what do you put in your filter?

[chinoz]

I have tthose "activated carbon insert" is this ok? or do i need a different chemical bag in here

[nalah]

Hi chinoz
what filters are you using.

normally,i use sponges only in all my filters. i put carbon in only to remove traces of medications i've put in water.

[Ardan]

Hi,
I agree that sponges only are best, unless removing meds from the water.
Carbon has been possibly associated with hole in the head disease in discus.


With all the water changes, as long as the chlorine is removed, the carbon is not necessary to filter the water.
hth

[chinoz]

i have a AquaClear 200 right now..should i just keep the carbon in ?or remove it?

[nalah]

remove it.

these are great filters. you can actually put 2 sponges in. I do. great to have a seeded sponge if you need to setup another tank asap.

[Carol_Roberts]

Yes, remove the carbon and put two sponges in your aqua clear

[chinoz]

ok ..thanks guys !!!

[yippy]

I have 2 filters on my tank (200 litres). One is an external 1000 Sacem Marathon, in there i have 4 compartments, 2 have cotton wool, 1 has Ammo Gone (for ammonia control) even though ive never had a problem with ammonia but was advised to put it in as a safeguard) and the bottom compartment has like nylon onion bag stuff (dont know excatly what its called). Inside the tank i have an 800 sponge filter which has a carbon compartment but i took it out and have never used it, and now just have sponge and 1 satchel of "Algone" for algae control (its all natural product). havent had any trouble with algae in that tank but once agin just a safeguard.
Yippy

[Carol_Roberts]

I believe in the KISS method and keep it simple as possible - sponges and only sponges in my filters . . . no ammonia chips or algone chemicals . . . .

[jim_shedden]

At the beginning...... ;D, I had major problems with my filters.......I though more was better. I had sponge, carbon, ammonia stuff, wool...........you name it .....I had it. I lost fish constantly. I started following Carol's advice : sponge's only and now I don't loose fish. I use only Aquaclears with 2 sponges and a sponge filter in the tank. Just make sure you do the w/c's.................. :thumbsup:

[ronrca]

Foam 100%! ;)

[edgeguy]

I have a Filstar XP3 canister filter. Foam is in the bottom and then Effimech is in the middle part with Biostars in the top compartment. All water conditions are great. ;D

[chinoz]

ok...i';ll just stick with foam then. Just bought two more foams this week. ;D ;D

[brewmaster15]

Foam and sponges are all you need....IF you do good water changes and be sure to syphon wastes daily. Carbon is a purified. It binds impurities in the water , if you physically are removing those with mechanical water changes , you shouldn't need charcoal... :)

-al