Anyone running an Emperor HOB on their tank?

[jdeb101]

I just threw my old Emperor 400 on my tank so I could run some carbon after I did some fragging. I'm considering keeping it on permanently but hear they can become nitrate factories.

So does anyone on here constantly run one of these? If so, how do you maintain them and prevent them from raising your Nitrates? What media do you run in them? Do you constantly run that type of media?

 

[wrassefan]

if you take out the biowheel, it can't be a nitrate factory. I use to run a filter box for the flow and occasional carbon bag.

 

[jdeb101]

Hmm ok. It's just so much more noisy without the bio wheels.

 

[MikeG]

I would also say if you leave media cartridges in the HOB filter without cleaning them regularly, you could end up with elevated nitrates.

 

[jdeb101]

I'm using the blue poly filters that have carbon enclosed in them. Would they be ok if I change them monthly? Weekly?

 

[dz6t]

The amount of carbon these cartridges hold is too small IMO. The filter pad will become a nitrate factory.

 

[jdeb101]

The amount of carbon these cartridges hold is too small IMO. The filter pad will become a nitrate factory.

You dont think running two is enough for a 40 gal? The filter says it's rated for an 80 gal tank. If not, what about if I load some more carbon in two of these grey trays that it comes with?
http://www.marineland.com/mlstore/Media-Container-for-PF280B-PF280BD-PF400B-PF400BD-P298.aspx

 

[dz6t]

You dont think running two is enough for a 40 gal? The filter says it's rated for an 80 gal tank. If not, what about if I load some more carbon in two of these grey trays that it comes with?
http://www.marineland.com/mlstore/Media-Container-for-PF280B-PF280BD-PF400B-PF400BD-P298.aspx

The grey tray are much better. You can load them with large pellets and avoid using any fiter media. I used to do that before with a Emperor 400. Then I found that AquaClear filters are better choice for running carbonl.

 

[jdeb101]

Ok Thanks Dong.

 

[drunkintimmy]

ive had one of these on my 65 for about a year i change the filter pads every 2 to 3 weeks like the box says also once a month i take the filter box off and clean everything out because alot of stuff gets trapped on the bottom i take everything apart and scrub all the tubes and areas where water flows because they will get caked up its a little extra to maintain but decent

 

[jdeb101]

ive had one of these on my 65 for about a year i change the filter pads every 2 to 3 weeks like the box says also once a month i take the filter box off and clean everything out because alot of stuff gets trapped on the bottom i take everything apart and scrub all the tubes and areas where water flows because they will get caked up its a little extra to maintain but decent

Thanks for the reply, that was kinda what I was thinking of doing for a plan. I was hoping the poly filters would help me clean the detritus out of my tank. I usually blow detritus off my rock with a turkey baster once in a while and never vacuum my sand bed so maybe this will help catch stuff?

 

[gpx1200]

i have 2 sumps that i built with bioweels in them before i knew better but since theyr in the lighted refugum area they have become like small algie scrubbers one is compleetly caked with coraline so i just leave it alone the other( big one from a marineland comershal setup like they use at petco) grows a combination of coraline,hair ,bubble and other algies, i take it out and cleen it off every few weaks or when it stops spining, i am considering removing the fiberous material and just wraping the frame in cheato but this way seems to be working

 

[drunkintimmy]

Thanks for the reply, that was kinda what I was thinking of doing for a plan. I was hoping the poly filters would help me clean the detritus out of my tank. I usually blow detritus off my rock with a turkey baster once in a while and never vacuum my sand bed so maybe this will help catch stuff?

the do catch all the detritus but the only problem is it sticks to the pads and basically sits in the water so if you dont change the pads and clean the box it does become a nitrate factory. i do a water change every 2 weeks and replace both filter pads and clean out the box.