Filter Media

[CSchoen]

I am new to having a saltwater aquarium and have a question on what to get for Filter media and what order to go in. I have a 4 tier basket for my Fluval flex 32.5 Gal. What should I include during cycle and when to add the other media after cycle?

 

[Fish Fan]

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

Is this one of the Fluval tanks with the big block of foam that holds other media?

 

[CSchoen]

Yes it is, but I am not using those. I ended up getting an upgraded filtration basket with 4 tiers.

 

[CSchoen]

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

Is this one of the Fluval tanks with the big block of foam that holds other media?

Yes it is, but I am not using those. I ended up getting an upgraded filtration basket with 4 tiers.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

I’ve never used an AIO before but personally I like to let the water run as freely as possible. Sponges and foams don’t really belong on a salt tank IMO, they will trap detritus and rotting food and it will affect the water quality. I don’t use filter pads on any of my tanks. Activated carbon is the only thing I use on my tanks.

But everyone runs their tank differently this how I run mine. Good luck

 

[Fish Fan]

Yes it is, but I am not using those. I ended up getting an upgraded filtration basket with 4 tiers.

That's good, I'm not a big fan of those huge foam blocks :-)

In my AIO tanks I have a three tired media basket, and I usually run (from the lowest to the highest tier):

• Plastic bio media < This is mostly to have on hand some cycled media in case I ever need to quickly cycle a tank, like a QT or hospital tank. Otherwise, I rely on the rock and sand to be the main biofilter.
• Chemical media, I typically run carbon. Rox carbon is popular, as is the media from Dick Boyd's ChemiPure (some of which have resins besides just carbon)
• Filter floss for mechanical. I typically use Poly-Fil, which can be found at craft stores or in the craft department of your local Mega-Lo-Mart. Poly-Fil is so cheap, I can pull it and replace it after a few days to a week.

The Original Poly-fil® Premium Fiber Fill Bag, 20oz. | Michaels

Buy the The Original Poly-fil® Premium Fiber Fill Bag, 20oz. at Michaels.com. Crafters have made Poly-Fil the best selling polyester fiberfill in America.

www.michaels.com

 

[Freenow54]

I am new to having a saltwater aquarium and have a question on what to get for Filter media and what order to go in. I have a 4 tier basket for my Fluval flex 32.5 Gal. What should I include during cycle and when to add the other media after cycle?

Go on the website, I use all of their products except the white bio stones. I like the results.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I am new to having a saltwater aquarium and have a question on what to get for Filter media and what order to go in. I have a 4 tier basket for my Fluval flex 32.5 Gal. What should I include during cycle and when to add the other media after cycle?

Fluval itself

BRS.com

Aquacave.com

saltwateraquarium.com

Amazon

 

[klr0808]

That's good, I'm not a big fan of those huge foam blocks :-)

In my AIO tanks I have a three tired media basket, and I usually run (from the lowest to the highest tier):

• Plastic bio media < This is mostly to have on hand some cycled media in case I ever need to quickly cycle a tank, like a QT or hospital tank. Otherwise, I rely on the rock and sand to be the main biofilter.
• Chemical media, I typically run carbon. Rox carbon is popular, as is the media from Dick Boyd's ChemiPure (some of which have resins besides just carbon)
• Filter floss for mechanical. I typically use Poly-Fil, which can be found at craft stores or in the craft department of your local Mega-Lo-Mart. Poly-Fil is so cheap, I can pull it and replace it after a few days to a week.

