filtration media... or no?

sw1tched · 12/28/2007, 02:50 PM

at what point can I remove all carbon, filter floss, and blue bonded sheets from my sump, or will I ever be able to? I have a 125g with a 30g sump. Iâ€™m planning on getting more rock to put in the sump so I can grow beneficial foods & such. I have around 150 lbs of rock in the tank & maybe 20 lbs of rock in the sump currently. Iâ€™ve seen systems without filtration media... just a sump with a lot of LR. Currently my water runs through blue bonded sheets, filter floss and carbon before entering the sump. Iâ€™m sure I havenâ€™t given enough information; I just want to know what it takes to remove the media in tanks.

Thanks
-Joe

smatter · 12/28/2007, 03:08 PM

If you clean/replace it regularly it can all be removed right now. If it has been undisturbed for a long time and supports your system biologically remove it slowly. You will find detritus will settle in the sump for easy removal and that mechanical filtration is really unessesary. It is better to export particulates with your skimmer and siphoning, rather than trapping it in some media which speeds its dissolution. Carbon can be run intermittently or continuously depending on your tanks needs.

sw1tched · 12/28/2007, 05:11 PM

I usually replace it all at once every month or so.. so I dont rely on it for biological filtration.
Thanks for the help

nybyrne · 12/28/2007, 07:10 PM

I have a 125 and I dont use and filtrtion media. I run it through my fuge and never had any problems. I have about 200 pounds of live rock and 20 Mangroves.

12/28/2007, 02:50 PM	#1
sw1tched Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Omaha NE Posts: 130	filtration media... or no? at what point can I remove all carbon, filter floss, and blue bonded sheets from my sump, or will I ever be able to? I have a 125g with a 30g sump. Iâ€™m planning on getting more rock to put in the sump so I can grow beneficial foods & such. I have around 150 lbs of rock in the tank & maybe 20 lbs of rock in the sump currently. Iâ€™ve seen systems without filtration media... just a sump with a lot of LR. Currently my water runs through blue bonded sheets, filter floss and carbon before entering the sump. Iâ€™m sure I havenâ€™t given enough information; I just want to know what it takes to remove the media in tanks. Thanks -Joe

12/28/2007, 05:11 PM	#3
sw1tched Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Omaha NE Posts: 130	I usually replace it all at once every month or so.. so I dont rely on it for biological filtration. Thanks for the help __________________ 210g mixed reef display, 40g long sump, Euro-reef G4+ skimmer, Neptune Apex controller, 3 AI SOl LED fixtures. 65g FOWLR display, 40g breeder sump, T5 coralife fixture, ASM G3 skimmer. Current Tank Info: 210 gallon mixed reef, 65 gallon FOWLR

12/28/2007, 03:08 PM	#2
smatter Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 2,055	If you clean/replace it regularly it can all be removed right now. If it has been undisturbed for a long time and supports your system biologically remove it slowly. You will find detritus will settle in the sump for easy removal and that mechanical filtration is really unessesary. It is better to export particulates with your skimmer and siphoning, rather than trapping it in some media which speeds its dissolution. Carbon can be run intermittently or continuously depending on your tanks needs.

12/28/2007, 07:10 PM	#4
nybyrne Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Sunny Florida Posts: 75	I have a 125 and I dont use and filtrtion media. I run it through my fuge and never had any problems. I have about 200 pounds of live rock and 20 Mangroves.