IM Sump fiber balls

[TJ42]

I bought my IM EXT100 with the sump together. It had fiber balls in tubes where filter socks would normally go. Seems to be working great and I am thinking it would allow some things to pass through the system that I would want. Like microscopic creatures. Filter socks are just a complete block and pull out too much I think.

Does anyone have any opinions on this method? I'd love to hear it.

You can see the fiber ball setup in this picture of the sump they sold me:

 

[D'sreef]

I have used bioballs and seachem matrix to do much the same as I would suspect these to do. My general opinion on anything like this is if it's not broke don't fix it.

 

[tsharpe291]

I bought my IM EXT100 with the sump together. It had fiber balls in tubes where filter socks would normally go. Seems to be working great and I am thinking it would allow some things to pass through the system that I would want. Like microscopic creatures. Filter socks are just a complete block and pull out too much I think.

Does anyone have any opinions on this method? I'd love to hear it.

You can see the fiber ball setup in this picture of the sump they sold me:

I used what my tank was supplied with, after that I started using polyfil
instead of buying more fiber balls. way more cost effective.

 

[chapter7]

i imagine those cotton balls would be as much of a pain to rinse or replace as socks would be so I filled my three cups with Maxspect Nano-tech Bio Spheres and will be using filter floss sheets cut to size to use as needed.

 

[TJ42]

I just replaced the first batch but then thought I'd try to reuse them from now on if they hold up. I got a delicates bag for the washer and going to wash them with a little bleach, no soap.

 

[TJ42]

I used what my tank was supplied with, after that I started using polyfil
instead of buying more fiber balls. way more cost effective.

i imagine those cotton balls would be as much of a pain to rinse or replace as socks would be so I filled my three cups with Maxspect Nano-tech Bio Spheres and will be using filter floss sheets cut to size to use as needed.

I imagine the fiberfill sheets would do the same type of thing as the balls. This part is all for the mechanical filtration part for me. The refugium in mine has the bacterial types in it.

That loose and sheets of fiber is a whole lot cheaper than these balls are for sure. I am going to try to wash those in the next day or 2 and see how it goes.

 

[chapter7]

I imagine the fiberfill sheets would do the same type of thing as the balls. This part is all for the mechanical filtration part for me. The refugium in mine has the bacterial types in it.

That loose and sheets of fiber is a whole lot cheaper than these balls are for sure. I am going to try to wash those in the next day or 2 and see how it goes.

Yup, get a giant roll from amazon and cut to size and use when needed. Will last you forever! With a solid skimmer and refugium, we might be able to forego the mechanical filtration altogether.

 

[TJ42]

I washed the fiber balls in the bag with a little bleach on the hand wash cycle. They came out looking brand new!

I am going to keep using these for a while and see how it goes.