Do i need my external filter??

HI Guys,

I've got 42 gal tank with 25 kg of lr - running 2* maxijet 1200 & 1* maxijet 900 for circulation & 1* mj1200 for my skimmer, i have a 2000lph filter (highly comparable to r2d2) which i have been running with only a scrubber in(fine foam/cottonwooly type stuff) up until now. I have removed it and am wondering, do i need to have an external filter or will the movement around the rock in the tank sufice, if i do need the filter, what should i fill it with (it has 4 trays)l.

Many thanks

Matt

 

well first, make sure to keep the filter clean (at least once every 2 weeks, better if every week). This is to make sure that you don't have nitrates building up within it. It is highly advisable to run carbon in a marine aquarium. So even if all you put into it is carbon that should be ok. If you encounter problems with phosphates, you can also run ferric oxide. I like to run that in a reactor anyways just to be on the safe side.

 

Yeah, I keep one around for those purposes as well. If I have any bad params building up I can fire that thing on in a hurry with everything I need to get rid of them. Short answer is no, you don't "need" it, but I like to keep some sort of mechanical filtration on the tank to catch detritus and suspended particles.

 

cool thanks - what are your thoughts on filling first 2 with live rock, 3rd with whatever is needed and fourth with the scrubber?

When you say clean it - if i have live rock in there do i need to do anything with thoese or do i just need to change tray 3 & 4?

tyhanks matt

 

Is the scrubber you mention an algae scrubber (ats) ?

 

Hi Matt - many people with external power filters clean them using the tank water they are removing during a water change - the trays with Live rock or any other Biological medium (glass rings etc) should just be rinsed in order to clean off any build up of waste a couple of dips/ shakes in the bucket of old water

Steve