Do i need carbon in established tank?

[WOGGIES]

Hey. I read on this forum that carbon isn't necessarily needed on an established tank (just to remove meds). However, i asked the owner of a lfs store and he said that I definately need carbon in my tank at all times. My tank has been running for about 1 year. Can someone clarify this for me? I have biomax in my fluval filter and usually run the premade carbon pads for the emporer 280 along with carbon/ ammonia remover rocks (the white rocks) in the extra media compartment. Do I need to run these items in my biowheel? IF not. What should I put in there?

Also, if I have a prefilter sponge (on the intake) of my fluval 205. Will putting filterfloss or polyfill in my media space have any benefit since the prefilter is already filtering out particles from entering the canister? thanks!

Lastly. I also have heard different things about aquarium salt? I haven't used it because i have syno cats and a bristlenose pleco. Should I use this or not? Thanks!

[cocoa_pleco]

you do not need ammonia chips, nor carbon. i would just add ceramic rings i the place of carbon and ammonia chips.

carbon is optional, and i never use it. it can cause HITH and other diseases because it absorbs good minerals. as for ammonia chips, those are never ever needed. a well established tanks should never have ammonia

[msjinkzd]

I don't run carbon unless I need to remove meds from the water column. I use plastic pot scrubbers (from the dollar store with no metal in the middle) or ceramic rings as my bio-media. I use sponges (for aquaclear filters) for mechanical and poly-fill to polish (the pillow stuffing in a huge bag for $2 at walmart). I only use salt if I am treating illness. Adding polyfill can't hurt, I have prefilter sponges on all my intakes too and the polyfill still catches more crud.

[Lady Hobbs]

cocoa answered perfectly. No carbon is needed.

[WOGGIES]

I don't run carbon unless I need to remove meds from the water column. I use plastic pot scrubbers (from the dollar store with no metal in the middle) or ceramic rings as my bio-media. I use sponges (for aquaclear filters) for mechanical and poly-fill to polish (the pillow stuffing in a huge bag for $2 at walmart). I only use salt if I am treating illness. Adding polyfill can't hurt, I have prefilter sponges on all my intakes too and the polyfill still catches more crud.


Thanks everyone for the comments! This forum is great. Everyone is friendly and always tries to help answer any questions!
So What do you suggest I run in my emporer biowheel? What are these "sponges" your talking about and will they fit in the emporer?

I thought polyfil was for mechanical. What is the difference between "polishing" and mechanical filtering?

[msjinkzd]

polyfill does do mechanical filtration too, but i use coarse sponges to catch the larger debris and polyfill catches more of the finer particulate matter. In my penquin filter I have a bag of ceramic rings, a piece of ac30 sponge, and some polyfill crammed around it. The sponges I am referring to can be bought and cut to size to fit (I use ac30 sponges ...about $3 i think). I use them on my filter intake and inside other HOB filters too. Its an easy way to seed a new tank, just take the sponge from an old tank and put it in a new filter, or cut a piece off and move it over. There are a bunch of different ones, I use the rena ones in my canister filter (they have different size "pores"). Any of them will work really, its a matter of preference. I usually buy whatever is cheapest and cut it too fit. Hope this helps.

[WOGGIES]

polyfill does do mechanical filtration too, but i use coarse sponges to catch the larger debris and polyfill catches more of the finer particulate matter. In my penquin filter I have a bag of ceramic rings, a piece of ac30 sponge, and some polyfill crammed around it. The sponges I am referring to can be bought and cut to size to fit (I use ac30 sponges ...about $3 i think). I use them on my filter intake and inside other HOB filters too. Its an easy way to seed a new tank, just take the sponge from an old tank and put it in a new filter, or cut a piece off and move it over. There are a bunch of different ones, I use the rena ones in my canister filter (they have different size "pores"). Any of them will work really, its a matter of preference. I usually buy whatever is cheapest and cut it too fit. Hope this helps.


Cool thanks! So do you suggest just putting in a sponge and polyfil in my biowheel filter without any biological media? I don't think ceramic rings will fit in there!

[msjinkzd]

The sponge and polyfill will work just fine...just rinse your sponge in tank water when it gets dirty and it will retain the bacteria needed.

[WOGGIES]

The sponge and polyfill will work just fine...just rinse your sponge in tank water when it gets dirty and it will retain the bacteria needed.

COOL, thanks! i just put the polyfill in my tank. Ill see if my water gets any clearer.

Just a few more questions (Sorry, but i want to learn).

1) How come I don't need carbon anymore? What does it do?

2) How long does it take for "Beneficial bacteria" to form? And What does the bacteria on the biomax do?

3) The new 200 watt heater i just got says its "fully submersible" But that doesnt' mean the wire right? Its just a regular outlet wire.

4) After a treatment with meds, how long should i put carbon back in to eliminate the meds?

[Fishguy2727]

Carbon does a number of things. It removes meds, odors, and discoloration. If you need to use meds then use carbon afterwards. As far as odor and discoloration, your water changes should do this. There are other things that carbon does. It also removes trace elements and micronutrients. These can end up causing HLLE and can contribute to HITH in many species. It can also cause less observable problems in almost any species. In addition it also takes these same things from plants, if there are any in the tank. There is no need for carbon in a tank unless you are removing meds. Even in the beginning when the tank is cycling it is not needed.

The beneficial bacteria (nitrifying bacteria) form during the cycling process. They can spread in just a few days once they are established (for example, from old media to new media). You have BioWheels and so for now on will not need to worry about nitrifying bacteria. The Biomax is another media for the nitrifying bacteria. Neither the BioWheels nor the Biomax should ever be replaced. However, the Biomax may need to be rinsed in tankw ater if any debris is visible.

Yes, even the wire in the heater can go into the water. I lay mine horizontally in the middle in the back of the tank.