Removing foam pads from canister?

rcbc3384 · 11/06/2006, 09:00 AM

I have a Fluval 404. I was told that the reason my Nirates are high is the foam pads. Can I take them out and still have good filtration?

Sk8r · 11/06/2006, 09:32 AM

Depends on what you mean by filtration.

Do you have a skimmer? You should. That's where the nasty protein soup gets removed.

Your rock is borderline: if it is very porous, like old coral, you have enough. If it's denser, you need 10-20 more pounds.

Rock and sand [s/b 4" deep] are where the bacteria live that complete the de-nitrification process.

The problem is, rock takes the process all the way to the release of nitrogen gas back to the atmosphere, removing it from your tank. A mechanical filter stops at the stage where it produces nitrates, and short of producing the gas.

So yes, you may get a little more detritus floating about: that's why you have a sand-cleaning crew and bristleworms. They eat it and send it back to the sandbed in finer size, which breaks all the way down.

rcbc3384 · 11/06/2006, 01:14 PM

Do I replace the pads with more media? And does the canister start to mimc a bio-filter thus lowering the Nitrates?

Since I first signed up at this sight I have added about 20lbs of LR; great call.

Please let me know your thoughts

Thanks
Rick

sasscuba · 11/06/2006, 06:01 PM

I am interested myself. I have a Fluval 405 and am running just a bunch of Biomedia in mine.

BBDaddy · 11/07/2006, 07:09 AM

I have a fluval 204 and use it for chimical filtration, added flow, and nothing else. I will put the foam pads in when cleaning the sand and rock. Then take them back out when the water clears. I'll admit that it was.....dificult, to part with the idea of having the foam and bio media in my canister,but I've had no problems with my tank since I removed them. All I use is live rock,skimmer,water changes, and a closed loop pump w/prefilter that gets cleaned every few days. However, this still may or may not be the main reason for your high nitrates.

11/06/2006, 09:00 AM	#1
rcbc3384 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Long Island Posts: 29	Removing foam pads from canister? I have a Fluval 404. I was told that the reason my Nirates are high is the foam pads. Can I take them out and still have good filtration?

11/06/2006, 09:32 AM	#2
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Depends on what you mean by filtration. Do you have a skimmer? You should. That's where the nasty protein soup gets removed. Your rock is borderline: if it is very porous, like old coral, you have enough. If it's denser, you need 10-20 more pounds. Rock and sand [s/b 4" deep] are where the bacteria live that complete the de-nitrification process. The problem is, rock takes the process all the way to the release of nitrogen gas back to the atmosphere, removing it from your tank. A mechanical filter stops at the stage where it produces nitrates, and short of producing the gas. So yes, you may get a little more detritus floating about: that's why you have a sand-cleaning crew and bristleworms. They eat it and send it back to the sandbed in finer size, which breaks all the way down. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

11/06/2006, 01:14 PM	#3
rcbc3384 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Long Island Posts: 29	Do I replace the pads with more media? And does the canister start to mimc a bio-filter thus lowering the Nitrates? Since I first signed up at this sight I have added about 20lbs of LR; great call. Please let me know your thoughts Thanks Rick

11/06/2006, 06:01 PM	#4
sasscuba Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Owasso, Oklahoma Posts: 990	I am interested myself. I have a Fluval 405 and am running just a bunch of Biomedia in mine.

11/07/2006, 07:09 AM	#5
BBDaddy Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Terre Haute,IN Posts: 6	I have a fluval 204 and use it for chimical filtration, added flow, and nothing else. I will put the foam pads in when cleaning the sand and rock. Then take them back out when the water clears. I'll admit that it was.....dificult, to part with the idea of having the foam and bio media in my canister,but I've had no problems with my tank since I removed them. All I use is live rock,skimmer,water changes, and a closed loop pump w/prefilter that gets cleaned every few days. However, this still may or may not be the main reason for your high nitrates.