Filter Media

[dylema]

Thanks for posting the bottle info Rafael Dilone. I guess if your levels are all good and you still do the regular maintanence required there is no harm in using this product. I must agree with the others though that it does sound too good to be true. If it does buffer up pH of hard water and not soft I would like to know how, from a chemistry point of view, I am not saying this isn't possible but I can't figure it out right now.

 

[Rafael Dilone]

It does a great job on amonia and nitrate levels to be at 0. Also you have clean water. I am not saying that it does everything it promises but it is a great product for certain aquariums. If you have any problems call doctors foster and smiths technicians. They will probably answer your question. Their phone number is 1-800-443-1160.

 

[OohFeeshy]

The problem with products that chemically remove ammonia/nirtire, is that as soon as they're 'full', or you stop using it, you're screwed. But there's no real way of knowing how it works without the makers sending you a list of ingredients, which I doubt they'd do. Question, why do you need it anyway? Bacteria take care of ammonia and nitrite, plants and water changes, likewise for nitrate, and pH can be raised or lowered naturally (if needed) via bogwood, RO water, rainwater or calcaeous (sp?) rocks.

 

[Griz]

A healthy balanced tank/filter doesn't require any of these sorts of products.

 

[Rafael Dilone]

Before I used this product my amonia and nitrate levels were at 0. But after I used it my amonia and nitrate levels were still at zero and also the water was crystal clear. The main reason I use it is because the water is crystal clear. I know they sell liquids that make the water crystal clear but chemi-pure makes my aquarium have no problems and has cause no natural fish deaths. The only fish deaths I have had are when fishes were bully by others to death and that only happend once with 2 male guppies. I know most people may not like this product but it has brough no problems to me. I also clean my filter every week and the ornaments every week. Also have a 15% water change every week. Also put Vita-Chem every week in the water. My fish are happy and healthy and that what matters to me. I would use any product for the well being of my fishes. So lets please get off the topic of chemi-pure and can you guys please recommend any other great filter media. I am thinking of giving something else a try rather than chemi-pure. I heard purigen exceeds all other products by 500%.

 

[dylema]

Hi, I have heard that the little ehiem balls (sorry I don't know their propper name (kind of ceramic type balls)) are really good. You want a media with the best surface area/volume ratio while still allowing good flow and not getting clogged. So the idea is largest area for bacteria to live on and limited chance of waste getting caught and breaking down (you use sponge or filter floss to catch this gunk not the bio-media). I use a combination of sponge medias (course and fine) and both bio-balls and ceramic noodles.

Hope this helps.

 

[SlipperyWhenWet]

Clearly there is some doubt on the credability of Chemi-Pure. However, there have also been some comments in the thread that there is simply no need for anything other than good maintenance and water changes, but that isnt really true either.

I use a nitrate absorbing resin in my tanks, simply because my local water comes chock full of nitrates. No matter how much water I change, the resin is the only way to keep the levels down. I have Tangs in unplanted tanks, so there are not many other options for me - no plants to suck it up and I dont fancy the bother of cutting it with RO water since this would play with the hardness. The resin is fairly cheap, easy to regenerate and does what it says on the tin. While nothing can be a substitute for water changes, IMO the 'chemical' approach is valid for dealing with specific problems.

Having said this, I doubt the nebulous claims of Chemi-pure can be substantiated. Its difficult enough to effectively do any one of the things Chemi-pure claims, never mind all of them in one easy pill.

On the Purigen front:
Purigen™ is a premium synthetic adsorbent that is unlike any other filtration product. It is not a mixture of ion exchangers or adsorbents, but a unique macro-porous synthetic polymer that removes soluble and insoluble impurities from water at a rate and capacity that exceeds all others by over 500%. Purigen™ controls ammonia, nitrites and nitrates by removing nitrogenous organic waste that would otherwise release these harmful compounds. Purigen’s™ impact on trace elements is minimal. It significantly raises redox. It polishes water to unparalleled clarity. Purigen™ darkens progressively as it exhausts, and is easily renewed by treating with bleach. Purigen™ is designed for both marine and freshwater use. This product is sold by volume. Cited weight is minimal weight.

Its not an ion exchange resin or an absorbant? How does it work then? I'd like to see the basis of the 500% claims, its probably by weight (for a 'macro-porous' product which is sold by volume).

Unless there is a problem with nitrate levels (ammonia and nitrites should be fine if when are cycled), there is no reason to use either Chemi-pure or Purigen. They will not do nothing significant to aid your tank that regular water changes wouldnt do. Just save the money up and put it towards a bigger tank.

S.

 

[montyII]

I've always done weekly water changed of at least 15%, and my ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels have been zero since my tank cycled. However my water had a "tea" colour to it due to ther driftwood in the tank. I replaced the carbon in the filter (Aquaclear 50) with a purigen bag and the water went crystal clear overnight. Don't ask me why, but it worked....