Filter sponge and floss

[thutch6911]

How ofter are you supposed to clean the black sponge and white floss on the 130? I noticed after about a week the water level in the back was uneven because the floss was caked up...



Thanks

 

[Mischko]

Daily!

 

[nanoreefing4fun]

I rinsed mine in warm running tap water at the sink & then shake it dry - the black one - every 3 or 4 days - the finer filter floss, if I stir up the tank, as often as 3 or 4 times a day or 2 or 3 times a week as needed.

 

[bigvag]

I change my filter floss every 2 days, not using the sponge.

 

[Sapphire]

I have taken all out

 

[thutch6911]

WOW I am so shocked! That is ALOT!!!

 

[nanoreefing4fun]

In the 130/130D flow a big key... and clogged filters can really change water level & how the skimmer works... you can dial it in to what works best for you...

 

[saltyjay]

Those that dont use either filters....what are used as a replacement???

 

[thutch6911]

SO if you forget to clean the sponge or floss for a couple days its really going to throw your ATO off?

 

[Reefmack]

Plugged up filters will drop the water level in back, so they can mess up an ATO keeping things constant. If the level in back drops too much, and the ATO makes up for this, the level in the main tank can go up too high.

 

[thutch6911]

Tricky, Is this why some people cut the black sponge in half? SO clean every 3-4 days and replace how often.....?

 

[nanoreefing4fun]

in my 130D I cut it down 1/3 of it... and I replaced it once at about 1 1/2 year in... when through tons of the finer white/blue filters - the black won't trap much... if you always run a square of the white/blue on top & rinse every few days at sink, only takes a minute... cut a new square of the white/blue & replace it twice a month - big sheet last a long time & is cheap.

 

[thutch6911]

Glen-

So cut the black until there is 1/3 left or 2/3 ?
Only need to rinse the white every few days or both the black and white
What is the name of the white/blue for big sheets..... Filter Floss?


THANKS!

 

[Reefmack]

I ended up in my 130 only running about 1 1/2 inches thick slice of the black sponge. I'd rinse the filter pad on top about every 2-3 days, and the sponge once a week. You can get the white/blue bonded pads in large pieces you can cut with a scissors:

Aquarium Mechanical Filtration Media: Blue Bonded Filter Pads

I ended up buying a roll of it on Ebay (search on pond filter pad):

Blue Bonded Bulk Cut-Fit Aquarium/Pond Filter Pad 12sf - eBay (item 300421271183 end time Mar-21-11 08:29:07 PDT)

 

[nanoreefing4fun]

you are very welcome! Terry's links above are the white/blue finer filter...

I ran 2/3's of the black

 

[sparklesmcgraw]

Do you guys find it necessary to run the black filter? I have just been running the finer floss sice I started the system. Do you see any benefit in having a piece of the black sponge below it?

 

[RDrink25]

How far down the chamber is the black sponge supposed to sit? All the way down??

 

[nanoreefing4fun]

I just used the black sponge as a setting for my white / blue square & a secondary trap of food particles... I always positioned mine to sit just below the back gate, just pushing it down maybe 1" below this...

 

[thutch6911]

Glenn-

Where would you place a sensor for an ATO on the 130? I think it might have to go in the main tank because of floss getting clogged....


http://www.reeffanatic.com/products/float-switch-and-level-control/ct_rflc.pdf

 

[nanoreefing4fun]

sorry I have always manually top off my tanks... sure some members can advise I would say about 1/3 or more run them...

If I remember right, I see them in the back, left of the skimmer a lot...