Mechanical/Biological/Chemical Filtrations

kiMxD · 03/26/2018, 08:15 AM

Hello Folks,

I'd like to get some info on how often you do your maintenance on your:
- Mechanical Filtration System;
- Biological Filtration System;
- Chemical Filtration System.

This is because I have a reactor with ChemiPure and my sump with regular mechanical filtration and I am not sure how often to clean/change media and etc.

Any help will be very much appreciated, even better if you could post your maintenance schedule and how often it is performed!

Thank you so much!

mcgyvr · 03/26/2018, 08:30 AM

I don't have mechanical filtration..
I don't touch my biological filtration system (sand bed/rock)..
As for chemical...I dump the skimmer cup as needed (roughly weekly or so) and change my carbon (which I'm only running because I have a bunch of softies and am hoping it might help with any toxicity release issues) roughly every few months or so..
I haven't done a water change in 8+ months either.. Tank is a little over a year old now.. But most everything in it was in a smaller tank (upgrade) that had been up for 3+ years or more..

So I'm clearly one side of extreme..

kiMxD · 03/26/2018, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcgyvr

I don't have mechanical filtration..
I don't touch my biological filtration system (sand bed/rock)..
As for chemical...I dump the skimmer cup as needed (roughly weekly or so) and change my carbon (which I'm only running because I have a bunch of softies and am hoping it might help with any toxicity release issues) roughly every few months or so..
I haven't done a water change in 8+ months either.. Tank is a little over a year old now.. But most everything in it was in a smaller tank (upgrade) that had been up for 3+ years or more..

So I'm clearly one side of extreme..

That's interesting, what other corals do you keep on this regimen?
Since you don't do water changes, do you only top it off? Do you dose anything?

Thanks!

mcgyvr · 03/26/2018, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kiMxD

That's interesting, what other corals do you keep on this regimen?
Since you don't do water changes, do you only top it off? Do you dose anything?

Thanks!

I have all sorts of corals.. softies/LPS and SPS (easy SPS though birds nest/pocillpora,etc..).. Also have urchins/cucmbers/fish,etc..
I most certainly top off and yes I dose alk/cal/mag (mag as needed the other 2 via dosing pumps)

As I don't have much time to invest in my tank I have avoided more expensive SPS but could probably grow them just fine too if I tried..

I have not taken a whole tank shot picture of my tank in a long time but took this the other day..

nereefpat · 03/26/2018, 09:17 AM

Most of you guys would laugh at my caveman-like setup.

Mechanical: N.A. unless you count elbow grease, scrubbing, syphoning during water changes

Biological: Live rock, fuge with chaeto

Chemical: Sometimes carbon, skimmer

RobZilla04 · 03/26/2018, 09:30 AM

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...ht=maintenance

billdogg · 03/26/2018, 02:45 PM

No mechanical filtration for me either.
I do use both carbon, because I always have, and it does help with DOC's, and GFO due to a persistent battle with a little bit of GHA and bubble algae.
I don't mess with the biological filtration other than an occasional bit of sand siphoning (another because I always have)
Water changes about every 6-8 weeks, dosing of Ca, Alk via dosing pumps, Mg as needed via the dump it in the sump method.

Fraq · 03/28/2018, 02:53 PM

I would recommend doing weekly changes of your filtration. I have socks and sump mechanical filtration that I swap together on a weekly basis. I have 3 sets of each, so i can change them immediately then wash the 2 other sets.

03/26/2018, 08:15 AM	#1
kiMxD Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2018 Posts: 149	Mechanical/Biological/Chemical Filtrations Hello Folks, I'd like to get some info on how often you do your maintenance on your: - Mechanical Filtration System; - Biological Filtration System; - Chemical Filtration System. This is because I have a reactor with ChemiPure and my sump with regular mechanical filtration and I am not sure how often to clean/change media and etc. Any help will be very much appreciated, even better if you could post your maintenance schedule and how often it is performed! Thank you so much!

03/26/2018, 08:30 AM	#2
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	I don't have mechanical filtration.. I don't touch my biological filtration system (sand bed/rock).. As for chemical...I dump the skimmer cup as needed (roughly weekly or so) and change my carbon (which I'm only running because I have a bunch of softies and am hoping it might help with any toxicity release issues) roughly every few months or so.. I haven't done a water change in 8+ months either.. Tank is a little over a year old now.. But most everything in it was in a smaller tank (upgrade) that had been up for 3+ years or more.. So I'm clearly one side of extreme.. __________________ Who me?

03/26/2018, 09:17 AM	#5
nereefpat Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Central Nebraska Posts: 3,190	Most of you guys would laugh at my caveman-like setup. Mechanical: N.A. unless you count elbow grease, scrubbing, syphoning during water changes Biological: Live rock, fuge with chaeto Chemical: Sometimes carbon, skimmer __________________ Pat Current Tank Info: 125 in-wall , 40b sump. 6 bulb T5. ASM G2 skimmer. LPS and leathers

03/26/2018, 09:30 AM	#6
RobZilla04 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: St. Augustine, FL Posts: 1,857	http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...ht=maintenance __________________ 90g Mixed Reef

03/26/2018, 02:45 PM	#7
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	No mechanical filtration for me either. I do use both carbon, because I always have, and it does help with DOC's, and GFO due to a persistent battle with a little bit of GHA and bubble algae. I don't mess with the biological filtration other than an occasional bit of sand siphoning (another because I always have) Water changes about every 6-8 weeks, dosing of Ca, Alk via dosing pumps, Mg as needed via the dump it in the sump method. __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

03/28/2018, 02:53 PM	#8
Fraq Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 52	I would recommend doing weekly changes of your filtration. I have socks and sump mechanical filtration that I swap together on a weekly basis. I have 3 sets of each, so i can change them immediately then wash the 2 other sets.