The Original Poly-fil® Premium Fiber Fill Bag, 20oz. | Michaels

Buy the The Original Poly-fil® Premium Fiber Fill Bag, 20oz. at Michaels.com. Crafters have made Poly-Fil the best selling polyester fiberfill in America.

www.michaels.com

Hey! Quick question for this, can I leave socks while starting a cycle until I get the media caddies in the mail and then change them over? Or do you recommend waiting? I read not to use the product that comes with the IM tanks as media

 

[Fish Fan]

Hey! Quick question for this, can I leave socks while starting a cycle until I get the media caddies in the mail and then change them over? Or do you recommend waiting? I read not to use the product that comes with the IM tanks as media

I would leave the socks out when cycling, same for any mechanical media you may put in the media caddie, like filter floss. I assume you'll be using dry rock and a bottle of bacteria, and when you add the bacteria you want them to settle and populate on the rocks and sand. You don't want them getting trapped in your filter media, it's counterproductive.

To cycle, all you really need is your heater and return pump going. Technically, you don't even need the heater, it would just take longer, and you'll need a heater for your fish and corals anyway. You don't need lights on during the cycle either.

I hope that helps!

 

[klr0808]

I would leave the socks out when cycling, same for any mechanical media you may put in the media caddie, like filter floss. I assume you'll be using dry rock and a bottle of bacteria, and when you add the bacteria you want them to settle and populate on the rocks and sand. You don't want them getting trapped in your filter media, it's counterproductive.

To cycle, all you really need is your heater and return pump going. Technically, you don't even need the heater, it would just take longer, and you'll need a heater for your fish and corals anyway. You don't need lights on during the cycle either.

I hope that helps!

Thank you! Yes, I have purple dry rock and live sand but I’m also gonna be picking up a small live rock from my LFS just to help with seating. I have a bottle of bacteria that I was gonna go ahead and use because I won’t have the small rock yet to add to my tank.

 

[Fish Fan]

Thank you! Yes, I have purple dry rock and live sand but I’m also gonna be picking up a small live rock from my LFS just to help with seating. I have a bottle of bacteria that I was gonna go ahead and use because I won’t have the small rock yet to add to my tank.

That sounds like a good plan

 

[FiremistSLK]

I would leave the socks out when cycling, same for any mechanical media you may put in the media caddie, like filter floss. I assume you'll be using dry rock and a bottle of bacteria, and when you add the bacteria you want them to settle and populate on the rocks and sand. You don't want them getting trapped in your filter media, it's counterproductive.

To cycle, all you really need is your heater and return pump going. Technically, you don't even need the heater, it would just take longer, and you'll need a heater for your fish and corals anyway. You don't need lights on during the cycle either.

I hope that helps!

I am new to a salt water aquarium, and I'm just getting ready to start-up my new Waterbox 20g cube. It came with a filter sock for chamber 1, then Carbon Pellets in a sack, ceramic rings in a sack and two sponges for chamber 2. I also purchased a CaribSea Life Rock Kit. Just so I understand.... Start the cycle with NO filtration media in the in tank sump chambers. Correct? Also, my LFS wants me to add BW Microbacter-7 liquid bacteria to start the tank cycle. He said it contains a DORMENT bacteria because the Life Rock bacteria is dorment. Is this correct? One last thing, when the tank has been cycled, will it be ok to use the filter media that came with the tank? Or is there a better option? I plan to add some coral at a later date. Thanks in Advance..... JOHN

 

[Fish Fan]

I am new to a salt water aquarium, and I'm just getting ready to start-up my new Waterbox 20g cube. It came with a filter sock for chamber 1, then Carbon Pellets in a sack, ceramic rings in a sack and two sponges for chamber 2. I also purchased a CaribSea Life Rock Kit. Just so I understand.... Start the cycle with NO filtration media in the in tank sump chambers. Correct? Also, my LFS wants me to add BW Microbacter-7 liquid bacteria to start the tank cycle. He said it contains a DORMENT bacteria because the Life Rock bacteria is dorment. Is this correct? One last thing, when the tank has been cycled, will it be ok to use the filter media that came with the tank? Or is there a better option? I plan to add some coral at a later date. Thanks in Advance..... JOHN

In my opinion, you'd want to leave all that filter media out (except the biomedia) at least for the beginning of your cycle, especially if you're going to add the BW MB7. You want to bacteria you're adding (and what comes with the Life Rocks) to settle on the rocks and sand, and not trapped in your mechanical media like sponges and socks. The carbon I'd leave out at this point too, add that in when your cycle is over. You can use the media that came with your tank, I'd just watch for the sponges clogging. I don't personally like sponges for that reason, I just use filter floss and pull it and replace it.

