Filter Media

[Rafael Dilone]

I have a aquaclear 70 (300 gallons per hour) on my 10 gallon tank. In the filter I use two foam pad (one on the top of the filter and another at the bottom). In the middle of the filter I use chemi-pure. I think chemi-pure is one of the best filter media I have ever use. Thanks to all the benefits it has. By the way does anybody have any comments on how I can make my filter better?

 

[Tolak]

That's a lot of filter for a 10 gallon, sounds like something I would do. I use mostly AC's for hob filters, my usual mods are extending the intake with tubing from the hardware store, and putting a piece of slate on the cover.

The extension helps with water circulation, pulls more debris from the bottom. With a longer intake you don't have to shut down the filter for water changes, they keep running with the tank more than half empty. The piece of slate keeps the cover from rattling & keeps the media from pushing up the top in my overstocked, overfiltered tanks.

BTW, welcome to TFF!

 

[TwoTankAmin]

19 running AC filters here from minis to 300 gph. They all use some combo of sponges and floss. I will not use chemi-pure nor any other such additives which I consider to be voodoo in a bottle products. There is no substitute for natural clean water- just like they live in in the wild.

Companies try to come up with all sorts of things for you to buy continually because the one thing you really need, clean water, is basically free and they can't make a buck on that.

 

[Rafael Dilone]

19 running Ac folters here from minis to 300 gph. They all use some combo of sponges and floss. I will not use chemi-pure nor any other such additives which I consider to be voodoo in a bottle products. There is no substitute for natural clean water- just like they live in in the wild.

Companies try to come up with all sorts of things for you to buy continually because the one thing you really need, clean water, is basically free and they can't make a buck on that.

Well Chemi-Pure is a great product. It has so many benefits. Regardless I change my water 15% every week. My water is crystal clear. All my fish are healthy. I am just letting you know that Chemi-Pure is greater than you give it credit for.

 

[andywg]

I am intrigued how it claims to be able to keep the pH safe for all freshwater fish and marine fish, considering South American fish want pH around 6.5 and marine want around 8.4... I can only conclude from that information that is has almost no effect on pH at all...

The only reviews I can find from places that aren't trying to sell it seem to show that no-one really has any idea what it is it is doing. Sounds akin to snake oil to me...

 

[Rafael Dilone]

Well all you have to do to take my word for it is to buy it and see the results.

 

[andywg]

So you are saying it knows what fish you keep and then changes the pH accordingly? That's bloody clever!

And how does it stop the agents that raise the pH from interfering with the agents that lower the pH?

I myself will not buy into such stuff, just like Cycle which claims to be able to ship the bacteria for both saltwater and freshwater aquaria in one bottle.

Clear water is not necessarily clean water. 0ppm could be cloudy and green, yet 200ppm could be clear as glass. I know which I'd rather have my fish in.

 

[Rafael Dilone]

So you are saying it knows what fish you keep and then changes the pH accordingly? That's bloody clever!

And how does it stop the agents that raise the pH from interfering with the agents that lower the pH?

I myself will not buy into such stuff, just like Cycle which claims to be able to ship the bacteria for both saltwater and freshwater aquaria in one bottle.

Clear water is not necessarily clean water. 0ppm could be cloudy and green, yet 200ppm could be clear as glass. I know which I'd rather have my fish in.

Well about the PH, you should make the PH value at the desired level for your fish and then put Chemi-pure to not make the PH change. But dont think that just because you will use chemi-pure it will take care of all your problems. But it will bring less time to maintaining your aquarium at desired levels at several aspects.

 

[dylema]

Well about the PH, you should make the PH value at the desired level for your fish and then put Chemi-pure to not make the PH change.

Hi, I am not trying to stir the pot here but I would like to know how this product keeps the pH at the level that it starts at.

Usually you have a pH staing stable because of the buffer properties of the water. Different combinations of acids and bases/salts give different buffers which will hold the pH at certain levels. So if you have water at pH 7 and you add acid and base/salt in the right quantity to obtain a buffer which holds the pH at 8, the pH will change from 7 to 8 and stay there until the limits of the buffer are reached.

All I can think about this product is that it either buffers the pH to approximatly 7 to be in the middle of the range of pH and hence be close to suitable for a fair number of fish or it does nothing to control pH.

Does the product list the ingredients so we can get to the bottom of what it does?

 

[andywg]

I expect the ingredients to start "Snake Oil - 75%..."

 

[Rafael Dilone]

I expect the ingredients to start "Snake Oil - 75%..."

I will write all it says

Chemi-Pure is the original Ion Filter Media constantly improved over the years. There are counterfeits, but only one Chemi-Pure. Do not confuse Chemi-Pure with any other medium on the market.

