Chemical Media Poll!

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo

What is your chemical media of choice?

  • Carbon

    Votes: 9 50.0%

  • Chemipure

    Votes: 2 11.1%

  • Other - describe

    Votes: 7 38.9%
  • Total voters
    18
F

FLESHY

Polypterus
MFK Member
Jan 7, 2006
5,542
20
92
Central Wisconsin
What is everyone's chemical media of choice?

Why?

How much do you use, what do you use it in, what have you noticed from use?

If there are multiple brands tell me why you choose your brand as well.

Thanks!
 
Just about every practical mechanical filter media is made from polyester. So,

Polyester pillow stuffing, otherwise known as poly fill or filter floss. The big craft stores like Micheal's or Jo-Ann always have 1/2 off coupons that are printable from the internet, so you can get a good sized bag of it for like $3 out the door (for the same stuff you'll pay $15 out the door at the LFS). The more you pack it, the more you will restrict flow. But the less you pack will reduce the particle grabbing ability.

I line the bottom with 25 Micron Polyester Felt (link), which is the same material as a filter sock, and can also be had on the cheap outside of the LFS, in several different particle sizes (200 micron, 100 micron, etc.)

Although I will say that I have just started using the filter floss without the felt. I have about 3 gallons worth of filter floss in the mechanical part of my sump and we'll see how it goes.


Edit: I screwed that one up huh. I've not used chemical filtration in so long, that I forgot it even existed :confused:

Sorry to jack your thread.
 
Hi,

Seachem Matrix Carbon - I Like this for a VERY short period, like a few days - although linked to HITH because of the dusts etc, washes very well it has a place in the aquarium for removing meds

Seachem Purigen/Macropore - Great for Tannins
 
I do water changes, NEVER introduce anything new into my tank, run a UV sterilizer 24/7. In the 7+ years the tank has been running, there has never been a need for medication/chemical filtration. If my tank needed chemical filtration, something bad is going on in my tank.
 
4D3 said:
Hi,

Seachem Matrix Carbon - I Like this for a VERY short period, like a few days - although linked to HITH because of the dusts etc, washes very well it has a place in the aquarium for removing meds

Seachem Purigen/Macropore - Great for Tannins
Click to expand...

Ive used both - in SW aquaria. Im looking for something that will be a long term water polisher...Im thinking thats purigen, but just wondering what everyone here uses on these big tanks with big bioloads.

sincebeen said:
Just about every practical mechanical filter media is made from polyester. So,

Polyester pillow stuffing, otherwise known as poly fill or filter floss. The big craft stores like Micheal's or Jo-Ann always have 1/2 off coupons that are printable from the internet, so you can get a good sized bag of it for like $3 out the door (for the same stuff you'll pay $15 out the door at the LFS). The more you pack it, the more you will restrict flow. But the less you pack will reduce the particle grabbing ability.

I line the bottom with 25 Micron Polyester Felt (link), which is the same material as a filter sock, and can also be had on the cheap outside of the LFS, in several different particle sizes (200 micron, 100 micron, etc.)

Although I will say that I have just started using the filter floss without the felt. I have about 3 gallons worth of filter floss in the mechanical part of my sump and we'll see how it goes.


Edit: I screwed that one up huh. I've not used chemical filtration in so long, that I forgot it even existed :confused:

Sorry to jack your thread.
Click to expand...

No worries man - good input on mechanical filtration!

I am a stickler for great looking water and chemically great water. Hence the reason I ask what all the monsterfish boys and girls are using. This is going to be going on a piranha tank.

pacu mom said:
I do water changes, NEVER introduce anything new into my tank, run a UV sterilizer 24/7. In the 7+ years the tank has been running, there has never been a need for medication/chemical filtration. If my tank needed chemical filtration, something bad is going on in my tank.
Click to expand...

Im not running it because something is wrong, I want to run it to get "fish floating in air" look. I do at least weekly h2o changes, so this isnt a replacement for that, no worries.

I was really tired last night when I made this poll - and although chemi pure is great stuff (or at least it was in my sw aquaria) I should have put purigen in as an option.
 
Like Pacu Mom, I don't use any chemical media ever. Other then my hospital/quarantine tank. Then its only ever for 4 days.

To get the highly polished water I use higher turn over rates of water flow. Over filtration with sumps mixed with canister filtration. In my filtration I run various different types of mechanical media that filters different particle size. I end up with very very clear water and that look your talking about.

The issues with chemical media is it takes quite a large amount of something like purigen and you have to recharge it. While recharging it you would need to rotate out another large amount to keep it in use. Cost is high. Plus I'm positive all these media strip out the good minerals and Other stuff beneficial to your livestock. Thus the issues with lateral line erosion. To me its just not worth it. I can get that look with just proper flow and mechanical filtration that harms nothing and much less cost. Overall its also more healthy for the fish I think.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using MonsterAquariaNetwork App
 
If you want "crispy" water, the particulates have to be removed. Particulate removal is done with great mechanical filtration, not chemical filtration. Most aquarists reserve chemical filtration for removal of chemicals such as medications after treating a tank for some kind of infection.
 
Yea, but organics dissolved in the h2o cant be removed by mechanical filtration.

We will see...my water is good now. And I am over filtered, always just looking to get the next little edge.
 
FLESHY said:
Yea, but organics dissolved in the h2o cant be removed by mechanical filtration.

We will see...my water is good now. And I am over filtered, always just looking to get the next little edge.
Click to expand...

Get a media reactor, mod it to cope with purigen and run it with a slow powerhead....

Sent from my Evo 3D GSM using MonsterAquariaNetwork App
 
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