best hang on filter for polishing?

BigJay · 07-19-2008, 11:11 PM

Whats the best hang on filter for temporary use for polishing the water? Its for a 14 gallon nano. Everything is 3 stage and I just want mechanical. One thing the bio cube is not good at is fine particulate removal. Just want a hang on for once in a while cleaning. thx.

mps9506 · 07-20-2008, 09:28 AM

As far as I know all hang on filters are gonna have 2 or 3 stage filtration setups since they are designed to be the only source of filtration on tanks.
I would just stick with reliable brands, the bio filtration doesn't matter since it shouldn't be on there long enough to develop one, and most filters the biofiltration is removable. It doesn't hurt to run carbon, infact it will "polish" the water very well

and I think they all have mechanical filtration...
I would probably recomend Hagen Aquaclear, or Marineland biowheels as those two in my experience are the longest lasting quietest filters on the market. I would be partial to the aquaclear because you can stick whatever kind of filtration you want in it in little bags really easily if you wanted to add phos remover or lots of carbon etc... Just leave the sponge in the bottom of the filter to filter out the grime and rinse frequently

Witfull · 07-20-2008, 10:14 AM

get a 5g bucket and a 200 micron filter sock. siphon out some water from the tank, through the sock and return to tank.

BigJay · 07-20-2008, 12:28 PM

thx for the tips. I remember when the magnum canisters came out I bought 2 or 3 of them and they had a really nice polishing only filter that worked excellent but I didn't want to buy a magnum or a HOT magnum just for using once in a while.
I've got some micron socks in different sizes and filter floss so I might try to rig something up. If not i guess I can try to find a hang on that I can re arrange to polishing only. I guess I could just wrap a small power head in a filter floss bag and set it in the tank.
I already have a chemi pure elite running in the tank so I definetly only need mechanical filteration. One thing on the Bio Cube is the sponge filter in front of the pump is really hard to remove and when I pull it out for cleaning it always gets a decent amount of particulate into the water. Even when trying to clean it all up when you turn the pump back on its silts the water. I'm running floss in two locations along with a skimmer but crap still gets down into that sponge.
Wish I could go back to day one and completely restructure the chambers. Live and learn.

CATALYST · 07-20-2008, 02:02 PM

I use one of the aquaclear hang ons in the fuge on my pod. It works great.

rmlevasseur · 07-20-2008, 02:13 PM

I've been thinking about buying one of those old school vortex filters for polishing. Those things have ruled polishing for 35 years.

Witfull · 07-20-2008, 02:53 PM

i love the Vortex diatom,,,but for his tank,,,its way to powerful.

rmlevasseur · 07-20-2008, 02:56 PM

agreed. I hear the quality on the new Vortex filter has really gone downhill as well

lcstorc · 07-20-2008, 03:03 PM

Can you just remove the sponge? Not familiar with the setup but I would explore the possibility.

BigJay · 07-20-2008, 05:35 PM

well the sponge is the last layer of defense for the circulation pump. The problem is there is inadequate particulate filtration ahead of the pump chamber. The silly bio bag set up they have may work in some tanks but it did nothing in mine.Plus I had to remove it to put in the skimmer.
I use filter floss when I can above the bio balls but its such a thin strip that it becomes dirty really fast and causes problems with water flow. I need to change that to a sponge type filter which will help with flow but it is less effective at fine particles.
My tanks has emeralds in it so they are constantly feeding and spitting particulate. So anything I use is going to get dirty somewhat quickly. On top of that my live rock has rock borers and so many worms that my rock seems to always have something dusting off of it or streaming out of it.
ON days when I do any cleaning I am gonna dirty the tank. I can get most of it with a filter floss but its not 100% and its not fast enough with the tanks circulation. Just want something I can run for an hour or so to quickly remove any fine debris.
Kind of annoying since everything in my tank is hand fed so its never food particles.

EDIT- plus I don't want to get stuff out of the chambers just to let it get back in.

Witfull · 07-20-2008, 05:37 PM

any way to work in a micron sheet? LFS sell it in flat rolls. you might ask them to let you try a small sample.

07-19-2008, 11:11 PM	#1 (permalink)
BigJay Torch coral Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: SW Florida Posts: 537 View Gallery Karma Komment	best hang on filter for polishing? Whats the best hang on filter for temporary use for polishing the water? Its for a 14 gallon nano. Everything is 3 stage and I just want mechanical. One thing the bio cube is not good at is fine particulate removal. Just want a hang on for once in a while cleaning. thx.

