trying to find right filter media

[tangmang23]

Hey all,

Just a quick question about filter media. Im trying to find some carbon and Phosphate removing media that is cylinder, not granular, for my reactors. The granular version is so dang messy that I never want to change it. I need something that is a bit more user friendly. I know they make carbon in this form, because its what petsmart uses, but were do I find it. Somebody help me out here lol, Oh I'm also getting Hair algae ...

[firsthesitation]

I've been using Seagel since I setup my Two Little Fishies Reactor, I really like it, that does carbon/phosphate filtering.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...fm?pcatid=4200

[Jnicho]

Can't help ya with local...but bulkreefsupply sells GFO in pellets like what you're looking for.

[bcrum51]

need to first figure out where the phosphates are coming from media seems to act as a band-aid alot of the times

[schneijt]

Originally Posted by bcrum51

need to first figure out where the phosphates are coming from media seems to act as a band-aid alot of the times

That's not the problem. He's trying to find a phosphate remover that isn't as messy as the finely pulverized GFO.

Nick, I think the larger pellets of GFO from BRS are your best bet, and probably the most cost effective.

0Joe

[tangmang23]

Alright, now for the carbon, same brand by chance?? Ive looked but no description clearly says large pellets etc, not that i can see anyways. I did read up on the seagel but it almost sounded as if they were tiny pellets. Just trying to avoid purchased stuff i wont be able to use lol. I know my phosphate and nitrate climb faster then normal, and im sure its due to my feeding. Heres my issue though, i seem to lose fish due to under feeding, so i rather go a bit over board and ensure i dont keep losing 50 dollar fish because i only feed everyother or every 3rd day. it was a toss up and i have yet to find a regiment that works on both ends, reduced pollutants in the tank, and healthy growing fish. Thats probably why i ask so many food questions lol. Anyways, ill give the GFO from bulkreefsupply.com to try and see if its any cleaner and easy to use lol. thanks all. Any more recommendations, please chime in.

[schneijt]

I know that BRS offers two sizes of carbon, but the larger size is the size that we're used to in the hobby... The smaller stuff is more like a powder, and it's more efficient since it has more surface area in a smaller volume, blah blah blah.... Anyway, I don't think you'll find carbon any larger than the large size offered by BRS. And carbon is far less messy than the non-pellet GFO.

What's the "mess" you're having with carbon and GFO? Are you running it in a reactor? As long as you don't have too much flow going through it, you shouldn't be having trouble with it pulverizing itself and releasing tiny particles into your tank. Or are you talking about it being messy when you have to replace it and take it out of the reactor or whatever? I mean, it's going to be a bit messy no matter what, but larger granular size of the GFO and carbon would definitely make cleaning it out and replacing it a less messy effort.

Anyway, I feed a pretty liberal amount every day and have no problems with nutrients. How's your AquaC doing as far as production? How's your biological filtration? Do you have enough flow in your display tank to make sure that everything stays suspended and has a chance to get skimmed out? Do you run a filter sock to catch and remove some of the crap from the water that you change every few days to a week?

-Joe

[tangmang23]

well the AquaC is doing pretty well. I get about a gallon a week. Im not sure if this is superb or just average, nothing to compare it to from the past. Flow: 2 koralia #2's and then the mag 18 for return, so its low as far as turnover goes. I purchased Zach's Koralia 4, just using it in the 55 for now, as i have major cyano in there, new tank and all. Also no skimmer on that beast as of yet. cant find a decent used Hang on skimmer that will work. Plus i dont do as much water changes on it as i should be without a skimmer. O well, it just a low saline treatment tank for the most part anyway.

[schneijt]

In a tank as big as yours, I think adding a couple K4's would really help you out. I think you may have some detritus settling into the rocks/sand due to perhaps not having enough flow to keep it in suspension. As far as skimmate, I don't think it's about "amount" so much as quality. And it really depends on what you're putting into the tank vs what you're pulling out of the tank. Anyway..... Sounds like you're skimming decently. That said, I wonder if you're losing efficiency of your skimmer by having such a huge amount of water go through your sump every hour. I mean, 1800gph is a LOT of flow through your sump, even once you factor in head loss and such. I'm a big proponent of getting flow in your tank via circulation pumps instead of trying to use the return pump to provide lots of flow in the tank.

So, let's wrap it up...lol

Get the largest GFO and carbon that you can from BRS and let us know it's what you were kinda looking for. And there's no reason to NOT be feeding every day... I'd be feeding every day, if not twice per day. How concerned are you about a nutrient problem in your tank? I mean, if you're skimming well and have quality live rock and such, I just can't see what the problem would be for high nutrients.

If you do worry about nutrients, have you considered dosing bacteria, such as MB7? You can dose bacteria without dosing vodka or another carbon source. And if you want to take it another step further, dosing the vodka helps the bacteria by giving them a food source so that they can consume even more nitrate/organics/etc from your tank. Look into bacteria/carbon dosing and see if it might be something that you're interested in trying--it could be a godsend if you're having persistent nutrient problems.

-Joe

[tangmang23]

I was actually considering asking you how the MB7 works. From the sounds of your typings it works pretty well. Where do you recommend getting MB7?? Also does any kind of Vodka work? let me know. I will dial down the pump a bit. It was the most recommended size so its what i went with. If i could run 1800gph through a skimmer i would switch the two pumps. When funds are better Ill consider purchasing a nother Koralia 4. Anything else you'd recommend??

[schneijt]

Well, MB7 is a liquid that contains billions of bacteria. The bacteria break down nutrients/nitrate/nitrite/ammonia/etc. Dosing the bacteria allows it to help break down and remove nutrients from your tank. Note: you need a good skimmer, since the skimmer is what pulls out all the crap the MB7 breaks down and "consumes."

The reason people dose vodka (any type, or you can even use Everclear etc) or VSV (a blend of vodka, sugar, and vinegar) or any other type of carbon source, is that adding a little bit of carbon provides "food" for the bacteria, allowing the bacteria to even further reduce nutrients in the tank. The terms "ULNS" is used, meaning ultra low nutrient system, which is what results once you fine-tune your dosing of bacteria and carbon.

In your case, I think just MB7 will help you out a lot with nutrients. And over time you might decide you want to slowly introduce a carbon source as well.

-Joe

[tangmang23]

were can i get this MB7. If you say its a good idea then try it I will lol.

[schneijt]

I'm not sure of anyone locally that sells it, unless you were to drive to the Cities maybe. DFS sells it, as does Premium Aquatics, etc... DFS has a nice shipping deal through Christmas, so it's probably cheapest to order from DFS right now.

-Joe

[tangmang23]

okay Joe, thanks for all your help on this. Ill be in touch im sure with questions lol.

[schneijt]

For what it's worth... The 12oz bottle I bought up at DFS is not almost gone, and I'm just finishing up my first two weeks of the "high volume" dosing. Assuming I have ~100gal total volume, 12oz lasted me just over two weeks. So, you'll use a LOT of MB7 at first when you start dosing! The recommended dose after the first two weeks is half of what you first have to dose, but if you dose a carbon source along with the bacteria, you actually cut back and dose only a small fraction of what the non-carbon maintenance dose would be.

So, Nick, be prepared to go through a couple bottles of MB7 over the next few weeks, until you find a "maintenance dose" for your tank.

-Joe