Hello all!
is there anything else I can put in my filter media-wise that will give me better filtration besides carbon filter? I have a 30 gal square tank, using a Penguin 200 filter. It's like 10 years old. I use their carbon filters inside. I think there is room in the filter box for two filters. I used to change them out, but after reading posts, I just wash them in tank water in a separate bucket.
my nitrates are high. What can I do to lower them? I tried removing much of the gravel and I will continue the water changes. Turns out I had about 3-4" coating of gravel on the ground. I left myself with a thin layer of gravel just coating the bottom part of the square tank. Besides gravel and overfeeding, where else do nitrates "come from"?
I use distilled water for all water changes. I do 30% one a week at least, and often do this twice a week. I used to use tap water, but my tap is terrible... 25 ppm of hardness.... It left a mess of hard water stains on my tank, filter case, hood, everywhere...
I am moving in 3 months and thinking of starting over with a shiny new tank with NO hard water stains.
is there anything else I can put in my filter media-wise that will give me better filtration besides carbon filter? I have a 30 gal square tank, using a Penguin 200 filter. It's like 10 years old. I use their carbon filters inside. I think there is room in the filter box for two filters. I used to change them out, but after reading posts, I just wash them in tank water in a separate bucket.
my nitrates are high. What can I do to lower them? I tried removing much of the gravel and I will continue the water changes. Turns out I had about 3-4" coating of gravel on the ground. I left myself with a thin layer of gravel just coating the bottom part of the square tank. Besides gravel and overfeeding, where else do nitrates "come from"?
I use distilled water for all water changes. I do 30% one a week at least, and often do this twice a week. I used to use tap water, but my tap is terrible... 25 ppm of hardness.... It left a mess of hard water stains on my tank, filter case, hood, everywhere...
I am moving in 3 months and thinking of starting over with a shiny new tank with NO hard water stains.