PROMOTES AEROBIC BACTERIAL
GROWTH AND NITRIFICATION
REMOVES DISSOVELD ORGANICS
*Ravenous Appetite*Increased Life Span*Eliminates fish loss due to unbalanced or polluted water, acidity and pH changes*No expensive water change-ever*Necessary organism allow growth with no danger of pollution* Always sparkling crystal clear blue-white water*No osmotic shock*Removes copper, metals, ions, odors, all pollution, gases, CO2, color Phenol*Replacement varies depending on type od aquarium Chemi-Pure is used in; 1-6 months*Neurological reaction-Like fishes in natural habitat* No cleaning necessary for health of fish

The filter medium is a revolutionary departure from the old mechanical filtration principle of glass wool, etc. Chemi-Pure is a precise formula for use with either artificial or real sea water or freshwater as a chemical absorption filter, ion generator and exchange unit, which positively keeps pH at a perfect constant level. Chemi-Pure quickly raises pH harmlessly and without any shock to fish, will not raise pH in soft fresh water. Newly collected marines or fishes from old water may be transferred to Chemi-Pure filtered water without harm as this remarkable formula neutralizes the fright and shock system of fishes. Fantastic for African Cichlids and Discus.

If this did not answer your question them I would most gladly give you Doctors Foster and Smiths phone so you can get your question answer from their techs. Their number is 1-800-443-1160 and is toll free.

 

[BigIan]

Chemi-Pure quickly raises pH harmlessly and without any shock to fish,

how will it quickly raise the ph without shocking fish? its surely impossibler as if you want to change the ph in a tank containing fish you should, do it very gradualy,


Rafael do you per chance work for "chemi-pure"?

 

[andywg]

Well, that's a nice advertising pitch for something that is pretty useless.

Firstly, it won't keep your pH stable, it will buffer it up, It states that it will quickly raise pH (not the wisest wy to do it with fish in situ). For people keeping South American species, which prefer soft acidic water, this product will be useless as it moves the pH in the wrong direction. If I used this in my tanks my fish would suffer. I don't want my pH raised, if anything I want it lowered. Except one thing confuses me:

Chemi-Pure quickly raises pH harmlessly and without any shock to fish, will not raise pH in soft fresh water

If it is going to raise pH it will do so, as it is acting as a buffer. It will raise the pH until it hits the level it wants to be steady at (for example: marine salt and aragonite sand will raise the pH to around 8.2-8.4 and then no more as that is the level they buffer to).

If the water is soft and acidic, it is still going to buffer, just it will move the pH a long way up. I don't see how the chemical can realise that there is soft water and then suddenly stop leaching base salts into the water.

As for its use in SW; chemical buffers are to be more avoided than under gravel filters in marine as the salt and substrate should provide all the buffer you need (especially with any live rock as well).

Removes all pollution

Man, they should use this when there's an oil slick then...

Removes dissolved organics

To where? To remove them you have to take them out of the water, adding something in will not do that, and I don't see how it will prevent them breaking down, unless it contains some preservative such as formaldahyde. The only way I have heard of to get rid of dissolved organics (other than water change) is through the use of a protein skimmer which attaches them to bubbles and forces them out of the water column into a collection cup.

neutralises the fright and shock system

So as well as clearing up oil slicks and making things dissappear from the water it is a fish-version of prozac too? Do you really want to continuosly add neurological toxins to your tank?

And my favorite:

Neurological reaction-Like fishes in natural habitat

Gotta love the techno-babble on the side of bottles.

I still say snake oil

 

[OohFeeshy]

LOL, indeed, that list of what it claims to do was so funny... Does it also jump out of the tank and clean the outside of the glass too? Perhaps it'l change your light bulb too....

Since I can't add much to Andy's evidence, Ill just say that you can trust no company, nor their employyes, no matter how professional sounding, further than you can throw them. Hagen, one of the biggest manufacturers, certainly are idiots, even their head vet knows nothing. As proved by a series of emails, one particular phrase standing out being 'goldfish on average grow to 9cm'. Assuming, as you should, this company is the same, they live to sell things.

 

[Rafael Dilone]

Chemi-Pure quickly raises pH harmlessly and without any shock to fish,

how will it quickly raise the ph without shocking fish? its surely impossibler as if you want to change the ph in a tank containing fish you should, do it very gradualy,


Rafael do you per chance work for "chemi-pure"?

No I still chanege 15% of my water every week and clean the filter and the inside of glass and gravel also every week. Just because I have Chemi-Pure does not mean I dont do any work.

I appreciate all your advices but Chemi-Pure has brought no problems to me. I do agree that it does not do everything it says to do. But it does keep my water clean, keeps my pH at 7.0, and my tank has no amonia and nitrate. But everthing else it says I dont believe.