OH NO! The Chemical Filtration Debate

[aclockworkorange]

OK, everyone!

We all know the importance of mechanical and biological filtration in our tanks.

The debate is out for chemical.


With the addition of products like Purigen to the standard activated carbon, I'm curious to hear about some of the new(er) products, or just use of carbon, in healthy, established tanks.

NOT looking for people saying "I've had tanks ____ amount of years you don't need the stuff!" Yes, I'm aware a tank is more than capable of being quite healthy without chemical filtration. However, WOULD welcome some detailed explanations as to why you don't use it (aside from reasons like cost).

Definitely interested in people running large setups with it, whatever "it" is.


So, let it begin?

 

[david503bk]

Not a fan of chemical medias. I am a bio and mech guy. Only thing I use is crushed coral.

 

[PostalPenguin]

I would like to put out there that saturated carbon does not leech out chemicals all at once like some people claim. The only way carbon will leach what it has captured is if there is something that has a higher affinity for the carbon than what is held. So if your carbon is saturated with A and you add B to the tank, with B binding to carbon better, A will leach out.

However, carbon will not simply start leaching A back into the tank just because it is saturated with A

 

[nfored]

I have been wanting to give hyper sorb a shot, just to broke to buy any filter media.

 

[aclockworkorange]

anyone else?

 

[knifegill]

Do live plants count?!

 

[Ghost9001]

Chemical filtration isn't completely necessary but it definitely help. It helps to about organic compounds that biological filtration cannot. Remember that fish are swimming in their own waste, and while biological filtration removes the ammonia and nitrites from the water there are still pathogens from the fish's solid waste in the water. Regular water changes will remove this from the water but, carbon and other mechanical filtration will help keep the water healthy.

 

[CHOMPERS]

NOT looking for people saying "I've had tanks ____ amount of years you don't need the stuff!"

I've had tanks ____ amount of years you don't need the stuff!

 

[aclockworkorange]

I've had tanks ____ amount of years you don't need the stuff!

 

[rhodes_96]

I believe Chemical filtration has it's place in an aqaurium if the water we use in the aqaurium in the first place or with water changes has too much or not enough necessary elements to sustain the living aqautic environment to ones needs. For example, the tap water used has high phosphates even after normal pre water conditioning, or rain water used as change water has high mineral contents that effect the kh of the water the water unstable. In these instances I would use a chemical media to help maintain my water conditions to optimal levels.