filter sock question

ctripi · 05/15/2009, 12:39 PM

I have never pre-filtered my sump influent using a filter sock. My thoughts are that I wanted particulate material for coral nutrition assuming that said particulate material has a biofilm of bacteria to help satisfy my coral's nitrogen needs.

My concerns is that there always seems to be patchy areas of reddish cyanobacteria growth on my shallow sand bed and as well as certain "partially-cryptic" areas of live rock.
Admittedly, I use API test kits for phos and nitrates (always zero) but also acknowledge the accuracy issues with any phos test kit.

Top-off = RO/DI kalkwasser (Wages); Bulkreefsupply lignite carbon 24-7; Careactor = ARM media; Chaeto refugium with 1-2x's per month harvest; decent but not crazy flow (LPS not too happy in upper reaches of the DT). 180gallon total volume with 8 fish who are not fatties nor thin (I feed spectrum and mysis +/- selecon,according to body condition)

Is the lack of filter sock leading to a build up of detritus and locally high phos/nitrate is lower flow regions directly against sand and in "partially cryptic" regions? Or should I chase other sources of the problem. Is it a problem?

Nanook · 05/15/2009, 01:02 PM

This thread has been moved to the current forum.

05/15/2009, 12:39 PM	#1
ctripi Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Easy bay , ca Posts: 677	filter sock question I have never pre-filtered my sump influent using a filter sock. My thoughts are that I wanted particulate material for coral nutrition assuming that said particulate material has a biofilm of bacteria to help satisfy my coral's nitrogen needs. My concerns is that there always seems to be patchy areas of reddish cyanobacteria growth on my shallow sand bed and as well as certain "partially-cryptic" areas of live rock. Admittedly, I use API test kits for phos and nitrates (always zero) but also acknowledge the accuracy issues with any phos test kit. Top-off = RO/DI kalkwasser (Wages); Bulkreefsupply lignite carbon 24-7; Careactor = ARM media; Chaeto refugium with 1-2x's per month harvest; decent but not crazy flow (LPS not too happy in upper reaches of the DT). 180gallon total volume with 8 fish who are not fatties nor thin (I feed spectrum and mysis +/- selecon,according to body condition) Is the lack of filter sock leading to a build up of detritus and locally high phos/nitrate is lower flow regions directly against sand and in "partially cryptic" regions? Or should I chase other sources of the problem. Is it a problem?

05/15/2009, 01:02 PM	#2
Nanook Ancient Eskimo Legend Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Saint Louis, MO Posts: 41,852 Blog Entries: 11	This thread has been moved to the current forum. __________________ The wind blew, the chit flew, and then they came two by two. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Current Tank Info: 375g Tanganyikan Tank & 470g mixed reef