Carbon in your planted tank

[Griz]

No carbon in my tank either, for the same reasons that The-Wolf posted:

Carbon will absorb many of the nutrients that plants need, especially iron.
to have a sucessfull planted tank, no carbon.

[snapback]868218[/snapback]​

I replaced the carbon with peat granules. I have an Aquaclear 200 which has plenty of room in it. 1/3 sponge and 1/3 (or more) peat. The peat softens the water a bit, is good for both the plants and fish, adds some additional space for bacteria to grow and stains the water a beautiful tea colour.

 

[jollysue]

I have 2 Emperor 400's in the big 100 usg getting planted tank. They have 2 bio wheels each. There will probably be another filter or two cycling for quarantine and hospital soon. I suppose I could put some sponges in them. They have enough room for 4 filters + in each one. I have loooots of driftwood, but I suppose I could add some peat. It won't make the water too soft? Do you just use the blue and white bonded filter stuff? I also have the micro filter stuff that I add when I take the carbon out.

Actually I can use the chemi-pure and carbon in the coldwater tank, the unplanted tanks and quarantine for now.

Thanks Griz

 

[Walt]

Hey Jollysue...

I have that same 400 filter on my 50 gallon tank.
As you know, there is room in that filter for, first, the carbon/filter pad, then the next filter that allows you to put whatever in it...ie more carbon/ammonia stuff would be what i think they were thinking about.. then the bio wheels...

I just took out the carbon and left the filter media in the first space for mechanical filtration... then in the one you can fill up, i filled it with Eheim biological media....

Between the Ehiem media and the Bio wheels, its jammin
Also.. if for some reason the power went out and the bio wheels went dry....atleast ALL your bio wouldnt die.. the Eheim stuff would still be under water.. ;>

Its a pretty sweet mechcanical/bio filter now

 

[jollysue]

Sounds good, thanks I'll be looking into the bio media. I just got a big order, but there is a sweet sale on at Fosters and Smith.

Thanks everyone for answering and giving me the benefit of your experience.