Question about chemical filtration media that removes ammonia...

[Cohazard]

Does anyone use it?

I'm thinking about buying some just to purify my tanks water more.

But I had a thought about the ammonia removing aspect.

If the media is absorbing the media, then it's taking the 'food' away from the nitrosomes/nitrifying bacteria, and won't that kill off my bio filter?

Is anyone using this type of chemical filtration? I'm I being too paranoid?

thanks

 

[Bud8Fan]

A properly cycled tank has absolutely no need for this type of product. Let your benificial bacteria do it for you.

 

[Jgray152]

Its main use is to control ammonia spikes in emergency situations.

 

[cichlid2006]

its of no use if your looking after your tanks properly. unless of course an accident occurs and ammonia needs to be made safe for a short period until your filter recovers.

 

[Cohazard]

well I should've clarified that I am not purchasing it for the ammonia absorbing properties, but for the other impurities of the water which are present no matter how well you maintain your aquarium, unless your fish don't poop, and you don't allow any fish food to touch the water lol

I'm getting a protein layer film on the surface of the water. The system is healthy, water is crystal, but that protein film (I feed my FH high protein diet) is unsightly and annoying.

I'm picking up a surface extractor this weekend, but as a back-up I want to remove more organics from the water.

 

[cichlid2006]

for the protein film increase the surface agitation. it should start to go. or get some kitchen roll and skim the surface.

 

[Cohazard]

soaking it off the surface is not practical because the layer can accumulate within hours.

I'm trying to stay away from surface agitation because of the plants, it deflects light, and in a low-light setup, I need as much light to get to them as possible.

I know the surface extractor is going to take care of it, but if it's too noisy, I'll try experimenting with chemical filtration media in my cannisters.

Plus I just want some extra back up to remove the organics from the water.

 

[JIM]

Too paranoid is a good descripyion in my opinion, if you do regular water changes, ammonia should never be a problem, unless youve got a 5 gal tank with 6 big goldfish in it, and even then enough water changes will solve the problem.

 

[cichlid2006]

Too paranoid is a good descripyion in my opinion, if you do regular water changes, ammonia should never be a problem, unless youve got a 5 gal tank with 6 big goldfish in it, and even then enough water changes will solve the problem.

if you go back a couple of posts you will see he clarified that it wasnt the ammonia removing properties of a chamical.

to the poster, someone put up a question with this very same issue and a solution was found, i dont think it was that long ago. if you do a search for it you should find it. i cant remember which section though. it will be a pain to look through but probably quicker than waiting on an answer.

 

[Cohazard]

Here's an update, I put in an air stone and the bubles effectively turned the protein layer into white flakes that started snowing down into my tank, but I took it out because I'm trying to keep my setup pristine.

I went to the Jebo warehouse today to pick up some gravel and the surface extractor.

I've wanted one for a long time (especially when I had bichirs, they eat a lot of protein too, and when I had puffers in a planted tank), but never bought one because I hated I was being charged almost almost $15 for a plastic tube

Through Chris (jeboxfiddy) Jebo has a surface extractor for $5, the whole sale price ($6) you can only get through jeboxfiddy. They mark up the price at pet stores.

I wish I took a before pic, because after a few minutes with the surface extractor installed, the protein layer was gone, and the surface is crystal clear.

I also like that it's small and I easily hid it with the plants in the tank, and it fit the intake of my xp3 perfectly.

It pulls from the surface, and below the extractor, and has an adjustible balance between the two points of water intake, that makes it a lot easier to get the perfect balance without having to raise and lower the whole extractor, you just turn the rod in the middle.

I also bought carbon for the filter, since with the help of fellow MFK I realized I only need the ammonia removing stuff in emergency situations, and carbon works fine for just extra purification of the water, since it traps organics.

Here is a pic of the extractor in place, I'll get a shot of the surface later if I can, water was slightly cloudy right now due to adding more gravel to my tank: