The way you measure the effectiveness of a mechanical filter is how fast the water clear up after feeding. If it takes more than 15 min to clear up, there is not enough mechanical filtration to me. A tank with sponge filter alone can still gives crystal clear water in between feeding even without any mechanical filtration, because the solids settle to the bottom. But as soon as the fish kick the bottom, the solids re suspend. I don't doubt claims that an AC filtered tank can be just as clear as any filtration in between feeding. But after I replaced my ACs with Penquen HOBs, I noticed how much faster the water clear up after feeding and how much less solids settle to the bottom (except underneath rocks which I can only remove by siphoning in water changes). The trade off of effectiveness is that blue pads get clogged up quickly and need to be frequently replaced. In my over crowded CA/SA tanks, I have to change them twice a week. Most people avoid blue pads because they are costly and not reuseable and prefer AC sponges. I don't buy expensive blue pads but cheap polyester batting from fabric shop that cost less than a dime per double pads, and I don't mind changing them frequently because it is so much easier to replace filter pads than to rinse dirty sponges.
Aquaclear 110 For Mechanical Filtration Only?
- Thread starter Jaws Fan
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