Filters

[Ben Reed]

Just wondering because u hear a lot of different answers and ideals and I am looking for some clear answers.

Hear some people say they don’t use filters ( filter socks) and some say they do. Then some people say they use foam or sponge pads or just prefilters , so I was just wanting to hear from some experienced reefers that have been in the hobby for a while what they have come up with the best filter in their tank or strictly rely on live rock sand gravel substrate or whatever they’re using I consider myself a beginner to mid range reefer had a tank for four years tore it down started a new tank 250 gallon plus a trigger 39 sump running three filter socks Red Sea skimmer two reactors one bio pellets one carbon with a refugium , algae scrubber.
Didn’t know if people use things like microbactor7 on a daily basis or a weekly basis or only when they change filters or add live rock or new fish or coral there’s so many mixed opinions was just really hoping to get some insight from some experience reefers to maybe help some of the beginners and mid range people out so we could have success like they do.

 

[LiveWire]

Welcome to the REEF!!

I currently use socks but plan to swich over to filter floss as it can be a pain to clean the socks. Even though i put them in the washer with just water and a 2nd rinse they don't always come out clean so using floss, replacing it and disposing of the old makes more sense to me. I also use Carbon from time to time and I run my skimmer 24/7.

I do dose MB7 once a week at 2X the recommend dose as i don't turn my skimmer off to dose it. I do 20% water changes every 3-4 weeks unless a ICP test comes back showing it should be done more often. Thanks just how I do it and there are many different ways it can be done.

 

[Biglew11]

i use a theiling compact rollermat.

 

[PokeFish]

I have filter sock, hang on back filter with carbon, chaeto, live rock/sand, reg water changes, and red ogo and sea lettuce macro algae

 

[Ben Reed]

Welcome to the REEF!!

I currently use socks but plan to swich over to filter floss as it can be a pain to clean the socks. Even though i put them in the washer with just water and a 2nd rinse they don't always come out clean so using floss, replacing it and disposing of the old makes more sense to me. I also use Carbon from time to time and I run my skimmer 24/7.

I do dose MB7 once a week at 2X the recommend dose as i don't turn my skimmer off to dose it. I do 20% water changes every 3-4 weeks unless a ICP test comes back showing it should be done more often. Thanks just how I do it and there are many different ways it can be done.

Thank you for the info and thank you for the info on MB7 bc I have been doing it every day so I didn’t know if there was another way that would work so thanks!!

 

[fragit]

i use a theiling compact rollermat.

Do you like it?

 

[Biglew11]

I'll never change another filtersock again. I love the roller mat, I'm not a huge fan of my current setup, but it's just another idea to change on next tank setup.

 

[blasterman]

I use a filter sponge on my fuge to keep cheato bits out of my return pump. Pretty much it.

I don't like the idea of 24/7 mechanical filters because they quickly build up biological beds and I want these to stay in my tank.

After adding a $40 ozone pump that i run an hour at night I hardly clean anything other than my glass and I rarely do WCs.

Rollermats get crud out of contact with the water column so they get my vote.

 

[takitaj]

Rollermat for me too.

 

[xxkenny90xx]

For me it's lots of LIVE rock, a skimmer, and chaeto (if I have space for it). That's about it!

 

[Orm Embar]

Changing filter socks every 3 days or less is a 30% nitrate reduction if I recall correctly (Filter sock filtration effectiveness video )

Having said that, I'd rather simply run more light over my refugium as it's less labor intensive. A roller mat seems like an effective solution but I've never tried one.

Philosophically, I agree with regular partial water changes. In reality, I'm quite bad with them.

 

[GainesvilleReef]

You need some kind of pre-filter to protect the skimmer from fowling, IMO. On one system I am just using a sponge which is very easy to clean and in my older system, I am using 400-micron socks which I don't need to change very often.