Filtering advice - Fluval 13.5g

Plunder · May 20, 2020

In the picture below is how I have my Fluval slumps setup. Chamber 1 skimmer, 2 phosphate pad on top, Fluval medial basket, chemi-pure elite (mid-top), Fluval bio-media (mid-bottom). After the media basket is a poly-filter at a 45degree angle so it covers the intake to chamber 3. And right below the poly filter is a large bag of Seachem matrix. I'm thinking I should remove the Fluval bio-blocks in the media basket and replace it with some Purigen and keep the biofilter on the bottom. Does anyone have any other recommendations?

Easy Reefing · May 20, 2020

Plunder said:
In the picture below is how I have my Fluval slumps setup. Chamber 1 skimmer, 2 phosphate pad on top, Fluval medial basket, chemi-pure elite (mid-top), Fluval bio-media (mid-bottom). After the media basket is a poly-filter at a 45degree angle so it covers the intake to chamber 3. And right below the poly filter is a large bag of Seachem matrix. I'm thinking I should remove the Fluval bio-blocks in the media basket and replace it with some Purigen and keep the biofilter on the bottom. Does anyone have any other recommendations?

I have the intank chamber 2 media basket and did u block the hole in chamber 2 that leads to the display ?

Easy Reefing · May 20, 2020

Plunder said:
In the picture below is how I have my Fluval slumps setup. Chamber 1 skimmer, 2 phosphate pad on top, Fluval medial basket, chemi-pure elite (mid-top), Fluval bio-media (mid-bottom). After the media basket is a poly-filter at a 45degree angle so it covers the intake to chamber 3. And right below the poly filter is a large bag of Seachem matrix. I'm thinking I should remove the Fluval bio-blocks in the media basket and replace it with some Purigen and keep the biofilter on the bottom. Does anyone have any other recommendations?

Made a quick video about the filtration that I use .

Filtration for my Fluval Evo 13.5 (No skimmer)

Plunder · May 20, 2020

Easy Reefing said:
I have the intank chamber 2 media basket and did u block the hole in chamber 2 that leads to the display ?

I've been looking at those and will probably buy one when this setup stops working or the media basket becomes ineffective, but for now, I want to use what I got. I also looking at the plug for the bottom chamber, however, I do see a lot of debris that gets sucked up in there also with the added poly filter, I think it becomes more effective of a filter for lower sediment. That's just my theory. I also upgraded the pump to a SICCE Syncra 0.5 so I think that extra flow helps pump more water through all these filters. Please though, I'm all ears with any ideas! Thanks for the post!

Plunder · May 20, 2020

Easy Reefing said:
Made a quick video about the filtration that I use .

Filtration for my Fluval Evo 13.5 (No skimmer)

Did you just make that video, dude? That was freaking awesome! I do like your setup a lot as I've seen it before. I think you told me about your AI Prime HD a day or two ago. I'm thinking that getting chamber 2 is a matter of time however I do like the skimmer. It does collect a lot of ugly looking matter but I think that the gas exchange plays an important role, too. I'm not entirely sure how but I like to imagine when a wave crashes over a rock and creates bubbles in the ocean. It seems like an important element.

Easy Reefing · May 20, 2020

Plunder said:
I've been looking at those and will probably buy one when this setup stops working or the media basket becomes ineffective, but for now, I want to use what I got. I also looking at the plug for the bottom chamber, however, I do see a lot of debris that gets sucked up in there also with the added poly filter, I think it becomes more effective of a filter for lower sediment. That's just my theory. I also upgraded the pump to a SICCE Syncra 0.5 so I think that extra flow helps pump more water through all these filters. Please though, I'm all ears with any ideas! Thanks for the post!

I’ve seen people have the skimmer in chamber two and have their biomedia , chemi pure blue and purigen in chamber one , with filter floss on top. They plug the hole in chamber two so more water will flow through the chamber one media . But it’s about what works for u Goodluck with your tank

Easy Reefing · May 20, 2020

Plunder said:
Did you just make that video, dude? That was freaking awesome! I do like your setup a lot as I've seen it before. I think you told me about your AI Prime HD a day or two ago. I'm thinking that getting chamber 2 is a matter of time however I do like the skimmer. It does collect a lot of ugly looking matter but I think that the gas exchange plays an important role, too. I'm not entirely sure how but I like to imagine when a wave crashes over a rock and creates bubbles in the ocean. It seems like an important element.

Thank u ! Skimmers do a great job at removing all the nasty stuff and oxygenating the water . I’ll probably get a skimmer one day as well . It’s not necessary for success but would be very beneficial.

Nano sapiens · May 20, 2020

Plunder said:
In the picture below is how I have my Fluval slumps setup. Chamber 1 skimmer, 2 phosphate pad on top, Fluval medial basket, chemi-pure elite (mid-top), Fluval bio-media (mid-bottom). After the media basket is a poly-filter at a 45degree angle so it covers the intake to chamber 3. And right below the poly filter is a large bag of Seachem matrix. I'm thinking I should remove the Fluval bio-blocks in the media basket and replace it with some Purigen and keep the biofilter on the bottom. Does anyone have any other recommendations?

That's a whole lot of filtration in a small system, so now I see why your nutrients (PO4 and NO3) are testing '0'.

How much, and what kind of filtration, is all over the board in this hobby. Bear in mind that stripping the water of too many nutrients is a real problem for coral and other organisms that you may want to grow and often leads to the dreaded dinoflagellate (aka 'dinos') bloom.

Plunder · May 20, 2020

Nano sapiens said:
That's a whole lot of filtration in a small system, so now I see why your nutrients (PO4 and NO3) are testing '0'.

How much, and what kind of filtration, is all over the board in this hobby. Bear in mind that stripping the water of too many nutrients is a real problem for coral and other organisms that you may want to grow and often leads to the dreaded dinoflagellate (aka 'dinos') bloom.

I wasn't aware that "dinos" could live in water stripped of PO4 and NO3. Might explain my 2nd "dino" bloom, but I did accidentally make the rookie mistake of washing my bio-media with tap water. I thought I killed all the bacteria in it so it restarted again. I ordered a brine ship growing kit and some decapsulated brine eggs on algae barn. Do you think the high level of nutrients (live brine) will balance it out a bit?

Pntbll687 · May 20, 2020

You could probably just use some filter floss with some coarse sponges. Rinse the sponges once a week and siphon out detritus with a weekly water change.

You don't need to get complicated with po4 media and nitrate removal. A weekly water change should be able to keep nutrients in check.

Plunder · May 20, 2020

Pntbll687 said:
You could probably just use some filter floss with some coarse sponges. Rinse the sponges once a week and siphon out detritus with a weekly water change.

You don't need to get complicated with po4 media and nitrate removal. A weekly water change should be able to keep nutrients in check.

I just ordered the chamber 2 from intank. That should help me simplify it.