Jump to content
Pod Your Reef

Filtration help


a_pmech84

Recommended Posts

I'm running a hob filter in my 20gal and I have used my own filter media. The media is the same layout I did years ago when I first tried this hobby and it worked great. The only difference is my filter then was a canister and now i have a hang on back. The media is laid out with live rock rubble on the bottom and then filter floss on top. There is no carbon or crushed coral. I change the filter floss once a week. Here's the issue my nitrates are way high. What am I not doing right?

  • Like 1
Link to comment
1 minute ago, a_pmech84 said:

I'm running a hob filter in my 20gal and I have used my own filter media. The media is the same layout I did years ago when I first tried this hobby and it worked great. The only difference is my filter then was a canister and now i have a hang on back. The media is laid out with live rock rubble on the bottom and then filter floss on top. There is no carbon or crushed coral. I change the filter floss once a week. Here's the issue my nitrates are way high. What am I not doing right?

I’d lose the rubble, keep the floss.  

  • Like 2
Link to comment

Are you trying to get bacteria that consume nitrates in the filter? (ex. Seachem's de-nitrates?)

For de-nitrates the flow is very important to get the proper bacteria growing to consume nitrates.

A standard HOB will have too much flow to get this bacteria. 

 

Most HOBs are used for chemical and mechanical filtration. 

  • Like 2
Link to comment

It's the rubble. 

If you have liverock there is no need for the rubble which in an hob will cause detritus to trap and cause negative effects.

 

Hobs need regular cleaning, the rubble makes that difficult. I use to suck up any detritus with a Turkey baster in my hob weekly.

 

Running a good carbon and floss will be easier to maintain

  • Like 1
Link to comment
16 hours ago, a_pmech84 said:

I'm running a hob filter in my 20gal and I have used my own filter media. The media is the same layout I did years ago when I first tried this hobby and it worked great. The only difference is my filter then was a canister and now i have a hang on back. The media is laid out with live rock rubble on the bottom and then filter floss on top. There is no carbon or crushed coral. I change the filter floss once a week. Here's the issue my nitrates are way high. What am I not doing right?

You could put a bio media in there. It should decrease nitrates as long as you spray it out with a baster every time you change the floss. I don't know about the flow being too high for the bacteria, but it should do some work. Just blow it off and let it shoot the detritus back out into the tank and blast off the rocks and stuff too and let it collect in your floss. Those types of media are CHEEP, never need to be replaced, and will pack much more densely AND be easier to keep detritus-free than live rock rubble if you want bio-filtration in there.

Link to comment

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

  • Recommended Discussions

×
×
  • Create New...