Fluval G3

Reybeast · 08/01/2016, 12:07 PM

Howdy, I have a Fluval G3 filtration unit on my Fluval M60 (25 gallon tank). it has a filter cartridge that is to be cleaned every 30 days. I have had the unit for 18 weeks and have cleaned the filter about every 25 days. I have one small fish and I dont feed much, so there is not a big bio load, nor do I have algae problems. The question I have is that the g-nodes look really dirty. I was surprised at how dirty they were . I have struggled with high Nitrates (40ppm) even before I had the G3 filter, but I really expected the G3's Nitrate cartridge to reduce or eliminate the Nitrates in coordination with a Phosban 150 running Katalyst denitrator pellets, but this has not been the case. i recently reduced the depth of my sand bed as well, its about 1/4 inch at this time. Does anyone else have one of these G3 or G6 units and did your g-nodes look like this at any point?

http://www.austinreefclub.com/upload...1470074083.jpg

mcgyvr · 08/01/2016, 12:16 PM

For the most part that stuff is pretty much useless..
They aren't magic like the sales literature makes you believe..

Do you perform water changes? on what schedule and how much?

IMO a 25 gallon tank can be run with NO filtering at all (just a heater/powerhead) and simply using weekly water changes of 5 gallons or so should be more than sufficient to keep parameters where they should be.. even more so with only 1 fish..

But everyone buys into the "marketing" fluff..

And waiting 30 days isn't a good idea either.. Thats plenty of time for "crap" that gets into the filters to decompose and release "nitrates" right back into the tank..
I wouldn't go more than 1 week between cleanings..

Reybeast · 08/01/2016, 12:31 PM

I do 5 gallons a week, but even so the Nitrates just wont drop. I thought it was my test kit, so I bought another brand. Then I went to 2 different LFS and they get the same readings. i thought the skimmer/filtration in the Fluval M60 wasnt good enough, hence the G3 filter. Then I added the Katalyst, still no improvement. I saw one person post that the black aragonite sand was too deep in his tank and his nitrates dropped after removing much of it, and since I also had the black aragonite, I too reduced the sand bed thickness. I am just surprised at the amount of crud on the G-nodes. I have engaged Fluval, but the person I am working with is still waiting on their "experts" to perhaps explain why the g-nodes are so dirty looking. She said it was not normal. Oh, and I tried vodka dosing, which did reduce the Nitrates to about half, but then red algae started to bloom, which is a known side effect.

mcgyvr · 08/01/2016, 05:06 PM

I use vinegar instead of vodka.. Vinegar doesn't seem to cause cyano like vodka does..

Do a bigger water change.. Change out 50% and nitrate levels should basically be cut in half.. Then see if they are still increasing with your regular 5G changes..

08/01/2016, 12:07 PM	#1
Reybeast Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Austin, Tx Posts: 5	Fluval G3 Howdy, I have a Fluval G3 filtration unit on my Fluval M60 (25 gallon tank). it has a filter cartridge that is to be cleaned every 30 days. I have had the unit for 18 weeks and have cleaned the filter about every 25 days. I have one small fish and I dont feed much, so there is not a big bio load, nor do I have algae problems. The question I have is that the g-nodes look really dirty. I was surprised at how dirty they were . I have struggled with high Nitrates (40ppm) even before I had the G3 filter, but I really expected the G3's Nitrate cartridge to reduce or eliminate the Nitrates in coordination with a Phosban 150 running Katalyst denitrator pellets, but this has not been the case. i recently reduced the depth of my sand bed as well, its about 1/4 inch at this time. Does anyone else have one of these G3 or G6 units and did your g-nodes look like this at any point? http://www.austinreefclub.com/upload...1470074083.jpg

08/01/2016, 12:16 PM	#2
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	For the most part that stuff is pretty much useless.. They aren't magic like the sales literature makes you believe.. Do you perform water changes? on what schedule and how much? IMO a 25 gallon tank can be run with NO filtering at all (just a heater/powerhead) and simply using weekly water changes of 5 gallons or so should be more than sufficient to keep parameters where they should be.. even more so with only 1 fish.. But everyone buys into the "marketing" fluff.. And waiting 30 days isn't a good idea either.. Thats plenty of time for "crap" that gets into the filters to decompose and release "nitrates" right back into the tank.. I wouldn't go more than 1 week between cleanings.. __________________ Who me?

08/01/2016, 05:06 PM	#4
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	I use vinegar instead of vodka.. Vinegar doesn't seem to cause cyano like vodka does.. Do a bigger water change.. Change out 50% and nitrate levels should basically be cut in half.. Then see if they are still increasing with your regular 5G changes.. __________________ Who me?

08/01/2016, 12:31 PM	#3
Reybeast Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Austin, Tx Posts: 5	I do 5 gallons a week, but even so the Nitrates just wont drop. I thought it was my test kit, so I bought another brand. Then I went to 2 different LFS and they get the same readings. i thought the skimmer/filtration in the Fluval M60 wasnt good enough, hence the G3 filter. Then I added the Katalyst, still no improvement. I saw one person post that the black aragonite sand was too deep in his tank and his nitrates dropped after removing much of it, and since I also had the black aragonite, I too reduced the sand bed thickness. I am just surprised at the amount of crud on the G-nodes. I have engaged Fluval, but the person I am working with is still waiting on their "experts" to perhaps explain why the g-nodes are so dirty looking. She said it was not normal. Oh, and I tried vodka dosing, which did reduce the Nitrates to about half, but then red algae started to bloom, which is a known side effect.