Main Menu
| |
Get on the Map!
| |
Forum Menu
| | 
04-24-2007, 06:51 AM
|
#1 (permalink)
| | Spaghetti Worm
Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Chicago, IL Age: 37
Posts: 191
Karma: 15
 |  Mechanical Filtration
Hey Aquarists,
I have a question about Mechanical filtration. I have a sump with water flowing first through a mechanical filter (Pad) then water flows over my carbon into the base of my sump, then my skimmer skims the water further and the water then passes through a long blue sponge to remove particulate matter, then finally the return pump send the water back to main tank. Do I need the mechanical filtration PAD in the beginning of my sump,... is it removing organic matter that is benefical to my reef? should I or shouldn't I have it? detailed info is greatly appreciated, thanks. _________ Perfecto 90 Gal with megaflow overflow, 110lbs LR(mixed), 130 lbs LS, Turboflotor 1000 multi, megaflow sump, magdrive 1800 ghp pump, lighting: 2x250 MH 14K, 4X54 T5's, Auto topoff system. Condy anemone, Manipora, green stripped mushroom, purple mushroom, and red mushroom, green eyed polyps, a recordia.  | 
|  | | Reef Links |  | |
04-24-2007, 07:13 AM
|
#2 (permalink)
| | Gnarly Old Codfish
Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Silverdale, Washington Age: 59
Posts: 4,788
  
|
Tyslin,
IMHO get rid of the filter and let skimmer do its job. You are right that filter pad is taking out lots of benefical matter/creatures that are good for your reef.
Lots of people run pre-filters, but I got rid of mine (filter bags on return lines) long ago and the tank seems to be doing much better then it did.
It may cause a bit more particulate matter in water column but the benefits far outweigh the totally filtered water.
OmarD _________ AG "125," AquaC EV 180, 30 gal sump, "SCWD", 80 lbs LR, CoralSeaLife "Moonlite" Hood, PFO 250W HQI Mini-Pendant (SPS HQI 14000k bulb)
12 Gallon NanoCube - 24w stock PC 50/50 light "...nothing good ever happens fast in a reef tank, only bad things happen fast..."
- MIKE PALLETTA - (2008 Reef log) ("OmarD"/"Scott") | |
| | |
03-28-2008, 12:34 PM
|
#3 (permalink)
| | Scooter Blennie
Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: South Florida Age: 42
Posts: 1,217
|
I'm with Omard on this one. In Nov. of 07 I got rid of all filter floss and sponges in the sump. Incidentally, the blue sponge right before the return pump is meant to prevent bubbles from entering the return chamber of the sump, not for mechanical filtration, although it does serve to mechanically filter the water.
Like Omard said, there is resultantly more particulate matter in the water, but my sponges, dusters and other filter feeders in my tank love it.
Perhaps the biggest plus to no filter pads or floss, is the lack of maintenance of changing/cleaning pads twice a week.
My vortech moves the water in my main tank so well, nearly all the detritus accumulates in 3 inconspicuous areas on my sand bottom, and I siphon this up when I do my water changes.
_________
90G display tank. Kent Phos Reactor running carbon and ROWAPhos, Coralife 225 Skimmer, Typhoon 5 Stage RO/DI, 20 Gal Sump/Refugium with Chaeto/Caulerpa lit opposite daylight cycle. Coralife 2x150MH, 14K + 2x96W PC Actinics, Ecotech Vortech propeller pump, Hydor Koralia #2. | |
| | |
03-28-2008, 12:36 PM
|
#4 (permalink)
| | Scooter Blennie
Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: South Florida Age: 42
Posts: 1,217
|
Wow, just realized this thread is nearly a year old.  | |
| | |
03-28-2008, 12:52 PM
|
#5 (permalink)
| | Feather Duster
Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: San Bruno, CA Age: 33
Posts: 248
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by ReefSparky  Wow, just realized this thread is nearly a year old. |
Reef-Guthrie-
Thanks for bumping it, I'd been wondering the same thing
I dropped a "polishing pad" in my fluval a few days ago and while the water has cleared up I started wondering about the copes (as in they are gone).
So a 29 gal with 60# LS 30# LR and a skimmer - drop the fluval entirely or run it with the larger bio-media only?
_________
| |
| | | Reef Links |  | 
Posting Rules
| You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off | | | All times are GMT -7. The time now is 01:16 AM. |
