What are the filter media used?

[tomowilson]

Hi all, have been in FW planted tank for quite awhile...intend to venture into marine tank.

I would appreciate if someone can tell me what are the filter medias put in a canister filter for a marine tank? Normally for FW tank...its wool, ceramic rings, bio balls and a few coral chips.

tks alot~

Wilson

[jun]

biohome is good

[subxero]

Hi all, have been in FW planted tank for quite awhile...intend to venture into marine tank.

I would appreciate if someone can tell me what are the filter medias put in a canister filter for a marine tank? Normally for FW tank...its wool, ceramic rings, bio balls and a few coral chips.

tks alot~

Wilson

IMO, You can use back all the media which you've used for FW tank

Please note, you still need to go through the cycling process because the bacteria in FW and marine is different.

[clintcar]

IMHO you don’t need a canister filter. Unlike freshwater, you’ll need to maintain a weekly regimen of cleaning the filter media in a canister or your nitrates will skyrocket.

You’re better off with live rock and substrate for biological filtration, coupled with a good skimmer to remove dissolved organics before they get a chance to break down to ammonia. For mechanical filtration a simple hang-on-back filter loaded with activated carbon and Polyfilter will work wonders.

You can replace the carbon every 2 weeks (although I replace mine weekly) and your Polyfilter every 4-6 weeks depending on your bioload. For some reason, the Polyfilter doesn’t leach ammonia or nitrates back into the water unlike conventional filter wool. A simple rinse of the Polyfilter in tank water when you do a water change will remove accumulated sediment.

[tomowilson]

Hmmm.....as I would love to reuse most of my equipments....the main tank is a 2ft tank....I have a ehiem 2213 and a 1ft tank laying around.

My intention is to make the 2213 a filter with wools, bio-balls and ceramic rings and the outlet of the 2213 will be connected to the 1ft tank to act as a mini refugium.

The 1ft tank will only have chaeto and dsb. Do you guys add active carbon (hope is the right name) in your filter?

One problem here is how do I know whats the flow rate of the return pump in the 1ft refugium? Got formula??

Need advise of my setup above. Abit messy but hope to cut down expenses by re-using some equipments. Sorry for the long post

Tks alot~~