Removing Man Made Filter

Chago09 · 03/09/2008, 07:30 PM

Ok My old 77 gallon was set up with 90 lbs of live rock and a Rena Xp4 packed with ceramic rings. I had it set up with that when I didn't know any better.

Well I switched everything over to a 90 gallon and it has a sump which I didn't have with the 77 gallon. So I took all the same water added it to the 90 gallon then all the live rock. Then I through the Rena XP4 on it again just to be safe. Then I topped up the rest of the water.

Now I want this 90 to be a reef so I need to remove this XP4 correct?? How do I do this slowly without having a ammonia spike because I have fish in the tank from before.

1.) Can I run the XP4 on my basement sump so that it doesn't look ugly in my living room?? it would have the same effect right???

2.) How much ceramic rings can I remove at once and how often to remove more??? There is 2 sponges in the bottom and then 7 trays of the ceramic rings.

3.) Will the 90 lbs of mixed fiji and tonga branch be enough for bio filtration??? I was thinking of buying baserock and throwing it in my sump. This would not cause any cycle correct??? and would eventually be just as good as live rock??

Blown 346 · 03/09/2008, 08:16 PM

Your option 1 would work, yes it woul;d have the dsam effect, as long as its running with the same water that is in the main tank.

You can remove the ceramic rings without a spike, there wont be much bacteria on them to cause a problem. Or you can take out a small handfull weekly until they are gone.

The 90 LBS of rock will be enough to filtration but more wont hurt. The more the better.

Pure base rock that is dried out and dead wont cause a cycle. Yes it will be just as good as loverock in a few months. You could aslo add a few pieces of cured rock to the base rock to help seed it along.

03/09/2008, 07:30 PM	#1
Chago09 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Georgetown Posts: 1,132	Removing Man Made Filter Ok My old 77 gallon was set up with 90 lbs of live rock and a Rena Xp4 packed with ceramic rings. I had it set up with that when I didn't know any better. Well I switched everything over to a 90 gallon and it has a sump which I didn't have with the 77 gallon. So I took all the same water added it to the 90 gallon then all the live rock. Then I through the Rena XP4 on it again just to be safe. Then I topped up the rest of the water. Now I want this 90 to be a reef so I need to remove this XP4 correct?? How do I do this slowly without having a ammonia spike because I have fish in the tank from before. 1.) Can I run the XP4 on my basement sump so that it doesn't look ugly in my living room?? it would have the same effect right??? 2.) How much ceramic rings can I remove at once and how often to remove more??? There is 2 sponges in the bottom and then 7 trays of the ceramic rings. 3.) Will the 90 lbs of mixed fiji and tonga branch be enough for bio filtration??? I was thinking of buying baserock and throwing it in my sump. This would not cause any cycle correct??? and would eventually be just as good as live rock?? __________________ Currently no tank!

03/09/2008, 08:16 PM	#2
Blown 346 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Rockford, Illinois Posts: 6,596	Your option 1 would work, yes it woul;d have the dsam effect, as long as its running with the same water that is in the main tank. You can remove the ceramic rings without a spike, there wont be much bacteria on them to cause a problem. Or you can take out a small handfull weekly until they are gone. The 90 LBS of rock will be enough to filtration but more wont hurt. The more the better. Pure base rock that is dried out and dead wont cause a cycle. Yes it will be just as good as loverock in a few months. You could aslo add a few pieces of cured rock to the base rock to help seed it along.