HOB Filter Questions

Master_Shake · 03/01/2012, 03:11 AM

I have an almost 2 month old 29 gallon tank with about 30 pounds of live rock. I have a nano-skimmer and a power filter running carbon. I would still like to get my phosphates lower and see there are things like Chemi-Pure Elite. Yes, I've been using tap water thus far even though that's bad.

I've read posts and people mention running a power filter without a pad but still using carbon, etc. My filter has the porous bio-filter sponge and a bag that gets filled with carbon. How would I run carbon or anything else with out the bag? Would I simply pour the carbon in the filter chamber? Sorry if it is a dumb question. Also, can I have carbon and Chemi-Pure in the filter together?

fjpod · 03/01/2012, 05:44 AM

You should get rid of the tap water first.

patsfan1130 · 03/01/2012, 07:32 AM

you should not run carbon without a bag - You would end up with a bloody mess

BigCountry74 · 03/01/2012, 08:02 AM

X2 and X2

you can put the carbon in some pantyhose if you have a lady around the house to give you one.

dzfish17 · 03/01/2012, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigCountry74

X2 and X2

you can put the carbon in some pantyhose if you have a lady around the house to give you one.

+1 on the pantyhose.

Sugar Magnolia · 03/01/2012, 09:37 AM

You can buy cheaper knee-high pantyhose to use for media bags. And yes, you can run the carbon and Chemi-Pure Elite in the same filter.

Do yourself a huge favor and get an RO/DI unit asap. Bulk Reef Supply has an economy unit that is only around $125 - works great for me. At the very least, switch to using bottled distilled water.

Master_Shake · 03/01/2012, 08:18 PM

Ok, thanks for the advice. I will look into getting a RO/DI unit. I'm amazed at how rapidly water evaporates from the tank so I've been topping it off a lot. Would it be worth using filtered water from my fridge/freezer and warming it up?

I actually made an error in my original post; it was actually the nitrates that I had tested which were a little high.

I have a more significant clean up crew arriving tomorrow. After they've settled in would it be better to run the filter without the pad and simply let them break everything down?

BurntOutReefer · 03/01/2012, 10:41 PM

I would buy distilled water from the store for your top-offs....just stop using tapwater....

03/01/2012, 03:11 AM	#1
Master_Shake Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 29	HOB Filter Questions I have an almost 2 month old 29 gallon tank with about 30 pounds of live rock. I have a nano-skimmer and a power filter running carbon. I would still like to get my phosphates lower and see there are things like Chemi-Pure Elite. Yes, I've been using tap water thus far even though that's bad. I've read posts and people mention running a power filter without a pad but still using carbon, etc. My filter has the porous bio-filter sponge and a bag that gets filled with carbon. How would I run carbon or anything else with out the bag? Would I simply pour the carbon in the filter chamber? Sorry if it is a dumb question. Also, can I have carbon and Chemi-Pure in the filter together?

03/01/2012, 05:44 AM	#2
fjpod Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 80	You should get rid of the tap water first. __________________ Frank Current Tank Info: 14 gal Biocube, mixed reef.

03/01/2012, 07:32 AM	#3
patsfan1130 Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Woburn, Ma Posts: 2,010	you should not run carbon without a bag - You would end up with a bloody mess __________________ My cat's breath smells like cat food Member of the Boston Reefers Society Current Tank Info: 75g lps, 90g sps, 120g mixed, 180 nem tank, 300g reef, 600g up & coming reef

03/01/2012, 08:02 AM	#4
BigCountry74 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 1,761	X2 and X2 you can put the carbon in some pantyhose if you have a lady around the house to give you one. __________________ 135g mixed reef (retired) http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2132815 Current 40g reef http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2483250 Current Tank Info: 40g bare bottom reef

03/01/2012, 09:37 AM	#6
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	You can buy cheaper knee-high pantyhose to use for media bags. And yes, you can run the carbon and Chemi-Pure Elite in the same filter. Do yourself a huge favor and get an RO/DI unit asap. Bulk Reef Supply has an economy unit that is only around $125 - works great for me. At the very least, switch to using bottled distilled water. __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.

03/01/2012, 08:18 PM	#7
Master_Shake Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 29	Ok, thanks for the advice. I will look into getting a RO/DI unit. I'm amazed at how rapidly water evaporates from the tank so I've been topping it off a lot. Would it be worth using filtered water from my fridge/freezer and warming it up? I actually made an error in my original post; it was actually the nitrates that I had tested which were a little high. I have a more significant clean up crew arriving tomorrow. After they've settled in would it be better to run the filter without the pad and simply let them break everything down? Last edited by Master_Shake; 03/01/2012 at 08:53 PM.

03/01/2012, 10:41 PM	#8
BurntOutReefer Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Granada Hills Posts: 4,376	I would buy distilled water from the store for your top-offs....just stop using tapwater....