Filter Bits

[Rorie]

I've just set up my new tetra tec ex 1200 but have questions their phone line failed to answer!

1) I know carbon takes out medicine etc out the water, and after a couple weeks is not effective. But, does it do any harm keeping it in? Is it really worth it or should I just ditch it and put another sponge in?

2) ceramic nodes. What do these do?! I thibk I need to replace them every year? But what are they for?

3) plastic balls, or bio balls. What are they for?

4) my aquarium has been moved, so my 3 layers of gravel have all churned up when adding water- it was gonna happen! How long before it settles? It's a 360l aquarium and 24 hours on, it's still black! Should I keep the filter off or on during this period? Thanks!

 

[VaegaVic]

I've just set up my new tetra tec ex 1200 but have questions their phone line failed to answer!

1) I know carbon takes out medicine etc out the water, and after a couple weeks is not effective. But, does it do any harm keeping it in? Is it really worth it or should I just ditch it and put another sponge in?
Sponge.

2) ceramic nodes. What do these do?! I thibk I need to replace them every year? But what are they for?
Breeding grounds for good bacteria. They keep the fish alive and need to be in the tank at all times, essentially what makes the filter work. Doesn't need to be replaced unless physically falling apart.

3) plastic balls, or bio balls. What are they for?
Same as Ceramics, just cheaper.

4) my aquarium has been moved, so my 3 layers of gravel have all churned up when adding water- it was gonna happen! How long before it settles? It's a 360l aquarium and 24 hours on, it's still black! Should I keep the filter off or on during this period? Thanks!
A water change might be your best bit here, or just wait for it to clear. I would still suggest water change though.

 

[rdp50734]

I would not bother with the carbon unless you have medicated. Then I would use it for a week and remove/bin it. Add another sponge for now.

Ceramic nodes and bio balls are biological filtration. It is what the bacteria establishes on and grows in. No need to change it every year. When they start breaking down just add a few more. They will last for years.

Leave the filter on but keep rinsing the sponges out in old tank water. You could try leaving the filter off for a few hours but dont forget to turn it back on!

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Save the carbon sponge for when you actually need it (removing meds from water) as they are not easy to clean so don't make good biological/waste removal sponges.

 

[PRW1988]

I've just set up my new tetra tec ex 1200 but have questions their phone line failed to answer!

1) I know carbon takes out medicine etc out the water, and after a couple weeks is not effective. But, does it do any harm keeping it in? Is it really worth it or should I just ditch it and put another sponge in?
Sponge.

2) ceramic nodes. What do these do?! I thibk I need to replace them every year? But what are they for?
Breeding grounds for good bacteria. They keep the fish alive and need to be in the tank at all times, essentially what makes the filter work. Doesn't need to be replaced unless physically falling apart.

3) plastic balls, or bio balls. What are they for?
Same as Ceramics, just cheaper.

4) my aquarium has been moved, so my 3 layers of gravel have all churned up when adding water- it was gonna happen! How long before it settles? It's a 360l aquarium and 24 hours on, it's still black! Should I keep the filter off or on during this period? Thanks!
A water change might be your best bit here, or just wait for it to clear. I would still suggest water change though.

Agreed with everything here except the Carbon. It depends on the stock of your tank but personally I'd say use Zeolite. It's actually a type of volcanic mineral that absorbs many things. Even water, smells etc. I learnt that from Dragon's Den lol

 

[Bignose]

Agreed with everything here except the Carbon. It depends on the stock of your tank but personally I'd say use Zeolite. It's actually a type of volcanic mineral that absorbs many things. Even water, smells etc. I learnt that from Dragon's Den lol

I would strongly advise against zeolite. One of the many things zeolite adsorbs is ammonia, and you want the ammonia to be available for your bacterial colony or your plants if you have planted tank. One all the adsorption sites in the zeolite are filled with ammonia, unless you have a healthy bacterial colony or plants ready to consume this ammonia, it will just build up and harm your fish.

Zeolite can be nice to have around for emergency use, but really has no place in an everyday use.

 

[VaegaVic]

Agreed with everything here except the Carbon. It depends on the stock of your tank but personally I'd say use Zeolite. It's actually a type of volcanic mineral that absorbs many things. Even water, smells etc. I learnt that from Dragon's Den lol

I would strongly advise against zeolite. One of the many things zeolite adsorbs is ammonia, and you want the ammonia to be available for your bacterial colony or your plants if you have planted tank. One all the adsorption sites in the zeolite are filled with ammonia, unless you have a healthy bacterial colony or plants ready to consume this ammonia, it will just build up and harm your fish.

Zeolite can be nice to have around for emergency use, but really has no place in an everyday use.

I've always thought that members use it in planted tanks at the last stage of filtration.
This will, a cycled tank with bacteria will still get all they need and any overspill will prevent algae.

 

[Bignose]

VV, maybe, but I don't think so. A planted tank won't need anything for ammonia, because the vast majority of aquatic plants prefer ammonia as their nitrogen source. And the plants will take up all the ammonia so long as they also are getting enough light and CO2 and micornutrients as needed for growth.

And, I don't see any reason to use it near the exit of filter, because it is not like the bacteria are going to be able to magically suck up all the ammonia that gets near them. The ammonia will need to be recycled and be washed near the bacteria several times before it will be taken up. If you has zeolite at the end of the filter, that would unnaturally be taking away a fair amount of ammonia that would be washed back to the bacteria.

Consequently, the bacteria would only grow to a smaller size. The colony grows to the size where the bacteria consumption rate is equal to the production rate by the fish. If the zeolite is in there, you increase the apparent consumption of ammonia, and the bacteria colony won't grow as large.

Then, again, once the zeolite is saturated, there will be left over ammonia and the colony won't be able to process it all.

Why not just grow a healthy bacterial colony in the first place -- one that is large enough to handle all the demand -- and not need to use zeolite at all? Between the bacteria and aquatic plants, nature has given us efficient ways of processing the ammonia almost immediately after the fish excrete it -- there really is no reason to spend money on having to continuously by zeolite when there are free (bacteria) or very cheap (plants) alternatives?

 

[VaegaVic]

VV, maybe, but I don't think so. A planted tank won't need anything for ammonia, because the vast majority of aquatic plants prefer ammonia as their nitrogen source. And the plants will take up all the ammonia so long as they also are getting enough light and CO2 and micornutrients as needed for growth.

And, I don't see any reason to use it near the exit of filter, because it is not like the bacteria are going to be able to magically suck up all the ammonia that gets near them. The ammonia will need to be recycled and be washed near the bacteria several times before it will be taken up. If you has zeolite at the end of the filter, that would unnaturally be taking away a fair amount of ammonia that would be washed back to the bacteria.

Consequently, the bacteria would only grow to a smaller size. The colony grows to the size where the bacteria consumption rate is equal to the production rate by the fish. If the zeolite is in there, you increase the apparent consumption of ammonia, and the bacteria colony won't grow as large.

Then, again, once the zeolite is saturated, there will be left over ammonia and the colony won't be able to process it all.

Why not just grow a healthy bacterial colony in the first place -- one that is large enough to handle all the demand -- and not need to use zeolite at all? Between the bacteria and aquatic plants, nature has given us efficient ways of processing the ammonia almost immediately after the fish excrete it -- there really is no reason to spend money on having to continuously by zeolite when there are free (bacteria) or very cheap (plants) alternatives?

Yep, completely agree with you, I was once told this by a leading member of some planting tank community back on the old PFK forums. Didn't know how true it was but he seemed to know his stuff. Thanks for putting me right though.