Neptune Aquatics

Mechanical and Chemical Filtration

pixelpixi

pixelpixi

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I was just wondering how many people run mechanical and chemical filtration (in addition to a skimmer) and what kinds. Canister? Charcoal? Filter Sock? Hang-on-back filter? Phosban? Filter pads? Other chemical filtration media?

Also, how do you have it plumbed to the rest of your system?

Right now I'm running just a skimmer and 'fuge, but I'm thinking about adding carbon and some kind of mechanical filtration to catch larger particles and detritus. I have an idea for a DIY modular filter/reactor, but the most straightforward place to plumb it would be between the fuge and display tank, so no pods would get through. Hmmm.
 
[quote author=Tumbleweed link=topic=4029.msg48012#msg48012 date=1215055455]
I have a skimmer, fuge, and use a filter sock from my display tank into my sump
[/quote]

What kind of filter sock do you use? I order this one: http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem~SearchStr~filter%20sock~action~view~idProduct~EA1351~idCategory~FIFMMEFS~category~Filter_Sock_100_micron_With_Drawstring_7in_x_16_inch_Saltwater_Aquarium_Supplies_Filter_Media_Mechanical_Socks~vendor~.html
not realizing it's HUGE. It's also kind of a pain to clean because it's thick and stiff. Maybe a different sock would work better with my setup.
 
This is the one that I use.
http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem~idproduct~BL3133.html
I have 5 of them and use it for about 4-5 days then change it ou. When I put in the 4th one I wash the others in my washing machine on hot with a little bleach and then hang them to dry. It works well for me so far.
 
I run a skimmer and a vortech for flow. For chemical filtration, I have GFO and GAC. If I am doing some cleaning in the tank, I use my Aquaclear Quickfilter.
 
oh, the quickfilter sounds like a good idea. so you just run it while there are particles in the water then clean it and put it away? is it easy to clean?
 
Pretty much. It is pretty darn good at getting particulates out of the water. I clean the acrylic once a week and blow off detritus that collects on stuff and the QF pulls it all out of the water fairly quick. I have a bunch of old filter pads that work really well (reusable and replaceable). Jeremy says that the new filter pads aren't as good as the old ones.
 
Gomer: nice. That sounds like a pretty good system. Why don't you keep the quickfilter running all the time, though?

Tumbleweed: what do you do with those 3 dirty filters before you wash them? Dry them out? Leave them in the sump?
 
I give them a quick rinse in the sink just to get the bulk of the debris off of them, and then put them in an old salt bucket with lid untill I wash them
 
if I leave it in, then all the detritus/algae scrapings etc are trapped and decay in the water column. If is use it during dirty water column time and remove and clean it for future use, it effectively is a nutrient export.
 
Hmm. That's a good point, Gomer. I guess as with any mechanical filtration, it depend on how often you clean it. I wonder what percentage decays in say, a week.
 
I run GFO. that's it . I skim a little wet . and if I'm feeling frisky...... Ill throw a filter pad in the baffles for an hour or so.
 
my skimmer removes a ton of gunk. Maybe not super fast, but it is "concentrated". I just dumped out about 2 cups of skimmate (about 1 weeks worth on my 40g) which is the color of green coffee. that dark...and with chunks like soft coffee grounds lol.
 
Nice, Gomer. Mine pulls about that quantity, but it's lighter... more green tea than green coffee. The bioload in my tank is pretty low right now, so I expect it will get darker as I add more animals.

I'm surprised to hear that GFO is so popular. I didn't realize that. Hmm, maybe I should consider running it. Any problems with trace element depletion or calcium precipitation, GFO people?
 
Haven't really noticed it.

I run carbon and gfo in a diy reactor in my tiny 4.25 gallon sump. The tank is also skimmed by a tunze 9002 (total volume ~15 gallons).
 
Skimmer pulls out most of the junk in the water for me.

I use carbon, and Elos Filtra M - it removes ammonia and then provides biological filtration (jury is still out on this for me though so take it with a grain of salt).
 
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