Internal Filter, Keep or bin?

[jive_bunny]

Hi Guys,

I've just brought all the equipment for a marine tank today but with the new tank came an internal filter (I brought a seperate external as seeing as Im new to marine thought it best i try fish first before live rock). I was planning on taking this out to give more room but it does a nice job of hiding the heaters etc.

My question is can I still use this internal filter along side the external filter and skimmer? Or would all the sponges inside upset the balance?

Many thanks, Add

 

[steelhealr]

Hi...IMO...filters do TOO good a job. The more filtration units that you have that have material in it to trap detritus, I think the more problems you'll have keeping nitrates down. Won't an internal filter take up space in your setup? SH

 

[jive_bunny]

Hi Steel,

Yes it it taking up space and I've decided to remove (after I slept on the idea). Thanks for your help.
Add

 

[bunjiweb]

good idea. Your live rock and some powerheads is the best filtration you can get. The external filter will do a good job but DONT fill it with sponges. Lots of Ehfi substrat and bioballs/ceramic tubes is what you want. Maybe one fine blue sponge washed out every couple of weeks to polish off your water.

I was told that too many sponges harbour nitrates in salt water tanks so its better having ceramic media and bacterial-efficient media.

Ben

 

[jive_bunny]

Hi Ben,

Well I couldnt get the internal filter out even with a sharp hot knife hacking away at the silicone, I've removed all the sponges and the only thing thats in there is the heater.

The external filter (Fluval 204) currently still has all the media inside, Activated carbon, biomax and those foam white sponges. Should I remove any of these or add anything else? I currently have no live rock which is the reason for the filter until I feel more comfortable about keeping marine fish.

 

[steelhealr]

Jive bunny..the problem with the beads and sponges in a SW tank is that they do TOO GOOD A JOB, ie, they pull out detritus and convert it to nitrates. IMO, your filtration media should include:
-some kind of activated carbon, ChemiPure is most popular
-phosphate binder

It's an art and you can pick what works for you. My inserts include ChemePure, SeaGel, Purigen and Algone. Some might laugh, but, for my nano, it seems to work.

I wouldn't use ceramics or sponges...definitely not ceramics. If you want to use the spong on initial start up to catch the debris coming off, make sure you wash them very frequently. SH