Aqua Clear Filter Necessary? - Aquarium Advice

weekf · 01-01-2006, 01:37 AM

Hi guys I have got a 20gal and have been running a Prizm skimmer since the first day. But in the mean time I am running an Aqua Clear 20/Mini with the sponge and carbon insert is this necessary? My activated carbon and sponge and Prizm skimmer all have been running since day one. Will the Prizm skimmer itself do up most of the cleaning? Thanks in advance.

Toirtis · 01-01-2006, 01:53 AM

On my nano, I am running an AC300 as a fuge....but no skimmer....personally, I would continue to run both.

weekf · 01-01-2006, 01:57 AM

I thought it should be the other way round means only run the skimmer without filter. I also heard that using carbon long term will reduce trace element.

Toirtis · 01-01-2006, 02:02 AM

Yes, but since you are running both (with my [acronym:d07dd65d99="Activated Carbon"]AC[/acronym:d07dd65d99], it is a fuge, so no media in it).....I would swap out that carbon for biomedia or macroalgae, eventually.

weekf · 01-01-2006, 04:41 AM

sorry to sound stupid but what is a fuge? i am still new to saltwater aquarium. thanks.

coolchinchilla · 01-01-2006, 05:36 AM

fuge = refugium Here's a short article about refugiums:
http://www.aquariumadvice.com/showqu...q=2&fldAuto=33

chineseknife · 01-01-2006, 07:01 AM

The sponge will eventually become a nitrate factory, in the AquaClear. If you have corals that like to toxify the water, i.e. leathers, then carbon is an okay idea, but should be changed out regularly. Carbon, some kinds anyway, have been known to leech [acronym:0cb1bbd8a6="Phosphate"]PO4[/acronym:0cb1bbd8a6] into the water. I only use my [acronym:0cb1bbd8a6="Hang On Back"]HOB[/acronym:0cb1bbd8a6] filter to run carbon, once weekly for a couple of days(to polish and detoxify the water) and for flow. On a tank that size, regular and consistent water changes are the best filtration for you. I would also stay away from bio-balls and the like, they too, over time, will become nitrate factories. [acronym:0cb1bbd8a6="Hope this helps (or) Happy to help"]HTH[/acronym:0cb1bbd8a6]!

**Fluff** · 01-01-2006, 08:37 AM

I have [acronym:1d3cb84393="Hang On Back"]hob[/acronym:1d3cb84393]'s on my smaller tanks but only run them for extra flow. I removed the filter media and replaced it with liverock rubble. This is something you could consider as well.

Hara · 01-01-2006, 11:33 AM

I use the sponges in my aquaclear as mechanical filtration to sift out the occasional mess I make while messing in the tanks. In an aquaclear, they are super easy to remove and rinse out weekly, which cuts down on the nitrate factor. I only run carbon one week of the month and that is right after a water change. Most of my tanks use liverock for filtration, so I too, use the [acronym:1e01ac8486="Hang On Back"]HOB[/acronym:1e01ac8486]'s as added flow and a means to use carbon etc when necessary. I do not think I would depend on the skimmer solely.

Toirtis · 01-01-2006, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fluff

I have [acronym:be3c5dddee="Hang On Back"]hob[/acronym:be3c5dddee]'s on my smaller tanks but only run them for extra flow. I removed the filter media and replaced it with liverock rubble. This is something you could consider as well.

Precisely what mine have...some [acronym:be3c5dddee="Live rock"]LR[/acronym:be3c5dddee] rubble and macroalgaes....works a treat.

01-01-2006, 01:37 AM	#1
weekf Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 333	Aqua Clear Filter Necessary? Hi guys I have got a 20gal and have been running a Prizm skimmer since the first day. But in the mean time I am running an Aqua Clear 20/Mini with the sponge and carbon insert is this necessary? My activated carbon and sponge and Prizm skimmer all have been running since day one. Will the Prizm skimmer itself do up most of the cleaning? Thanks in advance.

