opinions from all chemistry dudes and dudetes

i have got a 7 ltr cannister filter thats been running for about three months and it has no floss and its filled with matrix and noodles.
i make sure it stays clean to avoid nitrate factory effect.

what are yr thoughts on what will happen if i turn the flow down to 50 ltrs an hour after running it normally for three months?

pros cons ect?

peace

 

What is "matrix" ? Noodles are those ceramic pieces right? Those are designed to trap detritus and grow algae to be a biological filter. I run a canister for Purigen, Chemi-Clean and Rowa-phos. The longest I let it run is 2 months. If you run the canister for 3 months and then reduce the flow I suspect that “nitrate factory” you referenced would kick in. The reduced flow will permit more particles to collect – not a good thing to keep running. What is your goal – if we knew what you were trying to achieve perhaps we can come up with a better solution?

 

hi
matrix is from seachem.
the noodles are in the bottom to trap and stop whatever little detritus that goes through from going up any higher.remember i said i clean it out to stop that effect.

what you suspect is not fact.
my post is addressed to peeps who can address my question.
i dont have any particular goal im just asking what would be the case in the scenario i have explained.

peace

 

Hmm, interesting rebuttal. Crimson asked a valid question, why do you want to lower the flow and what do you expect to achieve? Matrix is supposed to be a biological media in which Seachem touts that it will have enough pores to go anaerobic and help with actual denitrification, this claim I highly doubt. To have denitrification you need absolutely no O2 and I cannot foresee this happening in the canister filter.
What I would suspect happening is slightly more detritus and other than that little... Your nitrate production should stay similar to where its at, IF you continue to clean it, if not the NO3 production is likely to increase.
As far as lowering the flow I foresee no positives to take place at least in my eyes/experience...

 

I believe by lowering the flow, the only "positive" effect would be less frequent cleanings.


Luna

 

http://www.3reef.com/forums/water-chemistry/better-worse-70462.html
http://www.3reef.com/forums/water-chemistry/brain-storm-lol-ouch-70536.html

Just to help our original poster Judgedread
I have attached the 2 other threads that will give responders on this thread
an opportunity to understand the foundation for this latest question

summary
we have a tank with nitrates at 20ppm that Judgedread is looking at various solutions to decrease


Judge Dread

when you start a new thread, some people will not be aware of the story thus far and as Crimson Ghost did , ask for information in order they can help you

which now I have explained it better, you will understand and realise that Crimson Ghosts post was a good one!

give people the full story and you will get much better replies

honest - the people above me , on this thread are all good people
help them to help you

Steve

 

man there was no malice intended there.
i was just kinda hopin i would get the facts from a chemistry stand point on what would happen in the given situation i explained.
all hyperthetical really.
anyhow my answer was obviously worded wrong to get the response i did so with that i will tyry to be more carfull.:-/

 

CG pretty much hit it on the head. Lower flow=more stuff collected=NO3 factory. I would keep the flow at maximum.

 

I ran mine from the time I started my tank which was in late february. Last weekend I completely removed my canister filter. I'd been running it everyday until about 3 weeks ago when I switched to one day on, one day off. No ill effects since removing it but everyones tank behaves differently.

If you just lower the flow it isn't helping anything. Either max it out or turn it off.

 

Hello, I read through all the responses and don't think they gave you what you want. From a "chemistry" standpoint, the lower flow will only effect the Matrix to the degree that there will be more contact time between water and media. This may encourage a more purifying effect of the water as it is passing more slowly through the media and giving the bacteria a more timely window to affect the cleansing of the water. As far as the Nitrate issue, it will be less due to the reduced flow is pulling a weaker volume through the filtering material thus pulling less detritus. In essence, you would have a media reactor of sorts. I hope this answers your question.