filter media

[jc]

Does anyone not use filter material? I used to run my 90 gallon without any filter floss or bag. I recently ran out of filter for my wet/dry (no bioballs) and can't see how it would hurt. Won't the food particles just go back into the tank anyway?

[reeferRob]

Was wondering that myself, I've tried them thick 100 micron bags but they clog in 1 or 2 days then the water just flows over the top rim. I am not currently using any mechanical filtration and haven't the entire 1st year of this setup. :unsure

However once I get my new stand and sump/fuge setup I will add another Overflow and then plan to setup some sort of mech filtratipn

[Chicken_Eye]

The only mechanical filtration I have on my tank is the sponge on my Mag 9.5 return pump. I just have to make sure I take it out at least once every couple of weeks and clean it so it does not become a nitrate factory

[erick]

I use some of that white filter pad from petsmart..... Thats it! I have it in my trickle filter, right below the tank drain...Change it about every 2 weeks.

[jc]

I used to use the filter pads. My thinking is that the particles that are trapped by the pad are just broken down into smaller pieces by the flowing water. Imagine if a big piece of food winds up on the pad and hundreds of gallons of water are flowing over it all day long. Wouldn't that make the food break down and re-enter the tank anyway? I think it would be better if the large piece was able to make its way back into the tank. That way something might be able to eat it.

[jroescher]

I use a filter pad for about a week, maybe once a month.

I put a polyfil block in my bubble trap in the sump. It takes about a week to get completely clogged. When the water starts to to back up on top of the pad I I know it's time to remove it. It also changes from bright white to brown as it clogs.

I get the poyfil blocks at Wal-Mart, in the fabric section. They are used to make pillows. Cut it to size with scissors for a tight fit. I get 4 pads from a block with some left over.

When I pull the pad out, it's inhabitated with thousands of pods.