The BW MB7 is a good product, and I think would only help.

In addition to the bacteria you need a source of ammonia for them to "feed" on and grow. This can come from hardy livestock (which I don't recommend), adding fish food even when there's no fish, adding a piece of shrimp from the seafood market, or by adding bottle ammonium chloride (my personal favorite).

I would also consider adding a piece or two of real, wet live rock from fro your local shop. This can go a long way to getting your tank cycled quickly.

Good luck!

 

[FiremistSLK]

Fish Fan..... Please excuse my ignorance, I am a newbe... But you said while cycling my new tank to "leave all that filter media out, (except for the biomedia). What exactly is the biomedia? Can you be very specific for me please? Should the biomedia be placed in the in tank sump? Or added directly to the tank water? I want to get this right... Please say "buy this brand of biomedia" and "add it to the tank water" or "place it in the in tank sump" Thank you.

 

[Freenow54]

In my opinion, you'd want to leave all that filter media out (except the biomedia) at least for the beginning of your cycle, especially if you're going to add the BW MB7. You want to bacteria you're adding (and what comes with the Life Rocks) to settle on the rocks and sand, and not trapped in your mechanical media like sponges and socks. The carbon I'd leave out at this point too, add that in when your cycle is over. You can use the media that came with your tank, I'd just watch for the sponges clogging. I don't personally like sponges for that reason, I just use filter floss and pull it and replace it.

The BW MB7 is a good product, and I think would only help.

In addition to the bacteria you need a source of ammonia for them to "feed" on and grow. This can come from hardy livestock (which I don't recommend), adding fish food even when there's no fish, adding a piece of shrimp from the seafood market, or by adding bottle ammonium chloride (my personal favorite).

I would also consider adding a piece or two of real, wet live rock from fro your local shop. This can go a long way to getting your tank cycled quickly.

Good luck!

True? or Not. Was looking at real live rock from a lfs very expensive . Is it true that you may get unwelcome hitchhiker's? For instance my tank is full of bristle worms. Not causing any problems other than making my diamond goby relocate, but afraid of real problems. My rock for this tank was manufactured rock but so called live. Getting confused of what is what an explaination would be nice. I use exclusively floss bought at a local fabric store . $ 20 buys enough for months

 

[Fish Fan]

True? or Not. Was looking at real live rock from a lfs very expensive . Is it true that you may get unwelcome hitchhiker's? For instance my tank is full of bristle worms. Not causing any problems other than making my diamond goby relocate, but afraid of real problems. My rock for this tank was manufactured rock but so called live. Getting confused of what is what an explaination would be nice. I use exclusively floss bought at a local fabric store . $ 20 buys enough for months

Yes, I also use Poly-Fil from fabric stores as inexpensive floss. Personally, I like using live rock. There is a chance you can get an unwanted hitchhiker, but I believe the benefits live rock brings far outweighs the possibility of getting something you don't want. Pretty much everything can be trapped or felt with another way, including bristle worms, which I believe are beneficial (though a lot of people don't like them).

 

[Fish Fan]

Fish Fan..... Please excuse my ignorance, I am a newbe... But you said while cycling my new tank to "leave all that filter media out, (except for the biomedia). What exactly is the biomedia? Can you be very specific for me please? Should the biomedia be placed in the in tank sump? Or added directly to the tank water? I want to get this right... Please say "buy this brand of biomedia" and "add it to the tank water" or "place it in the in tank sump" Thank you.

