filter floss and carbon bag questions

[ride1226]

So, I currently am running a Fluval 305. It came with enough ceramic media for 3 of the 6 compartments, and 3 bags of carbon for the other areas. I recently have been doing battle with a bit of nitrates, so picked up some Matrix after doing research. I knew I couldnt just take out my ceramic media and replace it with the Matrix, so I just moved all the ceramic to one compartment and the Matrix to the others so it could get established. My question is, do I really need the carbon? I was thinking I could add more Matrix, and fill 4 out of 6 compartments with it, and then put filter floss at the very bottom.

Filter floss is something new to me. I have just heard of it, and heard it would be good to polish my water. Does it need to be changed frequently, where can I get it, and what exactly will it do for me? I want to maximize my 305 to work as good as it can, so Im slowly taking out the ceramic in favor of the Matrix once its established.

 

[ar0wan]

No need to replace the ceramic with the Matrix
However I am the Poster Child for Matrix support
You're on the right path, this is what I would do:

- Leave the Ceramic in the bottom tray
- Add the Matrix to the middle tray above the Ceramic
- Put the Carbon in the Top tray for about a month
- Replace the Carbon with Matrix
- (optional) Replace the Ceramic with Matrix

With regards to the Filter Floss you would want it
as the last media in the filter so in the top tray
You can buy it at the LFS but
I hear it's cheaper at the fabric store
I reuse it to death, you can rinse it till
its frustrating to clean then replace it

GL
HTH

 

[kdrun76]

Any quilt batting works for floss. Its so cheap I can't imagine why anyone would rinse it ever. I think I can get 100-130 filters out of $8 worth of floss. Its great for cleaning the goo out of your water, but they do reduce flow rates in your filter as they plug. I would rather open my canister up every 15 or 20 days to change the floss than have gunk in my water. But that is me.

The best way by far to deal with nitrates is to change more water. How much are you changing and how often do you change it?

 

[ride1226]

About 35% a week when I vac the turds off the bottom. Then I add some prime and refill with water close to the tank temp. I know there really is no need to completely get rid of the ceramic, but if matrix does it better once what I have added has established I might as well add more. The carbon has already been in there over a month, should I leave it another month or pull it now in favor or some floss and a bit more matrix?

 

[kdrun76]

Change more water.... go for at least 50% a week. That will do more for your nitrates than anything else.

 

[ride1226]

How about the carbon? Is there a real need for it or should I just toss it, throw in two chambers of floss, and the other four chambers use Matrix?

 

[kdrun76]

Carbon has its functions. Its function is NOT day to day use.

Carbon only lasts and is functional in a tank for a few days (3-7 depending on who you ask.) after that its nothing but little black rocks.

Its functions:
removing meds from water after treatment
some say (not sure if its true) that it will help to removed tannins from the water released by drift wood. That would be handy if you were planning a photo shoot.
removing chemicals from your water as you just painted a room in your house or dropped a flea bomb or something.