Filter Media

[bluesfan]

Hi, is it best to use zeocarb in one basket  + keep  a media basket  empty  for a diff media or just use carbon + zeolite in  separate baskets

 

[the_lock_man]

I personally wouldn't use either zeolite or carbon.
 
1) Zeolite can starve the filter bacteria of ammonia, which can then cause problems
2) Carbon is used to remove heavy metals, which are removed by all decent dechlorinators anyway (and some bad ones), and needs replacing every few weeks anyway.
 
I would recommend that a filter contains ceramics, coarse sponge and fine wool.

 

[ech0o]

The plastic bio-balls work well too, and don't wear out like the ceramic pieces!

 

[the_lock_man]

The plastic bio-balls work well too, and don't wear out like the ceramic pieces!

 
Ceramic pieces don't wear out.

 

[TwoTankAmin]

I am not so sure that ceramics wear out all that fast. I have an Eheim Pro II 2026 canister that has been running for well over a decade with the Eheim noodles in the bottom basket. I see no evidence that I will be changing these any time soon.
 
That said, I did replace the noodles in the 2nd Eheim with sponges after about 4 years of using the noodles. Both filters work fine and I have not had to replace the sponges which were adapted from AquaClears.

 

[ech0o]

I run ceramic I am just intrigued by the plastic, seems to be better flow through them also.  Good to know about ceramic never wearing out though, that was a selling point on the balls that is clearly false!

 

[KirkyArcher]

Only use chemical filtration when your water conditions necessitate them! Ceramic/sintered glass media doesn't wear out in my experience either. Biological and mechanical filter media should always take precedence (in that order) over chemical media. 

 

[frapadoodle]

Agree with biologic and mechanical filtration.
Run an Aquaclear. Comes with sponge, carbon and ceramic. Well the carbon gets replaced with another sponge, and a thin layer of floss to polish. Pop the ceramics on top, and no worries.