Good or Bad Advice

djcanis

djcanis

Member
Just got back from the LFS, got more LR for the tank, almost done, anyway, I have a 30 gal with a crappy wisper filter that came with the tank. The Guy at the shop suggested I take out the black sponge pad as well as change the filter and leave out the charcoal. Basically leaving only the white cloth bag in the filter. Is this true or not. Just wondering. He said it will compete with the LR for the bacteria and the filter will win.
Any suggestions. Thanks
 
tthemadd1

tthemadd1

Active Member
Well I dont agree that it will take the bacteria away from the LR. The LR is in the tank and the filter is not. You have tons of bacteria in a tank. Not sure what the black sponge would take out. The bacteria is what lives on all the surfaces. It helps breakdown waste so I wouldnt worry about it. It might slow down your GPH but not sure.
 
airforceb2

airforceb2

Active Member
I'd take out the "charcoal" carbon and just run the sponges. They won't effect your GPH very much at all and will allow bacteria colonies to grow in the holes in the sponge. Nothing will compete with your LR as they are doing the same thing...not opposite.
 
thegrog

thegrog

Active Member
I am running a whisper filter on my reef tank. Always have, always will. I use the sponges, the tetratech filter pads (not the pure white ones, the white and green ones) and carbon all the time. Water is always crisp and clear! There will always be little trace amounts of things in your tank (from your hands, pulled out of the air, trace contamination in food, the list goes on and on) that the carbon constantly pulls out of the water.
Keeping carbon running will never hurt your tank (as long as you change the pads regularly....like every 10-14 days), and it can only make it better.
As for competing with your LR bacteria, that is ignorance at it's best! There is plenty for all the bacteria in you tank and filter!
I am a fan of Whisper filters. Mine was running on a FW tank for nearly 15 years, and now it has been running on my reef for over 2. Never had a single problem. Only had to replace the rubber gasket on the motor once. If that is not reliable....I don't know what is. In addition, the filter pads are inexpensive, widely available, and a pretty good product.
 
celacanthr

celacanthr

Active Member
no you should be worried the bacteria will pack its bags and move to the malibu of your tank
geez i hate bad lfs
 
thegrog

thegrog

Active Member
Originally Posted by CELACANTHr
no you should be worried the bacteria will pack its bags and move to the malibu of your tank
geez i hate bad lfs
Why move to the tank when you have high-rises in the filter???? Can't beat the view!
 
djcanis

djcanis

Member
I'm confused, cause I looked through a bunch of posts and people talk about having enough LR that they don't need a filter. He hasn't tried to sell me fish, he made me buy more LR today. I still need more, I only have 22lbs in a 30 gallon tank, gonna finish off with another 20lbs in the next couple of weeks.
 
birdy

birdy

Active Member
Okay the issue with sponges in our tanks is that they accumulate junk, and they grow bacteria, these are both good, the bacteria turns nitrites into nitrates, if you do not clean those filter pads or have a good means of nitrate export then they will build in the aquarium, so most people recommend you do not use them if you have adequate LR.
IMO- If run HOB filters, I use carbon in mesh bags, they are very good for running carbon or phosphate material. Just rinse them in SALTWATER once a week and change out the carbon once a month.
 
scotts

scotts

Active Member
I have not used one of those filters for awhile but if I remember right part of the filter is supposed to have some bio aspect to it. So contrary to popular opinion I have to agree with the lfs. What you want is your tank to be balanced, so there is enough bacteria in your LR, substrate, whatever else in your tank so that it can take care of itself. If your tank is dependent on some of this bacteria in your filter then it can have ups and downs as you change your filter pads and clean your filter.
Scott
 
scotts

scotts

Active Member
That all depends on how long your tank has been set up. If you are cycling your tank you could remove the filter thingys now and let your tank cycle until your ammonia is 0. If your tank is set up then you could remove the filter and check your water readings. Kind of hard to tell without knowing more about your tank and frankly I did not wake up long ago and I am still trying to force coffee into my body.
Sctt
 
djcanis

djcanis

Member
30 gallon tank, 22 lbs of LR, 15lbs Crushed Coral, Been up since May, Just finished re-cycling a few days ago. Had the LFS test the water yesterday, Ammonia and Nitrites at 0, Nitrates around 30, Ph at 8.2 SG - 1.024, I got pods and bristle worms everywhere, current livestock, a sebae clown, a 4 stripe damsel and a blue damsel. Feeding frozen brine every other day, once in awhile a treat of flake food. Going to be ading the clean up crew shortly.
 
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