Filter Media

sweat90lx

sweat90lx

Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by travelerjp98 http:///t/392519/filter-media/20#post_3486634
I have macros. And I don't even know what my reading are. Last time I did a water test was in January!
I read the thread and this was all I will remember. HAHA
I have a HOB filter with the filters and polyfill. I am still trying to figure out when changing them out works the best for me, so this thread is very helpful.
 
travelerjp98

travelerjp98

Active Member
I read the thread and this was all I will remember. HAHA
I have a HOB filter with the filters and polyfill. I am still trying to figure out when changing them out works the best for me, so this thread is very helpful.
Haha, I hope you're not a noob! I'm a bad example, don't follow what I do! Lol.
Edit: I'm glad that this thread is helpful to you (and hopefully others too lol). There's so many threads out there with water change schedules, I thought why not make one about filter media schedules.
 
reefkprz

reefkprz

Active Member
of course the way I run my current tank is not the way I have run all my tanks. some have been 1lb of lr per gallon others up to 2 or even 3 lbs per gallon, and every typeo f filter imaginable from canister to HOB cheapo to wet dry. I have aqlways been fond of sumps whenever possible I have done shallow sand beds to deep. my current tank I feel I have taken most of my favorite features of my old tanks and blended them together. plus a few new steps like the scrubber. I have never been opposed to trying new things on my tanks, like when I went from tap water (yup used it for several years) to RO.
my reccomendation is to use the blend that works best for you filtration wise between ease of maintinence and effectiveness. if your not having the time to properly maintain your filter ,media you will wind upp with problems. like say a filter sock too long between cleanings just becomes a source of trapped detritus same thing with polyfilters, or any mechanical filtration.
 
sweatervest13

sweatervest13

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by travelerjp98 http:///t/392519/filter-media/20#post_3486727
When you throw the old stuff out, do you worry about loosing nitrifying bacteria.
Same with Bob, because the materials been there for 3-6 months, the bacteria has obviously had time to populate the material... so do you notice any spike in nitrite or anything after you throw the old stuff out?
No more then when one would change out a filter sock. Only difference is that you don't throw out the filter sock. That's why I want to try a thicker material, to wash between uses instead of just tossing out.
Plus, its a big system with a good amount of LR and a large sump with LR as well.
 
wild man

wild man

Member
Well, it has been one day, but I am impressed on how much stuff the felt pad has caught already. I have had a problem with fine particles of sand they seem to constantly float around my system. So I needed something better to catch it because it was passing right through the blue/white pads. Below is a picture of what it has caught already that would have passed right through otherwise. Plus it doesn't show any signs of clogging yet with good even flow through it.
 
novahobbies

novahobbies

Well-Known Member
I use the quilting padding from Walmart also. It's cheap, it works, so why mess around? I use two sheets cut to size in my horse tank's filter area, usually change out the top sheet every two weeks and the bottom sheet (which acts more like biofilter) every month, unless it's really dirty for some reason. They're easy to tell - if it's still white, it's fine. If there's too much grey, then out it goes.
 
travelerjp98

travelerjp98

Active Member

No more then when one would change out a filter sock.  Only difference is that you don't throw out the filter sock.  That's why I want to try a thicker material, to wash between uses instead of just tossing out. 
Plus, its a big system with a good amount of LR and a large sump with LR as well. 
Alrighty that sounds pretty good.
Well, it has been one day, but I am impressed on how much stuff the felt pad has caught already. I have had a problem with fine particles of sand they seem to constantly float around my system. So I needed something better to catch it because it was passing right through the blue/white pads. Below is a picture of what it has caught already that would have passed right through otherwise. Plus it doesn't show any signs of clogging yet with good even flow through it.

Looks great!
I use the quilting padding from Walmart also.  It's cheap, it works, so why mess around?  I use two sheets cut to size in my horse tank's filter area, usually change out the top sheet every two weeks and the bottom sheet (which acts more like biofilter) every month, unless it's really dirty for some reason.  They're easy to tell - if it's still white, it's fine.  If there's too much grey, then out it goes.
Are "quilting sheets" the thin white material that has heat activated glue on the one side (such as an iron), used in sewing? If so, wouldn't you be concerned about toxic chemicals from the glue? Or am I just talking about an entirely different thing, lol? It just looks like the thing I'm talking about from the pics above.
 
sweatervest13

sweatervest13

Active Member
Quote:
Are "quilting sheets" the thin white material that has heat activated glue on the one side (such as an iron), used in sewing? If so, wouldn't you be concerned about toxic chemicals from the glue? Or am I just talking about an entirely different thing, lol? It just looks like the thing I'm talking about from the pics above.
The stuff I use does not have any glue on it. At least I don't think it does. Now I have to check it when I get home. I have cut enough of it to remember that it did not jump out at me if there is glue on it.
Good looking out Traveler!!
Okay, I did some research. Poly-fil can come regular or bonded. Cut and Pasted from Joann fabric web page.
Low-Loft Batting is lightweight and perfect for accomplishing the tiny hand stitches quilters demand. The loft is approximately 1/4'' to 3/8''. Low loft batting is bonded, meaning a light resin coating has been applied to both sides of the batting to maintain its light, airy appearance while binding the fibers together to resist fiber migration. Measures: 81'' x 96'' (full size). Made in USA.
Is this what you are talking about Traveler???
 
travelerjp98

travelerjp98

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Wild Man http:///t/392519/filter-media/40#post_3486840
Well, it has been one day, but I am impressed on how much stuff the felt pad has caught already. I have had a problem with fine particles of sand they seem to constantly float around my system. So I needed something better to catch it because it was passing right through the blue/white pads. Below is a picture of what it has caught already that would have passed right through otherwise. Plus it doesn't show any signs of clogging yet with good even flow through it.

