New Guy

[AkaiPanda]

That doesn't look bad at all. I have a couple of suggestions that might help. Does that filter have those "bio-wheel" wet-dry spinning devices at the outlet? If so you may want to consider possibly removing them to reduce nitrate production. Also, you could possibly use a little more live rock to help with denitrication. Barring that, maybe look into removing the filter cartridges in you HOB, and sticking some media like marine pure bioballs in the back. I'm not sure what kind of clean up crew you have, but for the sand bed you could add some nassarius snails to stir the sand bed for you.

I didn't know that the bio wheel would do that, yea I had two of them running. I have Ceramics in the HOB, does the Floss with carbon not help the tank enough where I should take it out?

I have a couple blue hermits and one huge turbo snail I believe. (i dont know if hes a turbo)

 

[Gator1970]

I didn't know that the bio wheel would do that, yea I had two of them running. I have Ceramics in the HOB, does the Floss with carbon not help the tank enough where I should take it out?

I have a couple blue hermits and one huge turbo snail I believe. (i dont know if hes a turbo)

The ceramics are ok, I think, but some people like the marine pure balls or blocks due to greater surface area per volume of media. I would take the floss out, or replace/rinse every couple of days since it will trap uneaten food, fish waste, etc. If you want to use carbon, buy a bottle of it and put some in a media bag - basically a mesh bag - and keep it in your filter, changing it every couple of weeks or so.

 

[AkaiPanda]

The ceramics are ok, I think, but some people like the marine pure balls or blocks due to greater surface area per volume of media. I would take the floss out, or replace/rinse every couple of days since it will trap uneaten food, fish waste, etc. If you want to use carbon, buy a bottle of it and put some in a media bag - basically a mesh bag - and keep it in your filter, changing it every couple of weeks or so.

But isnt it practically the same thing? I change mine out about twice a week, and I definitely don't over feed because i drop it in one by one and it gets eaten on the spot, if not i scoop it out.

 

[Gator1970]

I think the idea is that the marine pure media, because it is larger and more porous than the ceramic media, allows anaerobic bacteria to flourish within the structure, and this helps by breaking down nitrates, too many of which cause excessive algae. Sufficiently porous live rock should do the same thing, but doesn't have nearly the surface area by weight or volume that the marine pure does.

If you are changing your filter floss once a week that's good enough I think, and it doesn't sound like you are over feeding.

 

[AkaiPanda]

I think the idea is that the marine pure media, because it is larger and more porous than the ceramic media, allows anaerobic bacteria to flourish within the structure, and this helps by breaking down nitrates, too many of which cause excessive algae. Sufficiently porous live rock should do the same thing, but doesn't have nearly the surface area by weight or volume that the marine pure does.

If you are changing your filter floss once a week that's good enough I think, and it doesn't sound like you are over feeding.

Oh i meant isnt filter pads the same as having floss and carbon, I mean thats what its made of.

 

[Gator1970]

Oh i meant isnt filter pads the same as having floss and carbon, I mean thats what its made of.

Sorry - I misunderstood! The filter pads might be more costly over time than bulk filter floss and carbon, plus the carbon should last longer than the poly filter. Maybe you could just rinse the pads out once a week to save on replacing them every week?

 

[AkaiPanda]

Sorry - I misunderstood! The filter pads might be more costly over time than bulk filter floss and carbon, plus the carbon should last longer than the poly filter. Maybe you could just rinse the pads out once a week to save on replacing them every week?

Not a bad idea, it really doesnt have much carbon in it but it does have two of them.