Power Filters on a Reef
- Thread starter olsenjb
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steamboat1569
Member
I've been running my Emeror 400 power filter on my reef tank for 5 yrs. I don't want to do without it.
worm
Member
I don't run any type of mechanical filtering system on my 55. The only mechanical filter I have is a skimmer. My water is crystal clear! Although I have over 60lbs of LR and 60lbs of LS. My nitrates don't get above 20ppm! Why do you guys run a mechanical filter? <img src="graemlins//yeahright.gif" border="0" alt="[yeahright]" />
grayne
Member
The main reason I am using the powerfilter is because it is just a habit I kept from when my tank was fish only. I basically use mine for circulation (I know, a powerhead would do the same). I also like the ability of being able to use the media cartridges when I use carbon or anything else I might need. As far as it being a so called "nitrate factory", I am quite happy to say my nitrates have never climbed above 10 ppm and they are currently stable at 5 ppm. I have had tons of success with my DSB (5 inches) and LR (25 Lbs) keeping all the water parameters in check. Overall, I feel that the power filter is not really needed, but it has served its purpose well, and has never caused negative effects on my tank.
So to answer the question asked above about why would I use a Power Filter - It's because it works for me and until I personally find a reason not to use it, it will be staying put on my tank.
So to answer the question asked above about why would I use a Power Filter - It's because it works for me and until I personally find a reason not to use it, it will be staying put on my tank.
steamboat1569
Member
Very well put, Grayne!!
saltyrich
Active Member
I second that!!! Circulation. My Emperor 280 does just that. It turns the water over at 280 gals. per hour. Plus it has plenty of area for filter media should I choose. And my water is just beautiful. And by the way, my nitrates are 0-5 ppm, not 20. I think that it can only help. Shure you can get by with lr and ls, but why wouldn't you do as much for your tank as possible? By the way a skimmer does not serve as a filter anyway. You need both. Besides, if you don't want to run carbon (and this is a consideration that some entertain), you can get the filter inserts that are without it.
sal t. nutz
Member
Originally posted by golfish:
<strong>If you have enought LR and a good LS bed I don't see any need for it except to run carbon for a few days a month. If you see a rise in nitrates this is probably one of the problems</strong><hr></blockquote>
If you have enough LR and LS, running the power filter non-stop still won't cause a rise in Nitrates. No matter what anyone says, if a power filter creates Nitrates, the LR and LS will get rid of the Nitrates. Running a power filter without LR and LS may cause a rise in Nitrates, but if you didn't run the power filter, it would be all ammonia anyway, which is much worse. People really need to stop regurgitating the same "Crap" on this board. I am no expert by any mean, but so many people just keep repeating the same things they hear others saying on here, and it isn't true.
<strong>If you have enought LR and a good LS bed I don't see any need for it except to run carbon for a few days a month. If you see a rise in nitrates this is probably one of the problems</strong><hr></blockquote>
If you have enough LR and LS, running the power filter non-stop still won't cause a rise in Nitrates. No matter what anyone says, if a power filter creates Nitrates, the LR and LS will get rid of the Nitrates. Running a power filter without LR and LS may cause a rise in Nitrates, but if you didn't run the power filter, it would be all ammonia anyway, which is much worse. People really need to stop regurgitating the same "Crap" on this board. I am no expert by any mean, but so many people just keep repeating the same things they hear others saying on here, and it isn't true.
steamboat1569
Member
I never felt attacked. I was asked why, and Grayne summed it up. I figure that after 5 yrs. it has done nothing to hurt my system, why mess with it. It is bought and payed for and does a great job. There is nothing wrong with added filtration.
I have a question. How many people can trace a nitrate problem to an Emperor 400 if well maintained an filters cleaned and changed regularly, and carbon added every 5 to 6 weeks? And how many people are there that did not buy a power filter just because they "heard" it was bad, and never really tried it?
Worm, have you ever had one of these filters?
I have a question. How many people can trace a nitrate problem to an Emperor 400 if well maintained an filters cleaned and changed regularly, and carbon added every 5 to 6 weeks? And how many people are there that did not buy a power filter just because they "heard" it was bad, and never really tried it?
Worm, have you ever had one of these filters?
broomer5
Active Member
Bacteria cause nitrates - not a filter of any kind.
As mentioned above, if any filter media is not cleaned and maintained on a regular basis, detritus and waste can build up in it.
This holds true for canisters, bioballs, filter pads, powerfilters and to an extent can occur with live rock if pockets of detritus are allowed to build up, and the tank has poor circulation.
Same thing happens often with crushed coral.
If you have a method of denitrification such as a deep living sandbed and plenty of porous live rock, do regular water changes, keep your bioload down AND don't allow for wastes and detritus to accumulate ANYWHERE in your system ... you may not see the typical rise in nitrates that were once the headache of most every marine hobbyist.
As mentioned above, if any filter media is not cleaned and maintained on a regular basis, detritus and waste can build up in it.
This holds true for canisters, bioballs, filter pads, powerfilters and to an extent can occur with live rock if pockets of detritus are allowed to build up, and the tank has poor circulation.
Same thing happens often with crushed coral.
If you have a method of denitrification such as a deep living sandbed and plenty of porous live rock, do regular water changes, keep your bioload down AND don't allow for wastes and detritus to accumulate ANYWHERE in your system ... you may not see the typical rise in nitrates that were once the headache of most every marine hobbyist.