This stuff looks just like the material that has glue on the one side.
When we were talking about Poly-Fil, thought y'all meant pillow stuffing that looked like this:

Quote:
Originally Posted by sweatervest13 http:///t/392519/filter-media/40#post_3486898
The stuff I use does not have any glue on it. At least I don't think it does. Now I have to check it when I get home. I have cut enough of it to remember that it did not jump out at me if there is glue on it.
Good looking out Traveler!!
Okay, I did some research. Poly-fil can come regular or bonded. Cut and Pasted from Joann fabric web page.
Low-Loft Batting is lightweight and perfect for accomplishing the tiny hand stitches quilters demand. The loft is approximately 1/4'' to 3/8''. Low loft batting is bonded, meaning a light resin coating has been applied to both sides of the batting to maintain its light, airy appearance while binding the fibers together to resist fiber migration. Measures: 81'' x 96'' (full size). Made in USA.
Is this what you are talking about Traveler???
I would also be concerned about the Low Loft batting with resin, lol.
But... no... I am not talking about that.
IF anyone sews on here, I really need your help because the name escapes me but it looks just like the material that Wild Man uses.
To describe it... it's coarser on one side than it is on the other, the other side is smoother because it has the glue on it. (Or maybe the other side is coarse because it has glue on it - I don't know...). You kind of use it like a backing, and you iron it onto the back of a sewing project sometimes (like patchwork), to strengthen the back/keep it all in one place. The glue is activated by the heat so you wouldn't even know if it was on the material or not. It has a name to it, but I believe that it is sold just like any other fiber... or maybe in a bag.... regardless, nothing that would really make it look so different that you could easily not notice.
And thank you, I feel like I'm finally helping/getting onto something interesting here!!!
 
wild man

wild man

Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by travelerjp98 http:///t/392519/filter-media/40#post_3486938
This stuff looks just like the material that has glue on the one side.
When we were talking about Poly-Fil, thought y'all meant pillow stuffing that looked like this:

I would also be concerned about the Low Loft batting with resin, lol.
But... no... I am not talking about that.
IF anyone sews on here, I really need your help because the name escapes me but it looks just like the material that Wild Man uses.
To describe it... it's coarser on one side than it is on the other, the other side is smoother because it has the glue on it. (Or maybe the other side is coarse because it has glue on it - I don't know...). You kind of use it like a backing, and you iron it onto the back of a sewing project sometimes (like patchwork), to strengthen the back/keep it all in one place. The glue is activated by the heat so you wouldn't even know if it was on the material or not. It has a name to it, but I believe that it is sold just like any other fiber... or maybe in a bag.... regardless, nothing that would really make it look so different that you could easily not notice.
And thank you, I feel like I'm finally helping/getting onto something interesting here!!!
The stuff I bought is just regular acrylic felt, it is the same on both sides. The stuff you are thinking about is called bonded felt or bondable felt. Bonded felt is made to adhere to another piece of fabric when a hot iron is applied to it.
 
wild man

wild man

Member
It's been running a week now and worked great. A layer of the blue/white on top and felt underneath it. It has made my water crystal clear and taken all those fine particles out of the system. I will be changing it out today. Two thumbs up!!
 
travelerjp98

travelerjp98

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Wild Man http:///t/392519/filter-media/40#post_3487953
It's been running a week now and worked great. A layer of the blue/white on top and felt underneath it. It has made my water crystal clear and taken all those fine particles out of the system. I will be changing it out today. Two thumbs up!!
Sounds good!!!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by SnakeBlitz33 http:///t/392519/filter-media/40#post_3488023
Where would you purchase this acrylic felt?
Jo-Ann or any fabric/sewing store
 
travelerjp98

travelerjp98

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Wild Man http:///t/392519/filter-media/40#post_3486954
The stuff I bought is just regular acrylic felt, it is the same on both sides. The stuff you are thinking about is called bonded felt or bondable felt. Bonded felt is made to adhere to another piece of fabric when a hot iron is applied to it.
Thank you so much... this is EXACTLY what I was thinking of!
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by morgan175 http:///t/392519/filter-media/40#post_3489690
See I don't have to test my water flower traveler doesn't.
Hi...LOL..I know you are kidding. I HOPE anyway.
When you have good growing macroalgae and harvest regularly, it's pretty much a given that nitrate and phosphate tests will read 0, and macros are a sure fire cure for the water quality blues...
If you have a refugium that's a great place for macros and as an added bonus pods love to live in the stuff...there are some very pretty macros that can be placed in the DT, however macros overgrow and could sufficate corals, so you have to be picky and know what kind of macros you are introducing into your tank.
 
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