My filtration is not working - needs to be replaced fast, what do you reccomend?

[kien]

Originally Posted by mandyplo

Hi Kien! I actually do not have biopellets or a biopellet reactor - I have the BRS dual Carbon and GFO reactor that is not running properly. I have the cobalt maxi jet pump that BRS sells with the dual reactor as a whole unit. They think there is a faulty canister and are sending me a new one to see if that solves the problem - the water is simply not moving through the unit.

So if I could put filter socks in my sump let me ask you this: Instead, I have a tetra filter (this one to be exact http://www.aquariumguys.com/whisperpower2.html)
And I have the bulk containers of GFO & Carbon. Could I take the gfo and carbon and stuff some in a pair of pantyhose, one "sock" for carbon and one "sock" for GFO and stick them in either side of this tetra filter and turn it on until I can buy a proper filtration system? This way water is running through the bags rather than them just floatin around in the sump... If you think it makes no difference can I still stick the carbon and GFO in pantyhose and stick them in my sump? Or do I have to go out and actually buy little filter socks? Can you tell I'm new at this?!

If you do not currently have high nitrates then you may already have adequate filtration (in the form of water changes, skimmering, and live rock) for the bioload that you have. You didn't mention where your phosphates were at. As fishyfishy said, pantyhose will work in pinch, but is not ideal. I would definitely recommend buying media bags. Note I said media bags and not filter socks. I consider them two different things. People typically place filter socks onto the ends of their return lines in the sump for mechanical (debris) filtration. Do not place GFO or carbon in filter socks.

Filter Socks:



Media bags:



Microbubbles in your display tank could be due to your skimmer. Do you have bubble trap baffles in your skimmer?

Perhaps post a picture of your sump so that we can see what you've go going on down there.

Do you have an auto top off? Your return section running too low can also cause bubbles to shoot into your display tank. If you do have an ATO and the ATO hose is too close to the return pump this can cause bubbles getting into the return line as well.

You can put the GFO or Carbon in seperate media bags and then have it sit in the sock though.

[mandyplo]

Originally Posted by kien

If you do not currently have high nitrates then you may already have adequate filtration (in the form of water changes, skimmering, and live rock) for the bioload that you have. You didn't mention where your phosphates were at. As fishyfishy said, pantyhose will work in pinch, but is not ideal. I would definitely recommend buying media bags. Note I said media bags and not filter socks. I consider them two different things. People typically place filter socks onto the ends of their return lines in the sump for mechanical (debris) filtration. Do not place GFO or carbon in filter socks.

Microbubbles in your display tank could be due to your skimmer. Do you have bubble trap baffles in your skimmer?

Perhaps post a picture of your sump so that we can see what you've go going on down there.

Do you have an auto top off? Your return section running too low can also cause bubbles to shoot into your display tank. If you do have an ATO and the ATO hose is too close to the return pump this can cause bubbles getting into the return line as well.

First off thanks so much guys for your fast responses it means a lot!

I do not have an ATO but I do top off the sump daily it evaporates FAST in there but I never let it get lower than an inch in evaporation in the last section of the sump - I am topping off with my reservoir bin of RO/DI water

I'll have to stop in at a pet store tomorrow after work and grab some media bags for the hang on the back filter for now.. funny I work a part time job (full time university student) at a pet store. We have NOTHING for fish tanks its very sad </3

I have to be honest I'm not so sure what baffles are I know they are to reduce bubbles and suspended particles but I do not know what they are made of? My skimmer has sponges around the intake... Oh and sorry about the phosphates I still don't have a test for them I will pick that up also at the pet store when I get the media bags

Here is my sump it is not this green in person - the flash of my iphone makes it look awful