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Innovative Marine Aquariums

Filter media for s/w


Hypancistrus

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So it appears I have been laboring under the delusion that all filter media in saltwater tanks are bad. I may be adding media to do the following:

 

1. Remove toxins-- activated carbon.

2. Reduce nitrates-- if needed. Right now my test kit says 0.

3. Remove phosphorus-- if needed. Going to pick up a test kit for this.

 

What brands of media do you all recommend for this? Do you rinse it weekly? How often is it changed completely?

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HI,

 

Having traceable NO3 and PO4 is a good thing - keeping at 0 buy over cleaning your water is not good. Keeping NO3 between 0-5 ppm and PO4 between 0-0.02 ppm some find ideal. I keep my water a bit more dirty than that.

 

With that being said I run Chemipure Blue in both my tanks. For mechinical filtration in my AIO I use inTanks filter floss (I find his to be the best) and for my sumped tank I use 200 micron filter socks.

 

The filter floss I change every 3-4 days. The filter sock I change during water changes (lately that is weekly, but will eventually go back to every other week).

 

The Chemipure I change bases the packaging. I think for the AIO it is every 2 months (big packet) and for the sumped tank I use the small packets and change them once every 2 months. I change 1 small packet out of 4 per week rather than all at once.

 

Do you have a skimmer? This is IMO the best way to control PO4.

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I don't even know if phosphates are an issue yet. I need to get a test kit. My test kit values are reading 0 for nitrates right now. I am going to buy a few new test kits of a different brand. I do not have a skimmer, as my tank is only 20 gallons.

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You can wash filter socks, I would toss out anything floss.

 

Mechanical filtration isn't bad. I always run carbon. But building and relying on mechanical filtration is whats bad. You want to make sure your tank can handle itself and regulate itself. If you go overboard with mechanical filtration, the tank becomes reliant on it and a crash is pretty inevitable. I think most of us run at least carbon in the tank. Some of us more or less, but when you're starting out and building your tank, you don't want to use those things until after your tank is cycled and on a case by case type basis. You get what I'm saying?

 

In a nutshell: You don't want your mechanical filtration as a substitute for good husbandry practices.

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You can wash filter socks, I would toss out anything floss.

 

Mechanical filtration isn't bad. I always run carbon. But building and relying on mechanical filtration is whats bad. You want to make sure your tank can handle itself and regulate itself. If you go overboard with mechanical filtration, the tank becomes reliant on it and a crash is pretty inevitable. I think most of us run at least carbon in the tank. Some of us more or less, but when you're starting out and building your tank, you don't want to use those things until after your tank is cycled and on a case by case type basis. You get what I'm saying?

 

In a nutshell: You don't want your mechanical filtration as a substitute for good husbandry practices.

Now what do you mean by "filter sock?" Is it like a bag? Anything in it??

 

My tank has been running for almost two years and my shrimp is fine, but I cannot keep fish alive. I'm addressing a few other noteworthy issues at the moment.

 

Saltwater seems so complicated.

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Saltwater is far more complicated than freshwater. Its constant learning, lots of testing, lots of work, more money.

 

I use a good carbon in a media bag, rinsed weekly with water changes and changed out monthly. Filter floss is used and changed out 2 times a week. I don't use socks as they are expensive to replace often. Don't think you can use them with an hob filter.

 

Filter is cleaned monthly, same with powerheads.

 

Chemipure blue is a good media.

 

Phosphate removers aren't needed until you start seeing your phos go above 0.03

 

Your nitrates are probably 0 due to no fish or any algae you msy have. Inverts don't produce as much waste as fish. Once you get fish in there, you will see an increase.

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Saltwater really isn't too complicated once past the learning curve. I've got fresh planted and salt with softies and the salt has more steps but doesn't require nearly as much work as the planted tank.

 

On my salt I run a small Aqua clear without any sponges or floss. I put in a filter bag with carbon (using Kent brand currently) and purigen. If needed I'll also use phosphate remover but I generally don't use it or have a phosphate issue.

 

I don't use filter floss.

 

I change the carbon every water change, it's cheap and I use small amounts but change it frequently.

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