Alt uses for a Fluval

[dmitry]

So, I am running a Fluval 304 on my 29G tank, but on the advice of a lot of people am considering it may not be the best thing on a salt-water tank. (Why is it a good thing for a fresh-water tank, btw?) Anyway, since I did spend all this money on it...is there anything else I could still use it for? It adds nicely to the water-flow, for one. Perhaps it'd be a good idea to wrap a stocking around the in-take tube to keep any debris from going in and keeping bio media and carbon inside for biological filtration? And for all those people who don't have mechanical filters, what do you do about all the "trash" in your tank? Is siphoning the only option?

 

[reefnut]

You can run it and just put in carbon and phosphate removers... etc. Just keep it clean.
The "trash" or debris can be mainly removed by cleaner crews. Also blowing off the rocks to suspend the debris will help feed the corals.

 

[squidd]

I run mine "occasionally"...meaning..
Once a month or so I stuff it full of carbon, or filter floss (or both) and run it for 24-48 hours on the tank...Really polishs and clears the water... This is also when I do a through cleaning of glass and blow crud off the rocks...(more than basic MagFloat) so it gets "sucked up" at the same time...
Then I take it down and clean it out for next time (or next tank)...
That way the "skuzz" gets trapped and cleaned but it doesn't sit week after week decomposing and adding to bioload/nitrAtes...
I tried the whole "Oh, I'll clean it every week...I Promise"... routine...
Doesn't happen...don't kid yourself...

 

[450rguy]

Want to sell it? I got trash in my FW I need to get rid of! If not, you could just let it run empty just to create current, and use bio media when needed.

 

[reefraff]

I've heard of a few people using Fluvals and other power filters with small peices of live rock in them instead of filter material. Couldn't hurt.

 

[dmitry]

I think I'll hang on the Fluval (thanks for the offer, though!) and put a filter bag over the intake tube to keep debris from going in. I'll put in some coral sand into the chambers or something like that?? Maybe a couple of pieces of LR I have in my QT tank at the moment. (I have dosed the tank with MelaFix, but as I understand it MelaFix is invert-safe.) Anyway, if debris isn't going in it won't rot inside and just keep flowing clean...
BTW, it's a question I've asked several times here and have never received a response: are coral sand and crushed coral the same thing?? The bags of the stuff I bought and have in my tank were labeled "coral sand" and I've seen used in books on saltwater fish-keeping as two different things, but just want to make sure...!

 

[cynelson]

I would assume coral sand would be crushed coral and "sand" sand (LOL) would be like ocean sand (crushed coral shell etc?)? Just an idea. Hey, I was wondering....I have a fluval on a 55 that I'm running goldfish on right now, (I know right?! LOL...OOh, fancy), but I'd like to convert it to sw. I have a 55 sw setup in the kitchen. I wasn't quite understanding if you were saying you can or can't use the fluval as a primary filtration system?

 

[cynelson]

I would assume coral sand would be crushed coral and "sand" sand (LOL) would be like ocean sand (crushed coral shell etc?)? Just an idea. Hey, I was wondering....I have a fluval on a 55 that I'm running goldfish on right now, (I know right?! LOL...OOh, fancy), but I'd like to convert it to sw. I have a 55 sw setup in the kitchen. I wasn't quite understanding if you were saying you can or can't use the fluval as a primary filtration system?

 

[dmitry]

No, I don't think a Fluval can be used a primary filtration device in a salt-water tank. The two essentials are live rock and a protein skimmer. My Fluval was going to be just an addition to the first two. I opened it today and cleaned it out and it was filthy - it usually is. So, I think not running it as a filter is a good idea. I'll put some live rock in there, carbon, and a bag or two of coral sand for biological filtration. I've already put some foam into end of the in-take tube, so hopefully nothing will get through inside!
The coral sand is not a combination of crushed coral and sand. And it's certainly not finely crushed, so it isn't sand. I guess it must be somewhere in between! I'm still hunting for an answer on that one!

 

[sw65galma]

I've had a fluval 304 on my 46 for a year...and the people that had the tank before me had it on there for 1 year prior and My water couldnt' be any better. It's the least maintenece tank i've had ever! It also has an emporer 400 filter on there as well.

 

[ginalynn]

Originally Posted by sw65galma
I've had a fluval 304 on my 46 for a year...and the people that had the tank before me had it on there for 1 year prior and My water couldnt' be any better. It's the least maintenece tank i've had ever! It also has an emporer 400 filter on there as well.

What do you do about changing carbon filters and what not then. I am kind of confused on the whole filter thing. Do you even need a filter if you have a protein skimmer? What is the idea behind it?

 

[dmitry]

When I opened the filter a few days ago (it ran for probably about 5 weeks) it was filthy and stunk! Cleaning it out every couple of weeks just isn't feasible for me and leaving it to rot like that isn't an option anymore! I guess all the suspended matter in the water it captures should be taken care of by the clean-up crew. And with a skimmer and live rock, what else might one need? Although, I will still use the filter for running carbon and put in some live rock inside to aid the biological filtration.