Polyweld Filter Bags

[Anonymous]

I'm curious if anyone else uses these in their tank. They perform the same task as a regular filter sock but are more rigid nylon and have a flat hard plastic bottom. They will stand up on their own without needing to be hung. In addition, they are much more durable and easier to clean than a standard filter sock. Seems like a much simpler solution for a mechanical filter.

 

[Anonymous]

Here is what they look like in my sump. There's one on the skimmer output and one catching the water from the overflow.

 

[Anonymous]

where'd you get that?

 

[Anonymous]

where'd you get that?

http://www.aquaticeco.com/index.cfm/fus ... l/iid/4369

It's the Polyweld (vs. standard) bag. I think mine is 100 micron.

 

[Anonymous]

thanks, inexpensive too. What's the purpose of a filter sock? Reduce nitrate and/or eliminate detritus buildup in the sump?

 

[bleedingthought]

What's the cheese grater around the filter for?

 

[bleedingthought]

By the way, I use the same one but without the plastic bottom. Still trying to find the best way to "hang" it up or attach it to my overflow and be able to take it off easily. :?

The plastic bottom ones would be too short for my sump, though...

 

[Anonymous]

By the way, I use the same one but without the plastic bottom. Still trying to find the best way to "hang" it up or attach it to my overflow and be able to take it off easily. :?

The plastic bottom ones would be too short for my sump, though...

Put them on top of something. These stand up all on their own. I have the one in back sitting on top of a plain old 2" PVC coupling just to raise it up a few inches.

 

[Anonymous]

thanks, inexpensive too. What's the purpose of a filter sock? Reduce nitrate and/or eliminate detritus buildup in the sump?

Eh, depends on how it's utilized. Let me explain.

A poorly maintained mechanical filter will increase the amount of nitrates in your tank. You are essentially concentrating decomposing organic material in an area with high flow and oxygen (read--good bacterial breeding grounds) where it will decompose more rapidly than if it settled on the bottom of the tank. The end result of this decomposition is nitrate. Also, nitrate produced in a filter sock is (almost always) not near an anaerobic zone where it can quickly be reduced to nitrogen as is the case with live rock/deep sand beds/plenums/etc.

On the other hand...a well maintained filter sock can be very beneficial. If you are insane about your tank like I am and clean out your filter sock twice a day, you're removing particulates from your tank before they get a chance to decompose. Think of it like a protein skimmer in that you are removing (rather than trapping or converting within the tank) nutrients from the tank before they decompose. For this reason, I believe it is absolutely essential that if a filter sock is used it should be easy to access and easy to clean for frequent cleaning. Otherwise, out of sight, out of mind. It takes me about 3 seconds to remove my filter sock and 15 seconds to clean it off. In a perfect world I'd clean my filter sock every hour, but I've found I can do it every other day if I'm lazy without it affecting my nitrates too much.

Having said all that, a bit of nitrate is not all that bad for corals...

Atkinson, M. J., B. A. Carlson, and G. L. Crow. 1995. Coral growth in high-nutrient, low-pH seawater: A case study of corals cultured at the Waikiki Aquarium, Honolulu, Hawaii. Coral Reefs 14: 215-223.

http://www.springerlink.com/content/g2554037454q13wp/

They have other side benefits as well. An air water mixture passing through a fine filter sock will remove the microbubbles. They greatly reduce salt spray and noise where water enters your sump. When you turkey baste your rocks they're invaluable. They keep your water pretty crystal clear too.

 

[Anonymous]

What's the cheese grater around the filter for?

I have no idea. I think it's just a sleeve for some type of industrial filter that it fits into. The only good picture I could find of one online. :lol:

 

[Anonymous]

thanks for the thorough explanation Matt. I'll give it a try. How long should one of those polyweld last? So I know how many to order. thanks again

edit: Interesting link. One of the reefers here I know told me that high nitrate isn't bad (what he considers high I don't know). It's magnesium and alkalinity that is key to coral growth. He keeps his tank at 11 dkh.

 

[Anonymous]

thanks for the thorough explanation Matt. I'll give it a try. How long should one of those polyweld last? So I know how many to order. thanks again

edit: Interesting link. One of the reefers here I know told me that high nitrate isn't bad (what he considers high I don't know). It's magnesium and alkalinity that is key to coral growth. He keeps his tank at 11 dkh.

It should last indefinitely.

 

[Anonymous]

sweet, thanks again.

 

[Anonymous]

they're ordered and I'll be using 2 as you are Matt

 

[mr_X]

i use a big, regular one. it holds itself to my 2 slightly seperated overflow drains. i just use it to stop the bubbles.