01-01-2006, 01:53 AM	#2
Toirtis Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Posts: 6,768	On my nano, I am running an AC300 as a fuge....but no skimmer....personally, I would continue to run both. __________________ G. A. Christian Bilou, Zoologist/Writer Founder/Director, Reptile Rescue Alberta Vice-President, Calgary Aquarium Society www.calgaryaquariumsociety.com Polypterid/Primitive Fish/Ctenopoma/Catfish Fanatic 62 Aquariums, 2200+ total gallons, Aquarist since 1971.

01-01-2006, 02:02 AM	#4
Toirtis Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Posts: 6,768	Yes, but since you are running both (with my [acronym:d07dd65d99="Activated Carbon"]AC[/acronym:d07dd65d99], it is a fuge, so no media in it).....I would swap out that carbon for biomedia or macroalgae, eventually. __________________ G. A. Christian Bilou, Zoologist/Writer Founder/Director, Reptile Rescue Alberta Vice-President, Calgary Aquarium Society www.calgaryaquariumsociety.com Polypterid/Primitive Fish/Ctenopoma/Catfish Fanatic 62 Aquariums, 2200+ total gallons, Aquarist since 1971.

01-01-2006, 05:36 AM	#6
coolchinchilla Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: IA Posts: 477	fuge = refugium Here's a short article about refugiums: http://www.aquariumadvice.com/showqu...q=2&fldAuto=33 __________________ coolchinchilla a small zoo is cool!

01-01-2006, 08:37 AM	#8
Fluff The Keeper Community Moderator Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: West Virginia Posts: 10,142 Images: 29	I have [acronym:1d3cb84393="Hang On Back"]hob[/acronym:1d3cb84393]'s on my smaller tanks but only run them for extra flow. I removed the filter media and replaced it with liverock rubble. This is something you could consider as well. __________________ ~Cindy

01-01-2006, 01:57 AM	#3
weekf Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 333	I thought it should be the other way round means only run the skimmer without filter. I also heard that using carbon long term will reduce trace element.

01-01-2006, 04:41 AM	#5
weekf Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 333	sorry to sound stupid but what is a fuge? i am still new to saltwater aquarium. thanks.

01-01-2006, 07:01 AM	#7
chineseknife Aquarium Advice Regular Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Charlotte, N.C. Posts: 67	The sponge will eventually become a nitrate factory, in the AquaClear. If you have corals that like to toxify the water, i.e. leathers, then carbon is an okay idea, but should be changed out regularly. Carbon, some kinds anyway, have been known to leech [acronym:0cb1bbd8a6="Phosphate"]PO4[/acronym:0cb1bbd8a6] into the water. I only use my [acronym:0cb1bbd8a6="Hang On Back"]HOB[/acronym:0cb1bbd8a6] filter to run carbon, once weekly for a couple of days(to polish and detoxify the water) and for flow. On a tank that size, regular and consistent water changes are the best filtration for you. I would also stay away from bio-balls and the like, they too, over time, will become nitrate factories. [acronym:0cb1bbd8a6="Hope this helps (or) Happy to help"]HTH[/acronym:0cb1bbd8a6]!

01-01-2006, 11:33 AM	#9
Hara Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Louisiana Posts: 6,867 Images: 33	I use the sponges in my aquaclear as mechanical filtration to sift out the occasional mess I make while messing in the tanks. In an aquaclear, they are super easy to remove and rinse out weekly, which cuts down on the nitrate factor. I only run carbon one week of the month and that is right after a water change. Most of my tanks use liverock for filtration, so I too, use the [acronym:1e01ac8486="Hang On Back"]HOB[/acronym:1e01ac8486]'s as added flow and a means to use carbon etc when necessary. I do not think I would depend on the skimmer solely. __________________ ~~~~~Hara~~~~~~ View My Tanks Visit FantasyReef.com's Databases!

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