DRIVEL:
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'use the search button'. shut up. i did. for hours. i'm not sifting through these pages like a jurupari looking for scraps left behind by four hungry hungry sevos.
no, i love you guys. you're the clown loaches of my internet life. <3
[deetdeetdeetdeet. deet deet. deetdeetdeet. deet.]
(yes, i think my loaches swim with a deetdeetdeet sound)
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QUESTIONS:
so, my rena came with bio-chem stars. i've been using them and everything seems okay. i have 40 in my 125 gallon new world cichlid tank (overstocked at present) in an xp3, along with 2 of the 30p/S.i and 2 20p/S.i pads, and (presently) 2 bags of bio-chem zorb. (it's my understanding that chem/filtration is not necessarily essential, but i want SOMETHING, so i figure enough for a 'normal' 110 gallons is close enough. (my intention is to have some chem filtration, but leave more room for bio-media and some polishing pads on top)
a co-worker at the lfs where i work, who is a rena guru, suggested switching to ceramic rings. he also said that the claim that the stars and rings never need replacing is untrue. they must be replaced. rings outlast stars, he says.
so, my question is - is there a genuine difference between the 2? i don't care about the cost, i get an unreasonably huge discount. i actually feel guilty when i buy things with my discount at our store.
the consensus at work is that the ceramic rings are much better.
would you agree? should i keep the stars and top off with some rings? remember, i AM overstocked a bit. this is temporary, new tank is cycled and ready to go, just biding some time to be SURE it's safe.
ALSO - as a sidenote:
i've been using seachem's prime as a water conditioner. the general consensus at work is that:
prime contains extra and unnecessary 'additives' (slime coat boost, ammonia neutralizer, etc) which MAY be detrimental to the fish's overall health/welfare. basically a 'minimalist/purist' approach to water conditioning. less chemical manipulation = happier fish
i bought a gallon of dechlor (for 9 dollars!!!!! SEE? i feel like a crook. running them out of business. LOL ) for those of you who don't know what weco dechlor is, it's a barebones water conditioner which does nothing more than remove/neutralize the chlorine (1 drop/gallon) and chloramine (2 drops/gallon)
BUT i've also been told that the problem with something like dechlor, when it breaks down the chloramine, it produces ammonia as a byproduct, and so without an ammonia neutralizer, this could be troublesome.
seriously, i'm agonizing over this. any input would be wonderful.
-------------------------------------------------------
'use the search button'. shut up. i did. for hours. i'm not sifting through these pages like a jurupari looking for scraps left behind by four hungry hungry sevos.
no, i love you guys. you're the clown loaches of my internet life. <3
[deetdeetdeetdeet. deet deet. deetdeetdeet. deet.]
(yes, i think my loaches swim with a deetdeetdeet sound)
-----------------------------------------------------
QUESTIONS:
so, my rena came with bio-chem stars. i've been using them and everything seems okay. i have 40 in my 125 gallon new world cichlid tank (overstocked at present) in an xp3, along with 2 of the 30p/S.i and 2 20p/S.i pads, and (presently) 2 bags of bio-chem zorb. (it's my understanding that chem/filtration is not necessarily essential, but i want SOMETHING, so i figure enough for a 'normal' 110 gallons is close enough. (my intention is to have some chem filtration, but leave more room for bio-media and some polishing pads on top)
a co-worker at the lfs where i work, who is a rena guru, suggested switching to ceramic rings. he also said that the claim that the stars and rings never need replacing is untrue. they must be replaced. rings outlast stars, he says.
so, my question is - is there a genuine difference between the 2? i don't care about the cost, i get an unreasonably huge discount. i actually feel guilty when i buy things with my discount at our store.
the consensus at work is that the ceramic rings are much better.
would you agree? should i keep the stars and top off with some rings? remember, i AM overstocked a bit. this is temporary, new tank is cycled and ready to go, just biding some time to be SURE it's safe.
ALSO - as a sidenote:
i've been using seachem's prime as a water conditioner. the general consensus at work is that:
prime contains extra and unnecessary 'additives' (slime coat boost, ammonia neutralizer, etc) which MAY be detrimental to the fish's overall health/welfare. basically a 'minimalist/purist' approach to water conditioning. less chemical manipulation = happier fish
i bought a gallon of dechlor (for 9 dollars!!!!! SEE? i feel like a crook. running them out of business. LOL ) for those of you who don't know what weco dechlor is, it's a barebones water conditioner which does nothing more than remove/neutralize the chlorine (1 drop/gallon) and chloramine (2 drops/gallon)
BUT i've also been told that the problem with something like dechlor, when it breaks down the chloramine, it produces ammonia as a byproduct, and so without an ammonia neutralizer, this could be troublesome.
seriously, i'm agonizing over this. any input would be wonderful.
