A lot of us use Prime, and not just for dechlorination. I'm interested in this thread to see what else there is.
OH NO! The Chemical Filtration Debate
- Thread starter aclockworkorange
- Start date
I don't use chemical filtration because I don't know of any chemical filter media that actually does anything I need. I gravel vac and do water changes to remove and dilute disolved and undissolved organic waste and other things that may accumulate like fish hormones.
Unless there's a chemical filter media that's as quick, cheap and easy to use as doing a gravel vac/water change that does the same thing or better, I don't really have any interest in chemical filter media. Unless plants count as chemical filter media.
Unless there's a chemical filter media that's as quick, cheap and easy to use as doing a gravel vac/water change that does the same thing or better, I don't really have any interest in chemical filter media. Unless plants count as chemical filter media.
I'll use carbon if I medicate a tank. I had to treat 2 balas for ich, so I used carbon to clear the meds once they were healthy... I also run Clearmax every so often, seems to help polish the water???
I also have a hard time with the prevalent attitude of "don't need the stuff no matter what." When I was a kid, we hardly ever did water changes, and ran undergravel filters, and the fish guys thought THAT was the way to go... I'm sure 10 years from now we will be laughing at the methods we are using now.
I'm positive at least some of the stuff on the market has some good effects, I think the problem is most people (myself included) aren't willing to try it out without a lot of people saying it works first.
I'm positive at least some of the stuff on the market has some good effects, I think the problem is most people (myself included) aren't willing to try it out without a lot of people saying it works first.
My LFS really likes purigen. They were all "It totally absorbs nitrAtes! It's so great!" and then they were like "You'll need plant fertilizer" so I said "You want me to buy nitrates and other chemicals to replace the ones that this stuff removes?" and they kind of froze. It was funny.
ive always used crabon just to get my water super clear. always seems to work but have been wondering if its nessesary. especially no wthat i have a sump with alot more bio filtration
aclockworkorange;4363104; said:
not really though. things have changed only to make aquarium keeping more effecient. the basic concept is that same, even from that of decades ago. biological filtration has evolved, but it's still biological filtration. only difference is now we have better filters like canisters and sumps to replace the UGF.
i'm one of those that doesnt believe in chemical filtration. it just isnt needed, so i dont see why i should add it. you cant say the same about biological filtration. whether youre using a UGF, sponge filter, or an elaborate sump setup, youre end result is the same
jcardona1;4363170; said:
Do you really see the way we keep fish as efficient? Large water changes, manual tank cleaning, etc? How much research has really been done on every single chemical produced by every single species of fish and how it relates to keeping them in a glass box with treated tap water with X number of chemicals in it?
The only people doing continuous research on a hobby level are the companies selling you products and the consumers! It's an environment of mistrust in that sense, with results all over the place, and no way to accurately separate the propaganda companies put out from legit information, aside from message boards like this with trustworthy members.
AS STATED in my first post, we KNOW you can successfully keep fish with mechanical and bio filtration available, that is not the point of this post.
The point is to look at the possible benefits of NEW technology.
For example: the use of ozonizers (high voltage regulators of ozone gas) in conjunction with protein skimmers in freshwater aquariums, which sterilizes the water, and allows the use of a protein skimmer in a freshwater setup (but that's another topic).
While such technology may be of little thought to the average hobbyist, last time I checked this is MONSTER fish keepers, not how to care for a couple goldfish dot com.
And I would like to hear about people's experiences with some of the latest in chemical filtration.
