Time for a new filter?

[Marine430]

I don't want to get bashed to bad but I always ran an hob. Currently I have the emperor on my 40gal. Every month or so my filter gets all this algae on it. I check my water and the only thing that comes back is phosphate at .50 nitrate is 0 salifert test. I use chemi pure blue, and a fine filter pad.
As soon as I know how to upload a picture I will send it.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

well. 5 is quite high by most folks standards. But often on my hobs I do get algaes, just like an algae turf scrubber does.

 

[leahfiish]

I don't want to get bashed to bad but I always ran an hob. Currently I have the emperor on my 40gal. Every month or so my filter gets all this algae on it. I check my water and the only thing that comes back is phosphate at .50 nitrate is 0 salifert test. I use chemi pure blue, and a fine filter pad.
As soon as I know how to upload a picture I will send it.

So, algae is usually caused by excessive nitrate and phosphate. Having a lot of algae can give you false readings as the algae consumes it and uses it to keep growing. But 0.5 is on the high side for phosphate so you'll want to get that down a little bit.

Is the algae growing on the actual filter or on the cartridge...? Part of the reason that people don't like hang on back filters for saltwater is that the inserts tend to trap a lot of debris and detritus, which lead to an increase in nutrients.

Personally, I don't think they're that bad, you just have to make sure to clean them often (I usually recommend at least every two weeks) to prevent that buildup.

 

[Marine430]

take 2

 

[Marine430]

 

[Marine430]

I posted a photo of the filter

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I posted a photo of the filter

Kinda normal.
Do you clean it often?
Is possible to have it become a nitrate factory if not.

I have a turbo that crawls up out of the tank and eats mine.

 

[Marine430]

Around every month or so I'll scrub it down with a toothbrush and do a good water change on it. I also had turbos that would do that as well.

 

[Marine430]

I had a penguin bio wheel in the past and never had an issue like this. Also wondering if my light is too close to the filter.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Perfect. Yea it does happen so I'm super worried. Are you runningbyou gfo in the hob?

And yea it could be the light close.

I wonder what the difference is between the two filters. We're the packed with different media?

 

[Marine430]

Chemi pure blue is the only media I in it currently. I have purigen and phosguard but for some reason I don't like it that much

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Yea same here.
Double check your P04 number, you may want to reconfigure a bit to get more flow through the media.

Wired the difference between the 2 hobs. Does the new one collect more detritus than the old one?

 

[Marine430]

I'm thinking that I may have more flow in this tank which makes it collect more

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

yea that could be.
IUd kinda go back to its not hurting anything, just unsightly, and is working exactly like an algae turf scrubber.
You might be able to rig a little shade over it I suppose.

 

[Marine430]

My Coral look great! I guess I'm not going to worry about it too much

 

[leahfiish]

I wouldn't be too worried, the light being close to it could definitely cause it but as long as it's not clogging it up it should be fine.