Filter Media: To Use or Not To Use

[Gildurath]

Well, I have a Fluvial 404 on a 70g. I have 20x flow in the tank, and a skimmer. My LFS, who is more in it to help then to make money, has suggested that I remove the media from my Fluvial and just continue to use it for flow. I have plenty of well seeded live rock, the tank is about 5 years old.

Should I go without media, and remove the media from my Fluvial? I had a powerhead with some Algone packs and carbon in it which I removed about 2 months ago.

[Reefscape]

ye, i would certainly run it without media, you dont need it as the live rock will provide the filtration for you...just slowly over a month or so, keep removing parts of the media untill its all gone...then if needed, you can use the filters for carbon, phosphate removal etc....

should all be fine at that....

Niko

[Gildurath]

Yeah that is the samething the LFS suggested. Removing one item of media ever week or so. The carbon/phostphate removal was also my thoughts, about keeping it around.

[cole005]

I had high phosphate issue a bad battle with cyno and then I discovered the ribbed hose for my fluval was trapping waste that would not come out even with a garden hose. I now have a fluval 404 for sale. I switched to a sump setup and love it.

http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=117225

[Germanman]

this is what i have done. i decided to keep the sponges because i wash them in salt water weekly...but in most cases i would recommend removing them incompletely, i then replaced the biomedia with live rock rubble, and am running a phosphate remover, chemi pure, and Renew for chemical filtration in my 405.

[ricsreef]

Im taking the bio-balls out of my sump too,I think I'm going to stuff it with Cheato,As long as I keep it pruned it should work great.I guess I could shine enough light through the sides of the glass:idea:,I see Another DIY project.Has anyone tried to grow Cheato in a w/d before?I'm sure someone has.New thread coming up.:headbang2: