Filtering With Poly-Fil, safe ?

[427HISS]

A lot of us filter our system with this poly-fil. Is there anything in this product that is harmfull to corals and fish ?

Does have phosphate ?

 

[mcarroll]

Supposedly it's an adsorptive resin that laced with articficial seawater mix molded into it in some way so that it won't absorb anything below levels that are in seawater, but it will absorb everything else and even seawater elements down to seawater levels. Don't think I've ever seen any specific claims of what it's made out of from the manufacturer though....all hear-say.

 

[427HISS]

Are we talking the same product ?

https://www.walmart.com/ip/17808671...75035&wl11=online&wl12=17808671&wl13=&veh=sem
https://us-i5.tb.wal.co/asr/27ccf99....jpeg?odnHeight=450&odnWidth=450&odnBg=FFFFFF

 

[ebushrow]

There have been some threads of r2r that claim that certain brands leach phosphates. I would suggest testing it in some 0 phosphate rodi before using it....I think you need to leave it for a week and allow it to be mixed some and then test the water....

 

[427HISS]

That's a good idea. The floss you can buy that are advertised for aquarium use is expensive, compared to the product used for crafts, but that doesen't mean it's free of phosphates and other crap either.

 

[mcarroll]

Poly-fil is polyester pillow stuffing. :D

Poly-Filter is a resin-based filter medium as I described. (So I've been told.)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyester_resin
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyester

I don't see anything there to suggest anything to worry about. (Anyone else?)

I've used that stuff extensively on my old freshwater systems and infrequently on my saltwater system. Never a problem.

2¢

 

[ebushrow]

That's a good idea. The floss you can buy that are advertised for aquarium use is expensive, compared to the product used for crafts, but that doesen't mean it's free of phosphates and other crap either.

You're very right on that! It seems like most that have reefs use filter socks and filter pads ... if any.....I think of filter floss as a freshwater application mostly ( I'm old though)...

I think the most important aspect is using floss from my experience transferring it to saltwater is that fact that it traps small items...the items then migrate inward and kind of get lost when looking at it....then traps more and creates a nitrate and phosphate sink.....I'm sue if you are diligent at replacing the floss, that this would not be an issue....but like most of us, life gets busy and that's when I think people have issues. JMO though

 

[mcarroll]

There have been some threads of r2r that claim that certain brands leach phosphates.

Brute trashcans and other things too. Some folks seem to see PO4 wherever they look. :rolleyes:

Never even a proposed way that PO4 would be involved....makes no sense.

 

[mcarroll]

I'm sue if you are diligent at replacing the floss, that this would not be an issue

This is why folks recommend removing the mechanical filter section of a canister filter when people switch from freshwater.

Nothing wrong per-se....just that we seem to be more fearful of dissolved nutrients.

(For some legitimate reasons, and somewhat out of misunderstaning. Ever count all the threads where people are dosing either posphates or nitrates? ;) )

 

[427HISS]

The Brutes too ? !
I just bought four ! :confused:

I don't use the floss on our main tank, but I use it on our 55g QT, as it's not drilled. We have a Penguin, and the double filter's replacment's are way too expensive (can't believe people pay for them) so I just use the floss and replace every two days.

 

[mcarroll]

The Brutes too ? !

No, just the folks who tend to see PO4 everywhere they look.

The vast bulk of the rest of us (going back into the 1980's) have never had a problem. ;)

 

[427HISS]

Cool. :cool:

 

[Superd513]

So I’m trying to upgrade my mechanical filter on my JBJ aio. Presently it sucks butt. I’ve tried every filter media out there and I change my filter every 12 hours religiously!!!! And still my tank looks like ****. Water quality horrible. Protein skimmer full every day. It’s a small hob so it’s capacity is tiny. It’s been a battle sines I started carbon dosing 2 month ago. But my levels are spot on thank you tropic Marin bacto balance. Maybe this is just the side effects of pulling the extra bacteria out of the water

 

[His Coral Highness]

I use poly-fil in my sump. It pulls a lot of gunk out of the water for me. I change them out every week. It’s cheap and effective, I’d recommend it

 

[calhoun3186]

I've used it in my freshwater systems and never had any issues. I'd think as long as there are no added flame retardants you should be fine.

 

[Syntax1235]

I use poly-fil on the top of a phosban 150 running gfo, and it traps much smaller particles than the foam pads included. My wife also makes mini socks that wrap around the exit tubing to trap even more. Are they safe? Seem to be.