please help with chemical filtration

[sonycrr]

i have a 45g with a eheim pro 2026
i bought carbon pads for the filter. the manual says u have to change the carbon pad every 2 weeks. i also thought you have to change the white filter pad every 2 weeks as well but from reading on this site, people change it every couple of months.

so i rather not open the filter just to change the carbon pad every two weeks.

which product is good for chemical filtration and also being very quiet, can anyone recommend a product?
i was looking at Marineland Penguin Power Filter and the aquaclear power filter but i have never used these products.

is it possible to fill the water in the tank so that the outlets on these filters are submerged? if so, will that cancel all the noise these filters create? i really need something quiet becuase this will be in my bed room.
so what is the most quietest method to provide chemical filtration?
if it is a power filter, which power filter is the most quietest?
or should i just continue to use the carbon pads for the eheim filter?
also, how often am i suppose to open up the eheim 2026 to clean it, not replacing the pads but just washing the filter and draining the dirt and residue that collects in the filter?


ty for your help. i really appreciate it. this is my first canister filter and i'm pretty new to the aquarium hobby.
=)

 

[dmopar74]

dont even bother with carbon, its not needed. problem solved.

 

[sonycrr]

does carbon make the water more clear?

 

[Deaths Sting]

does carbon make the water more clear?

carbon can remove discoloration in water caused by tannins etc etc , but its not needed to...there's lots of myths about carbon..

 

[sonycrr]

can any1 help me with the other questions?

ty

 

[shoggoth43]

I've got the 2028 which is pretty much the same unit. You have a couple of options.

1) clean it every X weeks ( pick a schedule you can deal with )
2) clean it whenever the flow meter drops off a bit

If you want to extend this, put a prefilter on the intake to keep more of the crud out. When you go to rinse the media, I've been squeezing out the top polishing pad and then removing all of the trays except the bottom one with the tubular media. Pull out the blue sponge and rinse it out well. Take the bottom basket and pull it up in the filter ( still full of water ) and shove it down. Repeat this a few times to force some of the food/crap out of the ceramic tubes. Pull that basket out and rinse out the crud in the cannister. You can also rinse the basket with the tubes if you want, but the swishing up/down rinses it pretty good. Put it all back together under the tank after you fill it with a hose or a pitcher FROM THE TANK. NEVER fill it with tap water or you've just damaged you biological filtration from the chlorine/chloramine. You'll want to see water above the fine polishing pad. Open the valves, plug it in and you're good.

-
S

...
so what is the most quietest method to provide chemical filtration?
if it is a power filter, which power filter is the most quietest?
or should i just continue to use the carbon pads for the eheim filter?
also, how often am i suppose to open up the eheim 2026 to clean it, not replacing the pads but just washing the filter and draining the dirt and residue that collects in the filter?...