KarenM Posted July 9, 2007 Share Posted July 9, 2007 I have an Emperor power filter with a bio wheel and a protein skimmer on my 40 gal tank. I change the filter media every 3 weeks or so. Every couple of days I empty the skimmer and wash out the top part. Should I be taking the filter and skimmer off of the tank and cleaning them out? My ammonia and nitrites are perfect. My nitrates have always been slightly high (at 10 or so), but lately they've spiked up to 40. I'm guilty of overfeeding, so I'm cutting back and doing more frequent water changes until they stabilize. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharkbait33 Posted July 9, 2007 Share Posted July 9, 2007 Do you have any algae growing in it? If you do, then I would take it apart and clean it thoroughly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReeferKris Posted July 9, 2007 Share Posted July 9, 2007 I have an Emperor power filter with a bio wheel and a protein skimmer on my 40 gal tank. I change the filter media every 3 weeks or so. Every couple of days I empty the skimmer and wash out the top part. Should I be taking the filter and skimmer off of the tank and cleaning them out? My ammonia and nitrites are perfect. My nitrates have always been slightly high (at 10 or so), but lately they've spiked up to 40. I'm guilty of overfeeding, so I'm cutting back and doing more frequent water changes until they stabilize. DO NOT USE TAP WATER.....I promise you will be more than sorry you did. Replace the filter pads in them with live rock rubble and essentially create a H.O.B. copeopod fuge while still filtering. If you have questions please pm me as I can lead you through the biology and ideology behind this method. NEVER replace the Bio wheel. Simply scrub it off well with removed tank water when you do a water change. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KarenM Posted July 10, 2007 Author Share Posted July 10, 2007 (edited) DO NOT USE TAP WATER.....I promise you will be more than sorry you did. Replace the filter pads in them with live rock rubble and essentially create a H.O.B. copeopod fuge while still filtering. If you have questions please pm me as I can lead you through the biology and ideology behind this method. NEVER replace the Bio wheel. Simply scrub it off well with removed tank water when you do a water change.Hi, Kris. I'm very interested in hearing about the HOB fuge system. Could you sum it up here? I'm new to SW, and I'd like to hear everyone's opinions and experiences with it as well. Edited July 10, 2007 by KarenM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Headless_donkey Posted July 10, 2007 Share Posted July 10, 2007 You can also fill the filter with carbon(a personal favorite). Carbon pulls tons of different stuff out of the water. We use dollar store pantyhose and fill them with carbon. Just a suggestion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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