07-20-2008, 09:28 AM	#2 (permalink)
mps9506 They misunderestimated me Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Wilmington, NC Posts: 7,409 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: best hang on filter for polishing? As far as I know all hang on filters are gonna have 2 or 3 stage filtration setups since they are designed to be the only source of filtration on tanks. I would just stick with reliable brands, the bio filtration doesn't matter since it shouldn't be on there long enough to develop one, and most filters the biofiltration is removable. It doesn't hurt to run carbon, infact it will "polish" the water very well and I think they all have mechanical filtration... I would probably recomend Hagen Aquaclear, or Marineland biowheels as those two in my experience are the longest lasting quietest filters on the market. I would be partial to the aquaclear because you can stick whatever kind of filtration you want in it in little bags really easily if you wanted to add phos remover or lots of carbon etc... Just leave the sponge in the bottom of the filter to filter out the grime and rinse frequently __________________ Mike "The Bandwith Bandit" Help Build Reefpedia Premium Membership Available! Support Reef Sanctuary Sponsors

07-20-2008, 12:28 PM	#4 (permalink)
BigJay Torch coral Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: SW Florida Posts: 537 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: best hang on filter for polishing? thx for the tips. I remember when the magnum canisters came out I bought 2 or 3 of them and they had a really nice polishing only filter that worked excellent but I didn't want to buy a magnum or a HOT magnum just for using once in a while. I've got some micron socks in different sizes and filter floss so I might try to rig something up. If not i guess I can try to find a hang on that I can re arrange to polishing only. I guess I could just wrap a small power head in a filter floss bag and set it in the tank. I already have a chemi pure elite running in the tank so I definetly only need mechanical filteration. One thing on the Bio Cube is the sponge filter in front of the pump is really hard to remove and when I pull it out for cleaning it always gets a decent amount of particulate into the water. Even when trying to clean it all up when you turn the pump back on its silts the water. I'm running floss in two locations along with a skimmer but crap still gets down into that sponge. Wish I could go back to day one and completely restructure the chambers. Live and learn.

07-20-2008, 02:02 PM	#5 (permalink)
CATALYST Harlequin Tuskfish Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: SoCal Posts: 968 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: best hang on filter for polishing? I use one of the aquaclear hang ons in the fuge on my pod. It works great. __________________

07-20-2008, 02:13 PM	#6 (permalink)
rmlevasseur Elegance coral Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Minnesota Posts: 1,026 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: best hang on filter for polishing? I've been thinking about buying one of those old school vortex filters for polishing. Those things have ruled polishing for 35 years. __________________ Robert http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...ufas-tank.html

07-20-2008, 02:56 PM	#8 (permalink)
rmlevasseur Elegance coral Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Minnesota Posts: 1,026 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: best hang on filter for polishing? agreed. I hear the quality on the new Vortex filter has really gone downhill as well __________________ Robert http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...ufas-tank.html

07-20-2008, 03:03 PM	#9 (permalink)
lcstorc Sunshine Reefer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cocoa Fl Posts: 19,915 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: best hang on filter for polishing? Can you just remove the sponge? Not familiar with the setup but I would explore the possibility. __________________ Peace LYNN You can't change the past but you can change how you view it. A reef tank is like a racecar. The faster you go the harder you crash. Lynn and Franks saltwater adventure Lynn's 20g clown tank Lynn's 90g of sunshine Every 60 seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back. In Loving Memory Of Z 01/22/07 - 08/19/08

07-20-2008, 05:35 PM	#10 (permalink)
BigJay Torch coral Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: SW Florida Posts: 537 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: best hang on filter for polishing? well the sponge is the last layer of defense for the circulation pump. The problem is there is inadequate particulate filtration ahead of the pump chamber. The silly bio bag set up they have may work in some tanks but it did nothing in mine.Plus I had to remove it to put in the skimmer. I use filter floss when I can above the bio balls but its such a thin strip that it becomes dirty really fast and causes problems with water flow. I need to change that to a sponge type filter which will help with flow but it is less effective at fine particles. My tanks has emeralds in it so they are constantly feeding and spitting particulate. So anything I use is going to get dirty somewhat quickly. On top of that my live rock has rock borers and so many worms that my rock seems to always have something dusting off of it or streaming out of it. ON days when I do any cleaning I am gonna dirty the tank. I can get most of it with a filter floss but its not 100% and its not fast enough with the tanks circulation. Just want something I can run for an hour or so to quickly remove any fine debris. Kind of annoying since everything in my tank is hand fed so its never food particles. EDIT- plus I don't want to get stuff out of the chambers just to let it get back in.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)