Taking ALL biofiltration out of my filter?

[cdemoss01]

Hello,
I recentley took all my bioballs out of my tank and replaced them with Seachem Matrix. However I have been given advice to get rid of matrix AND purigen and just run cheato, carbon and filter floss. Is this a good idea? I have live rock. But I figured without matrix and purigen my filter would barely filtrate anything?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

It’s a fine experiment. I’m not sure why someone would say remove Purigen and replace with GAC as they mostly do the same thing: binding organics.

FWIW, I’m not sure most folks benefit from biomedia.

 

[cdemoss01]

It’s a fine experiment. I’m not sure why someone would say remove Purigen and replace with GAC as they mostly do the same thing: binding organics.

FWIW, I’m not sure most folks benefit from biomedia.

Im trying to lower nitrates and get rid of GHA. SO I'm starting a fuge but ive been advised to take my bio filtration out AND my purigen and just run fuge with GAC and filter floss. Should I do this? Or should I leave everything in and add my cheato?

 

[cdemoss01]

It’s a fine experiment. I’m not sure why someone would say remove Purigen and replace with GAC as they mostly do the same thing: binding organics.

FWIW, I’m not sure most folks benefit from biomedia.

Say I do do this will this cause a crash?

 

[Tamberav]

If you have live rock, then the biomedia isn't needed... removing it won't crash your tank. purigen is fine to use.

On my AIO, I use carbon and floss.

 

[cdemoss01]

If you have live rock, then the biomedia isn't needed... removing it won't crash your tank. purigen is fine to use.

On my AIO, I use carbon and floss.

Interesting... So we are COMPLETELY sure it wont crash it I am not in the mood for that.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Im trying to lower nitrates and get rid of GHA. SO I'm starting a fuge but ive been advised to take my bio filtration out AND my purigen and just run fuge with GAC and filter floss. Should I do this? Or should I leave everything in and add my cheato?

Nutrients at any level are not generally a good way to control algae.

What is nitrate now?

 

[Tamberav]

Interesting... So we are COMPLETELY sure it wont crash it I am not in the mood for that.

All it does is provide a place for bacteria which all your rock and sand also do. I think they just use it to have something to sell and make $$.

You removed all your bioballs and added sterile new matrix your tank didn't crash.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Say I do do this will this cause a crash?

I would remove the biomedia in stages.

 

[cdemoss01]

Nutrients at any level are not generally a good way to control algae.

What is nitrate now?

Not sure haven't done a test in a bit. They were off the charts but about a week or two ago I was able to cut them and they were at 50. I wanna get them to 15. What would you reccomend I do in this situation? I'm also trying to put mesh in my Tidal filter to keep cheato in it.

 

[cdemoss01]

All it does is provide a place for bacteria which all your rock and sand also do. I think they just use it to have something to sell and make $$.

You removed all your bioballs and added sterile new matrix your tank didn't crash.

I removed my bioballs at diffrent times. About a handfull every week-two weeks etc.

 

[GARRIGA]

Large enough Fuge could eliminate the need for biological media as well as amount of corals but other than bacteria stealing nutrients the plants and coral would otherwise use I can't see a reason one needs to remove it. Assuming nutrients contact corals first then fuge then does it matter there's bacteria to compete with the other two? I'd consider it a backup and why I'd keep it.

Know this much. Ran experiments without coral where pumice (matrix) constituted 25% of tank volume and carbon dosed without a skimmer or other mechanical means of removing the bacterial population explosion expected from carbon dosing. Fact is I often overdosed and saw little if any detriment due to it. Was because of the biological media? Don't know but anecdotally I'll continue this process.

 

[Tamberav]

I removed my bioballs at diffrent times. About a handfull every week-two weeks etc.

can do that if you want and makes ya feel better. I kept matrix in my sump and removed it all in one go all the time to use in quarantine tanks. I did this with live rock all the time too. My display has sufficient rock.



I doubt it is causing algae issues but I suppose it could be trapping crap depending where it is and flow. I am sure pods like matrix.

 

[cdemoss01]

can do that if you want and makes ya feel better. I kept matrix in my sump and removed it all in one go all the time to use in quarantine tanks. I did this with live rock all the time too. My display has sufficient rock.

Guessing nothing happened with it?

 

[cdemoss01]

I would remove the biomedia in stages.

I did do that with my bioballs but now people are telling me to take out the ENTIRE matrix should I?

 

[Tamberav]

Guessing nothing happened with it?

No, I don't even have my sump hooked up to my tank atm lol So no filtration outside of the displays live rock.

I moved and took everything down and didn't hook up the sump yet. Been that way since July.

I guess that means I removed my fuge/rock/biomedia and skimmer all in one go My macro and refugium are hanging out in a plastic tub in the garage.

I will eventually get around to it...

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Not sure haven't done a test in a bit. They were off the charts but about a week or two ago I was able to cut them and they were at 50. I wanna get them to 15. What would you reccomend I do in this situation? I'm also trying to put mesh in my Tidal filter to keep cheato in it.

I’d recommend a new measurement first. Macroalgae and organic carbon dosing are good methods.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I did do that with my bioballs but now people are telling me to take out the ENTIRE matrix should I?

can you post a picture of the tank and its creatures?

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

The rock is the biofilter, no other biomedia required. This is called the berlin method. This article explains

The Berlin Method - complete guide - ReefPedia

Find out how to run a saltwater aquarium using the Berlin Method. Run your marine aquarium succesfully!

reefpedia.org

 

[cdemoss01]

Alright so if I remove my matrix nothing will happen... So now I need to figure out how to keep my cheato in one spot of my filter I need to make sure it doesn't flow out of the filter into the tank etc.