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Filter Bags


Brianemone

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When the bag is clean a surprising amount of water goes through, mines got nearly 4000 litres per hour. The bag is hanging over the sump with the bottom 1/2 in the water. At first the water fills the bag up to the same level as the sump water. Then as it begins to clog the water level in the sock slowly starts to rise, once it gets to the top (takes about a fortnight) I turn the bag inside out & wash in the washing machine which is the only way to clean them.

This part of the operation is done while my wife is taking coffee with the neighbour, she is unaware the machine is used in this manner :D

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I wouldn't leave that bag in there for more than a day without cleaning it. It can turn into a nitrate factory very quickly. I plan on getting some from MD as well, but only use them when I blow off my rocks and remove for a washing a couple hours later.

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Sponge filters and nitrates. Seems as good a place as any to ask: Does it really make any difference? I've read it does, even avoid using them myself for the very same reason. However I wounder, how much nitrate a 1foot suqare piece of filter wool could add to a tank?

Some of those hang on skimmers have pre-filters on them, and they are designed for small tanks?

Just curious if anyone KNOWS this is a problem, or if its just more theory with no real practical application.

Also note things like fluidosed bed filters use filter material to stop the media excaping from the reactor, wouldn't think be cause for concern too?

Just asking.

Pie

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Just try and keep it free from bacteria. :D

I guess it comes down to surface area available to bacteria as to how much impact it will make on the tank. 1 square foot of filter wool is going to have a pretty decent surface area.

I like running a bit of filter wool, for a day or so every now and then. I probably wouldn't use it continuously though.

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I dont follow the bacteria in a sponge making nitrates. How is this different to large surface area fiji rock?

I understand that when it gets blocked its a problem.

One of the mods on tonmo has a bioball tower and washes the prefilter once a month. He hasnt washed his bioballs in 3 years. Still no problem with nitrates.

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I dont follow the bacteria in a sponge making nitrates. How is this different to large surface area fiji rock?

Because rock creates an oxygen gradient which supports both nitrifying and denitrifying bacteria. So the aim is to do the nitrifying and denitrifying in close proximity to minimise the free nitrate in the tank.

Sponges generally don't create the required gradient, because they are usually placed in high flow, high oxygen environments so can only support nitrifying bacteria.

Layton

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Sponge filters and nitrates. Seems as good a place as any to ask: Does it really make any difference?

Pie

Well I used to religiously avoid anything remotely resembling a "nitrate factory", however since using the sock, and the odd sponge here and there I've found it doesn't make sqwat of a difference.

Each tank may be different probably have to see what you can and cannot do, however a little nitrate is a good thing.

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