carbon for aquaclear

[lightning]

i have an aquaclear 500 and its time to change out the carbon that came with the filter, i dont have a bag to put it the new in, was wondering if some panty hose cut and tied at the ends would work ok, any suggestions ?

 

[catfishmike]

sure why not?or you can just buy a media bag,which are usualy sold right by the carbon and other chemical medias in your lfs

 

[rocketshrimp]

Or if you still have the old carbon cut the top of pour out the old carbon sludge and put in new carbon and tie off with sting, floss, ruber band.......

 

[lightning]

i have looked at petsmart and one of my LFS all they had was the ones that allready had carbon in it,

i thought about cutting it open and sewing it shut too, guess ill try it out tonight

 

[moricollins]

i dont' use carbon in my filters, it has no real effect on your water aside from removing algae from the water, ,and improving water colouration.. oh and removing meds from the water..

i use two filter sponges plus bioballs/nodes/whatever to increase the bio potential.

 

[Somonas]

You dont need to use carbon unless you are removing meds.
Carbon removing algae is a new one, I've never heard of that.

 

[moricollins]

removing the yellow coolour from the water caused by algae is what i meant.

 

[Dr. Fishkill]

oh no, more anti-carbonites

i think some of you guys are too cheap to buy carbon

 

[moricollins]

not too cheap, just sick of changing the media all the time, and i've never seen any real improvement of having carbon vs not having carbon.

 

[Cichlid-Man]

Ok so ya'll are saying if i have a 55gal tank running 1 AC500..........hoping to get Discus.........i don't need the carbon? Just sponge? Maybe another sponge in the carbon's place?

 

[lightning]

i have an emporer 400 and an aquaclear 500 on a 55 tank, i use carbon in both and have perfect water, it doesnt smell or have any colors, i tried the pantyhose thing and it works perfect, i have since found the bags at one of my LFS so at some point i will probably just buy the name brand bag, depending on how long this hose last i change the carbon every month

 

[moricollins]

um, i don't think the discus \will like the AC 500, there will be way too much water movement for discuses, they like still water, ,the best filters for them IMO are canister filters,

 

[Cichlid-Man]

Well i am thinking about getting a canister later, but a lot of people on www.simplydiscus.com use and like the AC500 for their discus tanks.....so i got 1

 

[lightning]

i dont have discus, i have cichlids, and they like the water movements, and the carbon !

 

[Managuense]

i dont have discus, i have cichlids

what family do discus belong to? ....

i agree with mori and somonas on this one, in that carbon is really only useful for removing meds.

the fact that you can actually AFFORD the carbon at your LFS is testament to the fact that it is very poor compared to the carbon they use in big-time chemical treatment and supply companies. (check the price on that stuff... it will blow your mind)

running 2 sponges and doing water changes will provide more benefit by far than running carbon ever could.
M

 

[jcd]

yes go ahead . i used old tights instead when my fish got sick and i accidently pourred too much medicine in (although now i regret ever using it )

 

[wethead]

I am another fish keeper that ditched carbon years ago.
I saw in the local paper (Phila.) the other day that some water treatment plants in N.J. are switching from Chloramine to of all things, Ozone to purify water.
I wonder what effect that will have on the hobby....Rich