As a clue to the ‘brown’ incident above, the X Filer 1.7 failed on the morning we left for a 3 week trip through France into Spain. I basically left it as it wasn’t a critical piece of equipment and we had a ferry to catch from Dover to Calais. Oh and it was 4am so I didn’t feel like it!
When we got back, after testing various bits, the filter would not work, I assume a faulty optical sensor or motor, but I had a spare so swapped them over.
Underneath the X Filter in the sump, are the primary amounts of Seachem matrix, I think there’s around 56 litres in total in the system, and most if it had been buried for 4 years, so it was ’ready’ I thought…..
So I removed it all, the seachem bags had basically disintegrated so I had to use a sieve (from the kitchen so don’t tell anyone!!) to get it all out, which was a pain due to the amount.
Anyway I washed it all in the sink and this is what some of it looked like, there was about half as much again not in the picture, so a lot
This was the state of the sump water when I started removing it
Anyway I felt it was time to feed the corals so for dramatic purposes….
It certainly tested the new X Filter 1.7, took around 8 hours to clear up, but all is well.
I actually tested the nutrient levels yesterday (about a month from when the above happened) for the first time in probably 12 months, nitrate was 25 and phosphate 0 which is fine (it wont really be 0), and very surprising….!