? Will filter floss in return section block out the pods or will they take up residence and remove too many in the intake when changed or cleaned?

Pic to show the tank

 

[Mycota]

I definitely find pods in my floss. Still plenty in my DT but i don't have anything as sensitive as a mandarin. Amazing you have had such long success with one in a nano. I might be afraid it would reduce your population to add floss.

If you have stuff settling out and rotting could you increase flow in hopes to keep it suspended in the water column to be removed by the skimmer?

 

[NewbieSeth]

I definitely find pods in my floss. Still plenty in my DT but i don't have anything as sensitive as a mandarin. Amazing you have had such long success with one in a nano. I might be afraid it would reduce your population to add floss.

If you have stuff settling out and rotting could you increase flow in hopes to keep it suspended in the water column to be removed by the skimmer?

Yea one day he started eating pellets out of the blue so he gets those about 2-3 times a week but his main food source is pods. I use pod my reef with monthly refills. I have changed flow to keep it suspended but I just feel with extra filtration I’d be in better shape

 

[Mycota]

Yea one day he started eating pellets out of the blue so he gets those about 2-3 times a week but his main food source is pods. I use pod my reef with monthly refills. I have changed flow to keep it suspended but I just feel with extra filtration I’d be in better shape

Yeah. Unfortunately I've never monitored pod population enough to give advice one way or another. Hopefully someone else can chime in.

I do know on an old setup of mine i had about 25-30g of chaeto fuge on a 90g DT and it pumped a ton of pods out. Enough to where i never worried about what i was mechanically filtering out. So it's probably based on fuge size and it's level of pod production. On my 20g AIO however, i do notice the lowest pod population out of any tank ive had but the fuge is just one of the tiny back chambers and both overflows have floss. I think the low population is mostly due to the small fuge though.

 

[DesertReefT4r]

Add a canister filter. Use can use it to run filter flosss and chemical media like carbon and gfo. Just be sure to clean out the filter media regularly the more often the better.

 

[cracker]

Maybe a seperate power head with filter floss covering the intake. Would take a little diy action. I think the pods would be ok as they like to hang out on rock & such . this power head would be toward the top. it could be used after a water change or glass cleaning run for the day & removed maybe.

 

[Pntbll687]

Add a canister filter. Use can use it to run filter flosss and chemical media like carbon and gfo. Just be sure to clean out the filter media regularly the more often the better.

I second this. It's a reasonable way to add mechanical filtration you the tank without changing what is working for you.

You can probably pick up a used canister filter pretty cheap.

 

[NewbieSeth]

I second this. It's a reasonable way to add mechanical filtration you the tank without changing what is working for you.

You can probably pick up a used canister filter pretty cheap.

I have honestly never looked into a canister filter. After a brief look into it, this is perfect! This is exactly what I was looking for! Any tips on a model that would work well for a 29gal? And what types of media can I put in together? Can I do filter floss and carbon, GFO? Any recommendations?

 

[Pntbll687]

I have honestly never looked into a canister filter. After a brief look into it, this is perfect! This is exactly what I was looking for! Any tips on a model that would work well for a 29gal? And what types of media can I put in together? Can I do filter floss and carbon, GFO? Any recommendations?

Pretty much any canister filter would work. I would look into one on the cheaper side of things. There's no need for a fluval FX 6 here.

I ran an aqueon canister on my fresh tank for a while and it worked just fine.
It had three trays and ran one full of coarse foam, some carbon in the second, and fine floss in the last.