poly pads...what good are they?

[fjpod]

I did a search and they are hardly mentioned in these forums. They are sold impregnated with carbon, phosphate adsorbing, nitrate adsorbing, ammonia adsorbing, or just plain.

If these claims are true, I'm wondering why more people don't swear by them

Does anyone use them? What's your experience?

 

[fishman1069]

From my experience they don't do s**t! I tried them when I first got into reef keeping for phosphate control and I didn't have any luck with them. I'm not sure why they don't work but my theory was they didn't have enough media in them to pull the stuff out.

 

[marrone]

Are you talking about the white poly pads? I've never used them to remove phosphate but I use them to remove copper and just about everything else. They work very well and a lot of people use them. You'll find people put them inbetween the baffles in their sumps.

This is an item that everyone should have, and have extra on hand use in case something happens in your tank.

 

[fishman1069]

I think he was talkin about those pads that come in black(carbon),Green (phos) and white(the norm). Those are the ones I was referring to anyway

 

[NYC Joe]

Well I use those cheap blue ones you find at most pet stores.
Put them in btwn the baffles as above poster mentioned.

Tried the other ones. Phosphate etc.
Didn't do anything for me really. Results were too small to notice.

But a big fan of the reg blue ones.
Always have them on Hand


Thanx
-Joe

 

[fjpod]

Yeah, I was talking about the colored ones for specific purposes. With my tanks, I could pass water more easily through a pad then a media bag. Products like Purigen, Chemipure Elite make some fantastic claims...so do the poly pads.

What's a reefer to do?

 

[fishman1069]

Is there anyway you could set up a reactor? Thats the best way to use any type of media

 

[Josh]

The white poly pads are good at removing heavy metals from your tank. The color that they turn can sometimes indicate what is being removed.

 

[fjpod]

I'm really not looking to remove heavy metals. I'm more concerned about regular phosphate and nitrate removal, from feeding, metabolism, etc. My point is... phosphate reactors are somewhat complex and expensive. so are denitrification systems. Water changes are the simplest method of control, and accomplish other things, but are somewhat labor intensive. Water changes is what I basically depend on for excess nutrient export.

It's not that I am looking for the laziest way out, but with my small systems, it would seem like specific pads for nitrate and phosphate should be a no-brainer...but I have my doubts as to whether they work...'cause nobody else seems to use them for phosphate and nitrate control.

When you've got a 14 gal BioCube, you can't go hangin' too many things off the sides. Besides, believe in the principal of KISS.

 

[fishman1069]

Then try those pads marrone was talking about. They are really thick and pretty expensive but they work. I think they turn green removing phosphates

 

[peteyboyny]

My point is... phosphate reactors are somewhat complex and expensive.
Not really, I've been pricing them out on MR and LFSs. On here I've seen the Two Little Fishes 150 reactor used for $15-20. New at the LFS for $40. Just saying...I need to pick one up soon for myself. So I been looking.

 

[peteyboyny]

Also prob a lot cheaper buying media for Phos reactor than replacing poly pad on a regular basis. That stuff CAN be pricy.

 

[fjpod]

Yeah, but it is probably HOB, or requires plumbing outside the tank, which would defeat the design purpose of the biocube.

Like others have said...buy some and try.

 

[peteyboyny]

Didn't see that part. Maybe something u could do to fabricate a drain and return line. I know it would increase initial cost but tubing<<ha ha, but tubing.lol.>> is cheap. Could be a fun project to research. Well, that's all I got.

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

I like it, it is a great mechanical filtration for a nano tank, the Chemipure elite is a great activated carbon media for a nano tank. So much about a Nano tank is about the ALL IN ONE so these products are great for them.

 

[fjpod]

yeah, the idea of a nano is to NOT have outside plumbing and HOBs. I do use Chemipure Elite. I think I'll add some pads and make them part of routine maintenance. Biocube has three nice little compartments that lend themselves well to putting in filtration media.

 

[KathyC]

yeah, the idea of a nano is to NOT have outside plumbing and HOBs. I do use Chemipure Elite. I think I'll add some pads and make them part of routine maintenance. Biocube has three nice little compartments that lend themselves well to putting in filtration media.

Is the tank having an issue that you feel the need to add more than the ChemiPure Elite?

You'd like be better well served adding an additional media bag of carbon and doing water changes more often than the expense of those pads (I'm not talking about the 'real' Poly Pads used for removing metals - they DO have a place in our hobby, but not for everyday use IMO).
I'd think you are more likely to oveflow your tank if they ever get clogged up

 

[fjpod]

No, Not having issues at this time. Nitrates and phosphates are zero or undetectable. These specialty pads (nitrate, phosphate "removing") are pretty coarse, so I don't think they would clog up first, and the Biocube has filtration compartments that lend themselves well to inserting media pads or bags for that matter.

I'm definitely getting the feeling that the experienced reefer doesn't think these pads can do the job.

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

I'm definitely getting the feeling that the experienced reefer doesn't think these pads can do the job.

They have helped me to get my tank back on the right track. Sorry, I forgot I was a noob
:thanks: