Bio-wheel alternative?

[Bluishkodama]

Has anybody tried just putting normal filter floss or sponges in a marineland bio-wheel filter? I think the emperor has an extra container for other stuff. Is it possible to use normal filter fibers instead of the premade cartridges?

 

[revfred]

I use filter floss almost exclusively now. For those filters that require cartridges, I bought reusable filter bag and stuff them with filter floss. An old product, cheap enough, and the tanks have never been better. Have a couple of bags with carbon as a standby in case I have to remove medications.

 

[f8fan]

Is carbon even all that necessary in a tank? I mean, for day to day maintenance...is floss enough, coupled with the biological activity? I would feel weird not having some carbon in the filter...but with regular water changes (which I do) is this sufficent? That would save a lot of $$ compared to buying the premade cartridges...

 

[bigredspecial]

havn't used carbon in over a year.......

 

[S.Reef]

Technically you dont need it, however thats really under controversy. I believe it depends on the type of set-up and your own personal experience with carbon...you can also get different results with different carbon.