filter cartridges - Aquarium Advice

rollin_22 · 02-24-2006, 09:21 PM

i have a hang on filter on my 55 and am planning on getting new cartridges tomorrow, my question is, could i take out the activated carbon out of the old one, and put something in it to use as a filter.... i mean the carbon is useless, but the surface of the filter is fine, and i just wanted to know if i could use it with a different media... anything that would be beneficial to my tank? thanks for the help.

mr funktastic · 02-24-2006, 10:13 PM

i know that aqua clear has some kind of bio material that u might be able to put in there instead of carbon. i just bought the aquaclear 30 for my tank and it had the carbon pack and also something else... i wish i knew what it was. if u go to www.bigalsonline.com and search aquaclear it should have all the different replacement packages and u can choose somethnig form there. hth

rollin_22 · 02-24-2006, 11:14 PM

ok, is there anyhting that would benefit me the most..... i just want to have really clear water, and good quality water...more so then i already do

**Fishyfanatic** · 02-24-2006, 11:30 PM

Ceramic rings would be what I would add. I have never used an AquaClear so I am unsure of how they are built. But does it have baskets to add other media? If so, definitely use Ceramic Rings.

rollin_22 · 02-24-2006, 11:39 PM

my filter doesnt have baskets, but that is what i am asking about, i could use my old filter pads, and kind of fashion my own diy media..... what are the benefits of ceramic media

**Fishyfanatic** · 02-24-2006, 11:43 PM

Sure, you can do it. Alot of members do just that. Cut a slit at the top of the cartridge and pour out the carbon. Then just add in ceramic rings.

Rings provide more surface area for bacteria colonization than carbon.

rollin_22 · 02-24-2006, 11:54 PM

okay... what else is there? i just want to have so clear of water that i dont even know that its there.... is there anyhting that will do this for me

**Fishyfanatic** · 02-25-2006, 12:12 AM

Filter floss helps.

tropicfishman · 02-25-2006, 12:14 AM

if you wanted to go all out you could put the rings in the filter itsefl and in the bags put some ammonia remover chips, carbon, denitrate and phosphate remover, that should handle everything and keep you tank crystal clear I would think

rollin_22 · 02-25-2006, 12:30 AM

ok thanks for the advice

02-24-2006, 09:21 PM	#1
rollin_22 Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: brainerd minnesota Posts: 150 Images: 1	filter cartridges i have a hang on filter on my 55 and am planning on getting new cartridges tomorrow, my question is, could i take out the activated carbon out of the old one, and put something in it to use as a filter.... i mean the carbon is useless, but the surface of the filter is fine, and i just wanted to know if i could use it with a different media... anything that would be beneficial to my tank? thanks for the help. __________________ I HATE PET STORES

02-24-2006, 11:14 PM	#3
rollin_22 Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: brainerd minnesota Posts: 150 Images: 1	ok, is there anyhting that would benefit me the most..... i just want to have really clear water, and good quality water...more so then i already do __________________ I HATE PET STORES

02-24-2006, 11:30 PM	#4
Fishyfanatic Aquarium Advice Addict Community Moderator Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Illinois Posts: 10,252 Images: 15	Ceramic rings would be what I would add. I have never used an AquaClear so I am unsure of how they are built. But does it have baskets to add other media? If so, definitely use Ceramic Rings. __________________ Vote for Aquarium Advice 10 Gallon Lake Malawi Cichlid Fry 29 Gallon Community 55 Gallon Community 55 Gallon Lake Malawi Cichlid Fry 150 Gallon Lake Malawi Cichlid

02-24-2006, 11:39 PM	#5
rollin_22 Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: brainerd minnesota Posts: 150 Images: 1	my filter doesnt have baskets, but that is what i am asking about, i could use my old filter pads, and kind of fashion my own diy media..... what are the benefits of ceramic media __________________ I HATE PET STORES

02-24-2006, 11:43 PM	#6
Fishyfanatic Aquarium Advice Addict Community Moderator Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Illinois Posts: 10,252 Images: 15	Sure, you can do it. Alot of members do just that. Cut a slit at the top of the cartridge and pour out the carbon. Then just add in ceramic rings. Rings provide more surface area for bacteria colonization than carbon. __________________ Vote for Aquarium Advice 10 Gallon Lake Malawi Cichlid Fry 29 Gallon Community 55 Gallon Community 55 Gallon Lake Malawi Cichlid Fry 150 Gallon Lake Malawi Cichlid

02-24-2006, 10:13 PM	#2
mr funktastic Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: alliston, ON Posts: 2,220 Images: 17	i know that aqua clear has some kind of bio material that u might be able to put in there instead of carbon. i just bought the aquaclear 30 for my tank and it had the carbon pack and also something else... i wish i knew what it was. if u go to www.bigalsonline.com and search aquaclear it should have all the different replacement packages and u can choose somethnig form there. hth

02-24-2006, 11:54 PM	#7
rollin_22 Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: brainerd minnesota Posts: 150 Images: 1	okay... what else is there? i just want to have so clear of water that i dont even know that its there.... is there anyhting that will do this for me __________________ I HATE PET STORES

02-25-2006, 12:12 AM	#8
Fishyfanatic Aquarium Advice Addict Community Moderator Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Illinois Posts: 10,252 Images: 15	Filter floss helps. __________________ Vote for Aquarium Advice 10 Gallon Lake Malawi Cichlid Fry 29 Gallon Community 55 Gallon Community 55 Gallon Lake Malawi Cichlid Fry 150 Gallon Lake Malawi Cichlid

02-25-2006, 12:14 AM	#9
tropicfishman Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Ashland KY Posts: 1,890	if you wanted to go all out you could put the rings in the filter itsefl and in the bags put some ammonia remover chips, carbon, denitrate and phosphate remover, that should handle everything and keep you tank crystal clear I would think __________________ I love my clown loaches and red tail shark!!! lol

02-25-2006, 12:30 AM	#10
rollin_22 Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: brainerd minnesota Posts: 150 Images: 1	ok thanks for the advice __________________ I HATE PET STORES

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