Anyone pulled out their pre-filters????

Discussion in 'Filters, Pumps, etc..' started by Robman, Jan 22, 2009.

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  1. Robman

    Robman Great White Shark

    Joined:
    Jan 22, 2009
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    Katy, Tx.
    I have a wet/dry 30 gallon sump--removing bio balls and adding a 15 gallon fuge (tank is 150 gal FOWLR). I was running a very coarse sponge filter with a finer floss pad underneath in the drip tray. I got tired of wringing out and replacing the floss. I removed the floss and am just running the course sponge. I have noticed no difference in clarity and the nitrates have actually dropped. Can I or does anyone run just the drip tray just to stop the larger particles from entering the pumps?? I would like to go all natural and would like to hear if someone has done this with good results.
     
    Robman, Jan 22, 2009
    Robman, Jan 22, 2009
    #1

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  2. schackmel

    schackmel Giant Squid

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    I have removed my pad on my drip tray. It runs just as well....in fact better. I was buying the super coarse filter pads that have the carbon, nitrate remover and phosphate remover and it actually blocked the flow. When I went to a cheaper one I did not notice much difference then not having one at all. On my other tank, I dont have a filter pad eitherOn all tanks I run carbon and the pumps all have sponges on them and have not had any problems.Add some LR rubble where the bioballs were....will help quite a bit. I have placed LR rubble on all inflow sections on my sumps....helps also decrease the bubbles in the tank.
     
    schackmel, Jan 22, 2009
    schackmel, Jan 22, 2009
    #2
  3. Powerman

    Powerman Giant Squid

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    I used some finner floss than the blue floss. I wanted it to fill up in a week so I could replace it when I did maintenance. I replaced it every week so that it would not go biological.

    As some recommended here, I stopped using it. My skimmer handled it. Clarity didn't really suffer. But I did have to clean my skimmer more, and poop settled out in my sump much faster.

    I really like clear water. My water was clear without the filter. However, I'm contemplating running it again just to keep things cleaner.
     
    Powerman, Jan 23, 2009
    Powerman, Jan 23, 2009
    #3
  4. lunatik_69

    lunatik_69 Giant Squid

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    I did the same thing not to long ago. I took out every sponge and pre-filter and drip tray with the exception of one poly-pad after the refugium. I also got tried of cleaning/replacing them, but the main reason for taking them out was it improved my ph..........Big Time!
    I had 3 sponges(skimmer pump, return pump and in the overflow chamber) and 2 poly-pads in the sump/refug. The water isnt as clear as it was before, but its not hurting anything. Luna
     
    lunatik_69, Jan 23, 2009
    lunatik_69, Jan 23, 2009
    #4