Noob needs help with filtration

[Jroehyn]

I've had my 125 gal filtered by two emperor 400's. fishes in the tank are one 5" oscar, one 3" convict, one 4" jack dempsey, one 4" loisellei, one 7" pleco, three 3" buttikoferies, and five jags ranging from 2"-3". i'm planning on selling some of the jags and buttis and just keeping one of each kind when they get a little bigger.

right now for each emperor i have the two blue floss filters it came with, bio filter media on one container and diamond blend carbon on the other. with the arriving c-360 what media should i use on the emperors? should i just keep it the same or put something different?

 

[Liquidplants]

In my opinion from the canisters I've had, I would put 50% mechanical filter pads and 50% SeaChem-Matrix [or equivalent] in the C-360 and leave your carbon and blue floss in the Emperor 400's.

Just my 2 cents ... Good Luck.

 

[Jc1119]

I too use Matrix wiry great results, although I must confess, the containers that come with the Emperors have the perfect sized trays to fit Biomax. Lfs was out of Matrix when I was setting up my emperors so I used Biomax instead. Any good quality biomedia that will fit the gray cartridge will work.

 

[knicks791]

No need for carbon. Replace it with more bio media.

 

[Jroehyn]

i have the carbon/ammonia remover on one cartridge on each emperor, with the ammonia removed chemically, are the bacteria still able to synthesize the ammonia or should i leave it up to them to remove it.

 

[knicks791]

There if the tank is cycled then there is no need for carbon/ammonia remover. Bacteria will synthesize the ammonia and nitrite.

 

[Jc1119]

Personally, I'm an advocate of moderate carbon use. I run a magnum 350 with carbon on a timer to come on for about 2 hours a day. Carbon does not do anything for ammonia, nitrite or nitrate(till it's exhausted, then it becomes a biofilter) Carbon does remove things that your normal filtration can't like pesticides, skin cream, soap, shampoo, air fresheners, meds, etc. It's kind of a safety net for mech and bio. If you remember to wash and dry your hands every time you go in the tank, and keep it tightly covered, you might not need it. Mine is open top and my wife helps take care of the tank, so for me it's beneficial