filter material

[JimD]

"I would definately not use filter floss of any kind, "

Umm, Mikey ole boy, Does that statement appear to be telling others to definately not use the stuff? No, It mearly states that "I" would not use it, you can do whatever you want, I really dont care. Not a bold statement at all, Its all in the way YOU interpret it. To say that your tank looks as nice as mine is a rather arrogant statement since youve never seen my tank in preson, right? Now THATS a bold statement! lol

[OceanInMotion]

ok. like others, i run carbon for a day after water changes. filter floss is ok for when you want to trap big stuff quickly. have you ever stuck filter floss in a canister filter, or a HOB filter, and cleaned it out say.... 3 weeks later? its NASTY! thats why i wouldnt keep filter floss on 24/7.

personally, i run a canister filter (for now) with tons of LR rubble and one of those blue/white pads. theyre kinda spongey, but they dont get gunked up like regular filter floss will.

if you want crystal clear water, think about running a UV steralizer. when i ran one, WOW my water was clear. now, not so much.

i need to get another one of those..

[D.Barta]

I,m limited on cash so the only my only filter is the emp.400 rite now its running with nothing in it so if I put rubble in both sides would I need to put a little lite over it and once i put rubble in it do I just leave it alone.I also thought about rubble on one side and filter floss on other which i would clean often and replace with new everyother week or so.Ido have about 25 pounds of LR in the tank.

[jehudson]

Sorry D. Barta ... Second time I've inserted a question ... won't happen again.

I've been running carbon constantly on a rotating basis 24/7 for a year now. I read that I should change half of it about every 4 - 6 weeks to preserve some of the bacteria that's grown on it (reef keeping book ... don’t remember the name off the top of my head). I've read just enough to make me dangerous ... but I'm still reading in hopes of wisdom. I keep two filter bags with about half a pound each and I replenish one of them at every water change. Is this another huge mistake I've been making for a long time? It seems as though there some very strong points of view on this issue so I'm pretty confused about it now.

[OceanInMotion]

I,m limited on cash so the only my only filter is the emp.400 rite now its running with nothing in it so if I put rubble in both sides would I need to put a little lite over it and once i put rubble in it do I just leave it alone.I also thought about rubble on one side and filter floss on other which i would clean often and replace with new everyother week or so.Ido have about 25 pounds of LR in the tank.

no, you dont need any lights on the rubble you put in the filter. it wont grow coraline on it, but the bacteria will still live in it.

[JimD]

"no, you dont need any lights on the rubble you put in the filter. it wont grow coraline on it, but the bacteria will still live in it."

Then it wont be a refugium, the purpose of a refugium it to grow macro algae such as Chaetomorpha to be used as nutrient export to help in the control of excess nitrarates. Youll basicly have a small, hang on sump.