Filter bag media.

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C

Cheesehead

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Dec 7, 2011
685
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WI
Ok just getting into planted tanks and I am wondering what type of filter media to use.
Right now I have activated carbon in my filter and I have heard that that is not good for plants, is that true? If it is should I just go with a plain filter pad, biological filtration, or peat?
Thanks
 
Not that its not good for plants but it can strip out some of the nutrients you putting in to the tank. If you have a high enough plant load an a low enough bio load you don't need much media just buy a little bit of seachem biomatrix and use that.

What size tank and what type of filter it almost sounds like your using an HOB filter and that can be bad for plated tanks if your dosing CO2 as it will help it gas off faster.
 
Ya I have the HOB that came with my 36gl bow. (tank is 36gl fyi) Can I just go with a straight filter pad?
 
Cheesehead said:
Ya I have the HOB that came with my 36gl bow. (tank is 36gl fyi) Can I just go with a straight filter pad?
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Yes you can use a normal filter pad, or you could depending on the type of HOB use pillow bating or any number of other filter mediums. One word of advice if your only filter is this hob filter and its only media is the filter pad, you will lose all your bacteria replacing it. Also if all you put back in it is a normal filter pad and have no other filter media then when you rinse it out BE SURE to use TANK water when rinsing the filter pad so you don't kill your bacteria.
 
Aren't you supposed to change filter pads monthly? Anyway I don't clean the whole filter, just the tube when it starts to look gross, thanks for your replies!
 
Also there are 2 other thing in the my filter, one I think is the thing that holds the filter in and says not to wash because it holds the bacteria, and one other thing but I don't know what its called.
 
I never change mine, I only clean it once its clogged and only clean in tank water. If your filter only has this filter pad then that is the only place to store bacteria so you will need to never replace that or else you will have to basically cycle all over again. Also never ever clean it in tap water or you will kill your bacteria and have to recycle.

IMHO buy another filter that you can use real bio media such as a canister or get an aqua clear hob filter so you can use normal media.
 
So what would be a good, not so expensive canister filter for a 36g?
 
Do you mean be carefull to?
 
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