to polyfilter or not to polyfilter?

[krullulon]

alrighty... my 90g is currently running a 30g sump with an ETSS reef devil skimmer (which i love, btw!), and i have my overflow dumping into a box that i run some filter media in for large particles (changed weekly) along with some carbon (changed monthly).

in addition, i do 5% water changes twice weekly and dose calcium/alk and iodide 3x/week.

question is -- should i add a polyfilter into this mix as a matter of good practice, or is the use of polyfilter more of a tactical response to a specific condition?

thanks!

 

[hillbilly]

Nothing wrong with using a polyfilter, but it's important to keep it clean. I use micron socks on my sumps, but I rotate them with clean ones often, and never let nasty stuff build up on them.

 

[Len]

I only use mine as a "tactital response to a specific condition." That is, when I need added chemical and mechnical filtration such as when something in the tank spawns, I'll throw in a polyfilter for a couple of days. Otherwise, carbon is a better absorbant in SW and micron socks are better mechanical filters. As hillbilly says, all mechanical filtration needs to be cleaned regularly.

 

[krullulon]

ah, cool. thanks for the info!

i think i'll keep the carbon running and try the micron sock, and maybe use the polyfilter for my tactical response.

can i put the carbon *in* the micron sock? 8)

 

[Len]

Ya, you can, but the problem is they'll clog up with debris pretty fast. Carbon works best in high flow or pressurized chambers where water is thoroughly passed through the media. Filter socks (placed where the tank drains to the sump) is high flow but the clogging negates the benefit in time.

 

[acasden]

is chemipure the same as carbon? do you need both, or just the carbon??

 

[Baianotang]

No, no,...no.

 

[krullulon]

hmm... ok, i getcha. thanks! i'll have to figure out how to best incorporate this stuff... my sump is looking more and more like a rube goldberg machine.