So... I guess MY question is... what was the point of having carbon in the first place? And what you're saying is that I can take out the carbon in the cartridges, use the empty cartridges, and probably fill the open area in the back with bio-balls or something? That just sounds too good to be true! lol (I HATE CARBON!)
Carbon vs No Carbon
- Thread starter cichlid savage
- Start date
i imagine you could stuff bio balls into the back of an emporer, but personally i have only done that switch with canister filters. i never purchase the emp cartridges ($ouch$) and the grey plastic ones are around for unexpected situations where carbon or ammochips would be required. precut or bulk floss will work the same as the cartridges except they can probably be used much longer when rinsed on at least a weekly basis.
a common fishkeeping belief is that carbon should be replaced on a monthly basis. reason being, carbon absorbs funk out of the tank. the thing is once your carbon sack has absorbed as much as it can, it will start to release what its removed back into the tank. some believe this negative effect happens more like a week later as opposed to a month. so to keep good carbon going its gonna get pricey. good carbon might be bad too. i believe it is too effective and can lead to HITH in cichlids. just my 0.02$CDN.
a common fishkeeping belief is that carbon should be replaced on a monthly basis. reason being, carbon absorbs funk out of the tank. the thing is once your carbon sack has absorbed as much as it can, it will start to release what its removed back into the tank. some believe this negative effect happens more like a week later as opposed to a month. so to keep good carbon going its gonna get pricey. good carbon might be bad too. i believe it is too effective and can lead to HITH in cichlids. just my 0.02$CDN.
By taking out all the carbon at once, it wouldn't affect the bio level in your filter system unless you are saying your only media is carbon.
You can fill the cartridge with some other media like ceramic ring or Eheim substrat pro.
Sponges... and lots of them. There is a good article on them in TFH this month. Pick one up and read "The Skeptical Fish Keeper"
how about on canisters? i got a fluval 304...wut should i stuff the 3 compartments with? the top i have the ceramic rings n the bottom i had carbon..wut should i replace it with? additional biomax?
