mechanicle pad on a Koralia?

[BPags52]

I've been thinking of ways to boost mechanicle filtration so I won't have to rinse off the HOB cartridges as often.

Yesterday I put a 100 micron pad over about half of a Hydor Koralia #4 pump (1200 gph). I was just wondering if it was a bad idea to have something restricting it's intake like this? Wasn't sure if it would force the pump to work harder/etc and lead to a shortened life span.

Good idea? Bad idea?

thanks

 

[BPags52]

^

 

[Pilze]

I tried using nylons (leggings). It removed debris from the water column, but it cut down on circulation.

 

[BPags52]

I haven't noticed a decrease in water circulation..

 

[swede]

seems fine. Instead of using a sponge, i slipped a media bag over the HOB intake for my shrimp tank. seems that the water flow is still fine and i filled the bag with carbon to help keep discoloration and odor down. if you're worried about the strain on the filter. just get a fine mesh media bag. they are designed to have filters draw through them really

 

[BPags52]

Seems to me like a fine mesh media bag (the ones I have are 800 micron) wouldn't trap fine particles.

You said If i'm worried about straining the powerhead, then try a media bag. I'm wondering if I should be worried about straining the powerhead with the current 100 micron pad? It doesn't seem to be decreasing water circulation, so I wasn't sure if this would be bad for the powerhead in the long run, or not.

 

[swede]

IMO it seems a bit thick for what you're using it for. get a mesh bag if you're worried. i wouldn't worry about it catching superfine particles. you still have an HOB to catch that stuff

 

[BPags52]

Yeah but I was hoping to decrease the amount of stuff making it to the filters, so I won't have to rinse them out as often.

I also have uncut blue bonded pads I could use. They are thicker than the 100 micron pad, but don't filter nearly as fine of particles (I assume).

I'll take a look at my media bags when I get home and see if using one of those is workable...but I really don't think it'll have the affect I'm looking for.

 

[swede]

heres another option. take the media bag and fill it with some blue pad and attach it to the output of the pump. this will not affect the intake and it should catch what you are trying to filter out before the HOB

 

[BPags52]

Yeah thats another way to go, but that'll affect water circulation...hmmm.

Ok thanks for the input, still not sure which route I'm going to go.