Filter Question

[bjmoran]

Hello all .. I have until recently been changing the filter on my penguin bio-wheel every 4 weeks , after reading through various threads i have noticed that carbon is not a necessity , but I recently obtained about 4 pounds of the stuff , i now cut the top of the filter after the carbon has run its course and just use the filter itself , I was wondering if the carbon is beneficial in any way in other that removing meds . I have so much of it now i was thinking of changing it every other week ( if there is any point ) . Also if it is beneficial is there any way to incorporate it into the powerhead that runs my UGF

Thanx

 

[GIS Guy]

The other benefit is the polishing qualities.
If your tank has less than crystal clear water the carbon will clear it.

 

[YahooFishKeeper]

...Also if it is beneficial is there any way to incorporate it into the powerhead that runs my UGF...

offtopic... but are you running a reverse flow?

 

[bjmoran]

No I dont run the reverse flow , I dont think My Power-head will do that .. Aqua-Tech 170 , although I sure wish I could it sounds like a great idea.
Those Bubblehead Orandas are VERY messy , a weekly water change is a must.

 

[YahooFishKeeper]

no kidding! if you could go reverse flow, i think it would make it much easier on you, and help with nitrates by keeping poos, and extra food out of the substrate. then it could get sucked up by a HOB or canister (you do have one right?) and then rinsed out doring a WC.

 

[tropicalfish]

Hagen AquaClear Powerheads have reverse flow on some of them

 

[bjmoran]

Yes I have the Penguin 150 Bio-Wheel , which as You can imagine is working like a dog , I clean the filter pads on them bi-weekly , but I figured with the UGF and the HOB I would be ok , and Im doing ok with my ammonia so far , but a serious gravel vacuuming and 30 % weekly water change is a must , My girlfriend and her daughter LOVE them and I gotta admit they are cute little buggers .

 

[GIS Guy]

These are running in the 30g?
You may want to look into adding or upgrading to a canister.

 

[bjmoran]

I was actually thinking of upgrading my Bio-wheel , My PH is a steady 6.8 and im fighting to keep my ammonia at 0.25 , which the fish seem to be fine with ,and the water is actually very clear , but my pleco has taken a liking to the pro-gold and now shes up there with the other two at feeding time, its sorta funny we think she thinks shes a goldfish now , the algea wafers arent cutting it anymore .

 

[GIS Guy]

You need more bio filtration.
Since the ammonia is 0.25, the UGF and bio-wheel appear to not be able to keep up with the load.
Ammonia should always be at 0 in a cycled tank.

 

[bjmoran]

Yes i totally agree , took a ammonia test thismorning and it was at 0 but I just did a wc tuesday but i expect by Monday it will be at 0.25 , does the carbon help with the ammonia at all ?

 

[GIS Guy]

Nope......