Newbie question - filtration

Lkfarkas · Jul 10, 2013

I have a JBJ Nano 29. When I got it, it had been set up for about 7 months. I've read so much that I've confused myself. The previous owner seemed to know what he was doing. However, the more I learn (as I've never done SW before), the less faith I have in that, lol. He had the filter basket in the back of the tank set up with what I assume came in the "kit" when he bought it. There is a bag with ceramic rings, a bag of charcoal, and a black pad on the top. I'm assuming that I need to change out the charcoal, and the filter pad is full of junk...do I wash it out/replace it? I get mixed reviews - leave it or clean it? Also, the ceramic rings - aren't those like the bio balls that everyone says to get rid of? All over the bottom of the back of the tank is "dusty" stuff (detritius I'm assuming) - is it gunk to be gotten rid of when I do a water change? Or, is it good?
Sorry for so many 'dumb' questions & thanks for your help!
~Lisa

revhtree · Jul 10, 2013

Is the dusty stuff black? If so that is dust from the carbon.

The black pad I think you're talking about is probably a black filter sponge and it can and needs to be cleaned. You can clean it when you do water changes. Also I myself just leave the ceramic rings. When you do a water change you can take all that stuff out and clean that back chamber. With the ceramic rings I would just swish them around in the water you take out of the aquarium for the water change just to make sure there are no big pieces of detritus stuck in there. Don't rinse them in fresh water. You want to keep that beneficial bacteria that is growing on them.

Sounds like you're going to be fine!

Just stay up with your water changes and you'll be good.

sredzins · Jul 10, 2013

It all depends on how you want to filtrate your tank. If it were me personally and you want to keep that filter, I would replace the pad and I've never heard of putting charcoal into a system. I know its carbon but I would replace with a more aquarium specific source like chemi pure. And yes I would clean the detritus out of the bottom. And I have never dealt with ceramic rings or bio balls. If I were you though I would invest in a good skimmer.

Lkfarkas · Jul 10, 2013

I was thinking of putting chemipure Elite in there instead of the charcoal bag. Good? Yeh, there's a lotta "gunk" in the bottom of the back of the tank. I'll siphon it out when I do a water change.

I don't have a skimmer - is there one that would fit well back there that you'd recommend? Thanks!

sredzins · Jul 10, 2013

I like my chemipure elite. I think I am upgrading to a reactor though. But do a search on the web for an internal skimmer. Never used this one or how well it work but this would probably fit in the back

http://www.marinedepot.com/Hydor_Ko...n_Skimmers-Hydor_USA-HD00771-FIPSISNW-vi.html

glb · Jul 10, 2013

I rinse out my sponges once a week when I do my water change. I have chemipure, Seachem Denitrate and Seachem purigen in the back of my nano. I gradually removed all the bioballs. Good luck!