Bio Filtration Q?

[mackenzieam]

What is the best Biological Filtration for a FO tank?

I guess I have been using the sleve on my canister filter up to this point and it has kept the tank steady but it is starting to get pretty gross and I don't want it to clog too much. Is there a way that I can replace maybe half of the sleeve like every month to keep it from getting too gross??
Thoughts? Advice? Thanks!

[gatotsu77]

Maybe some live rock rubble in the canister?

[mackenzieam]

Thanks for the suggestion. Unfortunately I live in Hawaii where LR is "illegal" thus you can not buy it anywhere. The few people that I know that have LR got it from the ocean themselves. Not really an option.

Any other ideas??

[Grins]

You can buy base rock, put it in your display and wait for it to become live...than a year later use it. Otherwise though you don't have many options in a FO tank.

[Pufferpunk]

You must think totally out of the box of FW filtration, for SW filtration. Canisters/HOB filters, are nitrate factories. SW filtration consists of live rock & a protein skimmer.

[clown-lover]

Thanks for the suggestion. Unfortunately I live in Hawaii where LR is "illegal" thus you can not buy it anywhere. The few people that I know that have LR got it from the ocean themselves. Not really an option.

Any other ideas??

You can make agrocrete rock which is basically cement rock.. There is a real long article on RC about how to make it. The basic concept is to use Portland Type I cement and a larger grain salt to create the rock. Let it set for about a month changing the water daily so it doesn't affect the PH of your tank and it fully cures. It then will basically become the LR in your tank over time. I know of a tank that is 10 years old that is built on this concept and it looks great.

[gatotsu77]

Thanks for the suggestion. Unfortunately I live in Hawaii where LR is "illegal" thus you can not buy it anywhere. The few people that I know that have LR got it from the ocean themselves. Not really an option.

Any other ideas??

Perhaps you could convince someone you know who gathered some liverock themselves to gather some for you, perhaps in exchange for a nice batch of cookies? My co-workers go nuts every time I bring baked goods into work... perhaps these folks will be the same way? :p:

[Grins]

You must think totally out of the box of FW filtration, for SW filtration. Canisters/HOB filters, are nitrate factories. SW filtration consists of live rock & a protein skimmer.


I prefer that method as well but kind of difficult to do in a FO tank.

[Pufferpunk]

Why? Because people use less rock in a FO?

[Grins]

Most on here seem to use FO as in fish only...no live rock.

[Pufferpunk]

Oh yeah... duh...

[Grins]

But sincerely, it is a good arguement for going with a FOWLR versus FO setup huh?

[Pufferpunk]

Absolutely! Here was my 55g FO tank that I had to do 50% weekly WC on (that's 10 cups of salt!):
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v345/Pufferpunk/Pufferpics/55gGSPTank.jpg

[Grins]

Please explain to any newbies reading this that those fake corals didn't look that good without A LOT of care on your part.

[Pufferpunk]

LOL, constant taking them out & bleaching monthly! A true PITA!

[Grins]

lol, seriously photos like that one should come with that printed disclaimer

[Pufferpunk]

No kidding! The tank really only looked good for about a week or 2 then looked pretty crappy the rest of the time. Nothing like real, live rock!