Mechanical and Chemical Filtration in a Sump System

[harmanrk]

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#In a system with a sump type filter, the live rock/sand in both the sump, and dispaly tank provide biological filtration, but what provides the mechanical and chemicat filtrationfiltration?#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#I know that the protiene skimmer plays a part in this, but does it really work to provide allthe mechanical and chemical filtration needed for a system?#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Robert#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#

[Reptoreef]

Carbon, phosphate sponges, protein skimmers, etc are parts of mechanical filtration... I use only a skimmer and carbon.

[graphixx]

you would be suprised how much filtration live rock provides. The more live rock you have in the sump and main tank the better. and protein skimmer do the rest. And carbon is a great addition. when I first got my 92 I had to redo the sump. first off there was no live rock in there. And the skimmer was producing skimate like nothing else. I sectioned the sump into 3rd and filled the refugium part all the way full of live rock and some xenia and cheato. it was amazing how much less skimate was being produced and my paramters got even better.

[harmanrk]

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Okay, another dumb question here. What is Cheato?#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#

[~Mykle~]

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Hmmm good question, Something that we both would like to know now#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#

[Guido]

LoL, well, that makes three of us then doesn't it. :) I honestly think it's a type of algae or macro algae, but am not completely sure. But of course i could be wrong, they could be those little orange encrusted crusty bite size snacks that everyone love so much. :mrgreen:

[Guido]

I'd like to know what carbon is and how it would be used in a sump, and is it expensive and worth having in a sump? (To my understanding a sump with skimmer mainly takes care of biological and mechanical filtration).

[harmanrk]

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Carbon, is Activated Carbon, or in lesser grades, Charcoal. It bonds with chemicals in the water, and traps them, therby removing them from the water. It traps things such as medications and such. In a normal hang on the back filter the water is forced to flow through the carbon, inside the filter pad. I would be interested in what system people are using in a sump to force water flow through Carbon.#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Do you place a bag of it, ina bouble trap area to force water through it?#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#I would not think it would be very effective just setting on the bottom of the sump.#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Robert#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#

[graphixx]

cheato is a microfauna it looks like a green brillo pad. I bieleve the correct name is cheatomorphia or something like that. It is a good nutrient export and it will not go a sexual on you like caulerpa and it also grows very rapid. I'll take a pic of mine and post it later tonight.

[harmanrk]

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Thanks... Picutes are always good for reference....#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#

[graphixx]

I will post some tonight when i get home. That will be great cause I actually have to trim some of mine back its huge now.