patrick cleveland
Aquarium Advice Apprentice
Hi there my question about filters is 1 on HOB filters which is best sponge first cartridge last or vice versa.2 I've done aquariums serveral years on LFS advice and guidence then I find this site and realize much cheaper ways to do things what exactly is wrong with carbon and if I substitute it with somthing else will I get the same crystal clear water as I do using it .3 does api test kit have long shelf life. I have two of them given to me and one I know of is several years old.As a sucker of LFS advice I have been using test strips and never been able to get nitrates where I want them to be after testing with api last night I have 0 ppm of nitrates in my 150 gal which I also tested with test strip its reading was danger zone for nitrates. I do regular water changes and gravel vacs on my 3 tanks.