any need for Mechanical filtraion on a SW tank?

[bigjay615]

Coming from FW, I have always felt the need to want to have MEch filtation on my SW tank.

I know the downsides, becoming a nitrate pump, frequent cleaning necc...

Just always felt "naked" not having such a simple and cheap device.

I see a lot of sumps with micron socks and wet/drys with filter pads...

Every once and a while I throw a filter pad cut out in front of my return pump intake on a peice of plastic diffuser panel for a day or so. Sure enough, even though my water is pretty clear, it comes out brown.

I know the LR is supposed to be enough filtration ( i have roughly 1.5lbs/gal and plan on getting more very soon to repopulate my Algea ridden rock with some nice new critters) but...

I guess I just need reinforcement from others...

 

[pat8you]

I find the best success with a combination of the two approaches. Most of the time i do not have any mechanical filtration on the tank but somewhere in the ball park of once every couple weeks i put a filter sock on. I usualy only leave it in for 2-3 days and then pull it out again. I do the same thing with activated carbon.

 

[bigjay615]

I find the best success with a combination of the two approaches. Most of the time i do not have any mechanical filtration on the tank but somewhere in the ball park of once every couple weeks i put a filter sock on. I usualy only leave it in for 2-3 days and then pull it out again. I do the same thing with activated carbon.

That's exactly what I was doing... just seems to make me feel better hahaaha

 

[sudz]

A protien skimmer?

 

[Krypt]

I use a filter sock in my sump all the time. I just change it out once a week and it works great. Catches alot of junk and depending how clear I want my water to get I can either run a 200 micron sock for normal filtration or I can switch it out to a 10 micron sock for a day and really polish the water.

 

[bigjay615]

I use a filter sock in my sump all the time. I just change it out once a week and it works great. Catches alot of junk and depending how clear I want my water to get I can either run a 200 micron sock for normal filtration or I can switch it out to a 10 micron sock for a day and really polish the water.

I like that idea...

 

[jcarlilesiu]

I run a sock full time. 200 micron only. I have several on hand. When one becomes clogged and starts overflowing the sock holder, I simply pull it out, wash it in the washer on "sanitize" without detergent and insert a new one.

It has to be changed weekly, so really no nitrate build up.

I am amazed at how dirty it gets in just a week.

 

[mr_X]

i used to change out filter socks every 3 days on my old system. they would clog up at 4 days...i used the 8" ones, because i could turn them inside out easily and pick off all the critters that got stuck in it.