The biomedia I was referring to is the ceramic rings you said were included with your tank. They are an example of biomedia, as are things like plastic bio balls or I literally use plastic pot scrubbies from the dollar store. These are called "bio" media because the beneficial bacteria that process ammonia can grow on these biomedias. These would go in your sump. You don't really *need* the biomedia because in reef tanks your rocks and sand also allow bacteria to grow, and the rocks and sand will be your main biofilter for your tank, but if you have the ceramic rings you can add them to your sump.

Next up is chemical medias. These are things like the carbon you have or media like Granular Ferric Oxide or GFO, as an example. These medias are called "chemical media" because there's a chemical reaction with the media and things in the water. These medias remove some dissolved organics, pigments, and coral toxins (carbon) or phosphate (GFO). You have carbon, you can place your carbon in your sump or even in your filter sock, you just want water to flow over the mesh bag. Even more efficient is some type of chemical media reactor that forces the water to flow through the chemical media, unlike just placing a bag of material in the sump or sock. You don't need to go and purchase a reactor, just start with the media in your sock or sump.

The third kind of filter media is mechanical medias like socks, sponges, and filter floss. These work to trap larger particles that are in the water. You want to swap out your sock (maybe have a backup or two) and/or your other mechanical medias every few days to a week or so. You want to physically remove the material that's being trapped by your mechanical media otherwise it's still just decomposing in your system.

Socks are good, but personally I find it annoying to clean them. For that reason, I like to swap the socks out for media cups, and then add filter floss to the cups. Specifically, I like to use Poly-Fil, which is exactly the same as aquarium filter floss, but much cheaper. You can find Poly-Fil at craft stores or the craft section of your local big box store. It's typically used to stuff pillows and things:

The Original Poly-fil® Premium Fiber Fill Bag, 20oz. | Michaels

Buy the The Original Poly-fil® Premium Fiber Fill Bag, 20oz. at Michaels.com. Crafters have made Poly-Fil the best selling polyester fiberfill in America.

www.michaels.com

All that said, don't worry too much about any of this at this point. Right now you need to get your tank cycled, which can take a few weeks. To cycle your tank, all you really need is water, rocks, sand, and flow, as well as your bottled bacteria (Microbacter7, Dr. Tim's One and Only, Fritz Turbo Start) and an ammonia source (I like Dr. Tim's ammonium chloride, but you could use fish food or a piece of shrimp).

Here's some info about the nitrogen cycle and cycling your tank:

How to Cycle a Saltwater Tank: Tips To Help You Succeed with Your New Aquarium

Setting up a new aquarium is an exciting project. If you’re like us, we can’t wait to start building up the reef by adding fish, corals, and other invertebrates. But, a newly set up aquarium is not biologically mature enough to handle a full load of reef livestock. In this episode, we’ll share...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

And here's a good write up about saltwater tanks if you're brand new:

The Supreme Guide To Setting Up A Saltwater Reef Aquarium

The Supreme Guide To Setting Up A Saltwater Reef Aquarium Introduction The marine environment is one of the most complex systems on the planet. The aquarium you are about to set up is only a tiny sliver of the vast ocean, but it is nowhere near simple. This task is going to take patience, a...

www.reef2reef.com

I hope that helps! Please post back if you still have questions!

 

[FiremistSLK]

WOW! Fish Fan ... What a great lot of infomation for a Salt water novice like myself! I can't thank you enough for taking the time to enter all of this info for me (and others who may need it). I will be starting my new tank today... using all of this new info. I'll get back to you in a few weeks after my tank has been properly cycled..... THANKS!! ... JOHN

 

[Fish Fan]

WOW! Fish Fan ... What a great lot of infomation for a Salt water novice like myself! I can't thank you enough for taking the time to enter all of this info for me (and others who may need it). I will be starting my new tank today... using all of this new info. I'll get back to you in a few weeks after my tank has been properly cycled..... THANKS!! ... JOHN

I'm glad I could help! Let us know if you need help cycling your tank

Good luck!