What filter floss would you use?

Vuuduu · Nov 27, 2018

Hey guys, I put those cups in where my filter socks go, I bought some filter floss made by blue ribbon pet products, which says on the bag that its "scientifically prepared for freshwater and marine filtration" every time i put a new clump in, my skimmer bubbled crazy for 20 seconds or so, then settles back down. and now i'm getting a big diatom bloom. It looks just like it did after my tanks first cycle.

You think the floss is adding the silicates? anyone else have a similar situation? and what floss do current users use or recommend?

Flippers4pups · Nov 27, 2018

Vuuduu said:
Hey guys, I put those cups in where my filter socks go, I bought some filter floss made by blue ribbon pet products, which says on the bag that its "scientifically prepared for freshwater and marine filtration" every time i put a new clump in, my skimmer bubbled crazy for 20 seconds or so, then settles back down. and now i'm getting a big diatom bloom. It looks just like it did after my tanks first cycle.

You think the floss is adding the silicates? anyone else have a similar situation? and what floss do current users use or recommend?

Good question. I've never personally heard of filter floss leaching silicate. If it's polyester material that it's made of, I wouldn't think it would do that.

Vuuduu · Nov 27, 2018

Yeah, I don’t know, iv been using floss for about 6 months now, and I never really payed attention to the brand, just what’s cheapest at the time. I don’t even know what brand I was using before, but this stuff is a different bag...

Tanks been up almost a year now, just seems weird I’m getting diatoms again now.

Anyone else have the skimmer go crazy for 30 seconds or so after adding theur floss?

rc1626 · Nov 27, 2018

Vuuduu said:
Yeah, I don’t know, iv been using floss for about 6 months now, and I never really payed attention to the brand, just what’s cheapest at the time. I don’t even know what brand I was using before, but this stuff is a different bag...

Tanks been up almost a year now, just seems weird I’m getting diatoms again now.

Anyone else have the skimmer go crazy for 30 seconds or so after adding theur floss?

Yup. Just recently added a cup in place of socks and am using the same Blue Ribbon floss. My skimmer goes crazy for 20 - 30 sec. Then calms down. No diatoms issue that you speak of. Been using it for 2 to 3 weeks now.

Flippers4pups · Nov 27, 2018

Vuuduu said:
Yeah, I don’t know, iv been using floss for about 6 months now, and I never really payed attention to the brand, just what’s cheapest at the time. I don’t even know what brand I was using before, but this stuff is a different bag...

Tanks been up almost a year now, just seems weird I’m getting diatoms again now.

Anyone else have the skimmer go crazy for 30 seconds or so after adding theur floss?

I usually get issues with diatoms around this time of year myself.

I have read that local water companies add silicates to their water to aid in pipe corrosion in the fall and winter months. These can and do get past RO/DI units in to our tanks when we make new saltwater. Could be the reason.

kristinarenee · Nov 27, 2018

I use batting from the craft store. Really cheap compared to fish store. I also wrap my pumps with it and a rubber band. They turn Brown from pulling stuff in less than a day.

Tuoixuanxanh · Nov 28, 2018

Poly fil from Walmart

wesman42 · Nov 28, 2018

kristinarenee said:
I use batting from the craft store. Really cheap compared to fish store. I also wrap my pumps with it and a rubber band. They turn Brown from pulling stuff in less than a day.

Is it polyester batting? I'm intrigued....

kristinarenee · Nov 28, 2018

Tuoixuanxanh said:
Poly fil from Walmart

Yep. That's what I got the last time. I'm not about to pay $20 for a square at the LFS.

kristinarenee · Nov 28, 2018

wesman42 said:
Is it polyester batting? I'm intrigued....

This is what I've been using for years. I switched from fiber fill to batting. I get less micro bubbles with the batting.

fishstix · Nov 28, 2018

This thread is at a perfect time, I was going to order some fiber fill from LFS, but this is way better it seems. Also do you guys like the cups, I just ordered some and looking forward to them. Are they working well and lasting longer than socks?

Thanks

wesman42 · Nov 28, 2018

fishstix said:
This thread is at a perfect time, I was going to order some fiber fill from LFS, but this is way better it seems. Also do you guys like the cups, I just ordered some and looking forward to them. Are they working well and lasting longer than socks?

Thanks

I have floss in a reactor and it does a great job polishing the water before heading into my carbon reactor.

Ronnell · Nov 28, 2018

fishstix said:
This thread is at a perfect time, I was going to order some fiber fill from LFS, but this is way better it seems. Also do you guys like the cups, I just ordered some and looking forward to them. Are they working well and lasting longer than socks?

Thanks

wesman42 said:
I have floss in a reactor and it does a great job polishing the water before heading into my carbon reactor.

This was GREAT timing, i was thinking of putting some filter padding in my strainer on my HoB Marineland 400

in these spots for extra filtering, a bag is like 7$ then with extra carbon in media containers SHOULD help out alot.

Be102 · Dec 22, 2018

kristinarenee said:
This is what I've been using for years. I switched from fiber fill to batting. I get less micro bubbles with the batting.

Could I go about adding this to my filter cups and just toss whenever I would normally clean my filter socks?

kristinarenee · Dec 22, 2018

Be102 said:
Could I go about adding this to my filter cups and just toss whenever I would normally clean my filter socks?

I don't have a sump. I run mine in a fluval 406 but I have seen others use it in filter cups.

seaplane · Dec 22, 2018

Be102 said:
Could I go about adding this to my filter cups and just toss whenever I would normally clean my filter socks?

Yep! Works great. Just be sure that you don't get a brand that has flame retardant in it.

JenMiamiMom · Dec 30, 2018

Ronnell said:
This was GREAT timing, i was thinking of putting some filter padding in my strainer on my HoB Marineland 400

in these spots for extra filtering, a bag is like 7$ then with extra carbon in media containers SHOULD help out alot.

Hi! You and I have the same filter, the 400 marineland. I just set mine up tonight (got rid of skilter 400 because protein skimmer never worked). Are you thinking of putting something in those areas circled in red? May I ask what and if it worked? Also, what are you using for filter media in the extra grey media trays? Any info is really appreciated.

Ronnell · Jan 1, 2019

JenMiamiMom said:
Hi! You and I have the same filter, the 400 marineland. I just set mine up tonight (got rid of skilter 400 because protein skimmer never worked). Are you thinking of putting something in those areas circled in red? May I ask what and if it worked? Also, what are you using for filter media in the extra grey media trays? Any info is really appreciated.

Hello there Happy New Year
I was going to put it there in the mid strainer but i am not i am just going to put it in the bottom strainer. I was experimenting in my 10g with Tetra 10 and Marineland 150. I will show picture on how much to put in it will restrict flow.
I am @ work will post about mid morning/afternoon.

Ronnell · Jan 1, 2019

Ronnell said:
Hello there Happy New Year
I was going to put it there in the mid strainer but i am not i am just going to put it in the bottom strainer. I was experimenting in my 10g with Tetra 10 and Marineland 150. I will show picture on how much to put in it will restrict flow.
I am @ work will post about mid morning/afternoon.