Filter Media Worth It?

[Kasey Grohowski]

Wondering if filter media is worth the nitrate factory that comes along with it. 220 gallon soon to be fowlr predator tank. Planning on doing 10% weekly water changes. Would I have to do mord than that to combat the nitrates, or add a refugium? Or both? Thank you.

 

[geddavis]

I use fillter floss and if cleaned once or twice a week plus out more waste than my vortex 250 skimmer. I’d say with proper maintenance fillter media is a great export method. Also a refugium is nice but not a nesecity If you keep up on WC.

 

[jtl]

I use filter pads instead of filter socks. Throw them out a couple of times per week.

 

[Kasey Grohowski]

I use filter pads instead of filter socks. Throw them out a couple of times per week.

Do they come setup for use in the filter sock section of the sump?

 

[geddavis]

I stuf my fillter socks with fillter floss and then just replace the top few layers. I have a RSR so the socks are stupid expensive.

 

[Kasey Grohowski]

I stuf my fillter socks with fillter floss and then just replace the top few layers. I have a RSR so the socks are stupid expensive.

Rsr?

 

[geddavis]

Red Sea Reefer

 

[jtl]

Do they come setup for use in the filter sock section of the sump?

I made a holder and I purchase the material by the roll and cut it to size. For very high filtration buy felt material at JoAnn Fabrics, it is really cheap.

 

[landlubber]

nitrate factories are a result of poor husbandry and basically the same can be said of anything that traps decomposing food and waste. do your part and it isn't an issue.

 

[AlexG]

On my system I don't run socks or other mechanical filtration media. My larger display is dedicated to non-reef safe fish which includes puffers, triggers, angels, and larger species of wrasses. I stick to running my skimmer and refugium (With algae and micro fauna) which has done an excellent job keeping the water quality in check. My nitrates run at ~10ppm. Since filter socks/filter media can become nitrate factories they need to be replaced or rotated often which in my experience has led me away from using them. I do have a filter sock tray and I have used them selectively during cleaning for a few days at a time which at this rate is about once or twice a year. As with any system finding the right balance to keep nitrates in check can take time and if high nitrates do become an issue then then root of the source needs to be identified which I find on many occasions is due to filter socks, mechanical filtration pads, or supplementary biological filters as they can throw off the balance of the nitrogen cycle in a system. Another option for lowering nitrates if you get into a situation where they are high is to step up water changes or utilize a denitrification filter.

 

[MrObscura]

I don't feel the need to run anything but filter floss changed 2x a week.

 

[Kasey Grohowski]

I don't feel the need to run anything but filter floss changed 2x a week.

Where do you put it in your sump?

 

[Kasey Grohowski]

nitrate factories are a result of poor husbandry and basically the same can be said of anything that traps decomposing food and waste. do your part and it isn't an issue.

What can be done, besides water changes; to prevent high nitrates?

 

[MrObscura]

Where do you put it in your sump?

I have an aio so I use a media rack. But if I had a traditional sump I'd buy those floss holder cups that replace socks. Or if youre a diy type maybe you could rig a tray or something where water drains into the sump.

 

[Even Further]

I use filter pads in a media tray, in a DIY sump. It works great, certainly not a "nitrate factory". Every tank is different, so it helps to be able to adapt to your tank needs. Say you want to stir up your sand bed to clean it, well you want socks or filter pad/media to remove the floating debris. In my set up I can just take the pads out if I want to run without. Once your tank is up and running after the fully completed cycle, then you can start monitoring your N03 to monitor your tank needs, you might not even have a high nitrate issue.

 

[landlubber]

What can be done, besides water changes; to prevent high nitrates?

if filter floss or socks are the issue it might be just committing to replace the media regularly. attention should be paid to not overfeed and being realistic about bio-load. if your properly maintaining the tank and nitrate is STILL consistently high I would consider moving to a bare bottom tank, implementing marine pure blocks in the sump or both.

 

[reefologist55]

You have the luxury of not having to chase numbers with a fowlr . All I would get is ba great skimmer..and run a regular sump w plenty of bio media(live rock and/or bio bricks) floss/filter sock is good to keep water more clear...