Filter Media

[woody111]

Hi
I am thinking of converting my current freshwater tank into a salt water variety. I currently have an aquastyle 90 litre tank which has a filter built into the hood. Current media is sponge and ceramic rings.
What i want to know is can i use this as a filter for a saltwater aquarium or do i need a different kind of filter/media. i am planning on having a fish only with live rock tank.

 

[SkiFletch]

Well if you're having a FOWLR tank, then the LR IS your filter, no need for the man-made stuff. Mother-nature's filter is way better . What you can use it for though is either as a refugium or a place for a phosphate remover, either of which will help counter nuisance algae

to the dark side

 

[woody111]

Well if you're having a FOWLR tank, then the LR IS your filter, no need for the man-made stuff. Mother-nature's filter is way better . What you can use it for though is either as a refugium or a place for a phosphate remover, either of which will help counter nuisance algae

to the dark side

sorry can anyone explain a "refugium" and by phosphate remover do you mean carbon

 

[@ombomb]

A refugium is an area, most commonly in a sump, with low flow rate usually stocked with macro algae to take nutrients out of the water and a place where beneficial crustaceans can reproduce without being eaten.

Carbon doesn't remove phosphate from the water, you need something like Rowaphos which binds the phsophate and won't release it back into the water whatever happens.