using filter floss vs filter sponge vs both.

fisherc92 · Nov 9, 2020

hello i have a aquatop 40Gal AIO system. i am currently having questions about my filtration because my phosphates are at .42

where the water enters the overflow i have filter sponges...
the water then enters the next chamber with my heater and skimmer.
the water enters my 3rd chamber where i have my cermaic bio filters. i have chemipure blue and seachem biomatrix in the same chamber as well, all in filter bags.
the water then enters the last chamber where i only have my return pump.

i have switched out my sponges once in 3.5 months. and i just rinsed them off today, pretty nasty. .. i just threw some filter floss in the top first compartment. its hard for me to always have floss...
im having trouble getting enough water into my compartment with all my media when i add the filter floss with the sponges ( i have a upgraded return pump)

im about to add phosphate -e by brightwell to help bring the phosphates down... im seeing downswings in coral from it i believe.

should i take out all the sponges and just use filter floss for easy changing out? the sponges dont have any of my bio filter i need? i have a good amount of ceramic and biomatrix.
just wanna get my tank okay again.

fisherc92 · Nov 9, 2020

fisherc92 · Nov 9, 2020

i tested .56 phosphate today. after i added 5ml of phosphate - e

lapin · Nov 28, 2020

Do you know the source of your Po4?
Phosphate-e is lanthanum chloride.
It needs to be dosed into a filter sock or floss.
It will kill fish and corals if it coats them.
I think you would be better off with running GFO somehow.

blasterman · Nov 28, 2020

Sponges are typically used to protect power head intakes from larger debris.

Filter floss has much better filtering abilities.

fisherc92 · Nov 28, 2020

lapin said:
Do you know the source of your Po4?
Phosphate-e is lanthanum chloride.
It needs to be dosed into a filter sock or floss.
It will kill fish and corals if it coats them.
I think you would be better off with running GFO somehow.

thanks for the reply. as of today i tested .09 po4.
i have been dosing the LC, into my skimmer area and over the floss. ( there is a chance it affected my foxface though)
i also added chemipure OG. i have been running chemipure blue.

source of po4 is still kind of unknown. i did not strain my brine well at first, so dirty water for a week and a half twice a day could of been it. i now have a brine net. i also added phyto i got from the frag show we had, at night for two days then stopped. i added what i think is a small amount.

Cole.mormon · Jan 2, 2021

You could get an in chamber media basket and put more stuff in
IMO they work ok

Reefer Brent · Jan 9, 2024

I have the same tank. I switched to filter floss and my po4 spiked. If I didn't change it every two days it would clog and my ato would go crazy and drop my salinity. I'm back to the aquatop sponge. Much less maintenance and my corals are looking much better. I also lowered the flow of my upgraded return pump to keep it at the right level.

Best I can tell you need a new skimmer and better sponge. That skimmer is garbage that it came with. I have an ioaoi hob that is a pain in the butt so far, but with enough toying it works. Maybe try their aio in compartment. I hear it's better. Or if you have a bigger budget then an aquamaxx.