Interpet Filter Aid 3

[nurglespuss]

Hi all, until I can get to a petshop, I can't pick up anything to put in the filter to give the water a bit of a polish. However,
while tidying up, I found an bottle of Interpet filter aid no.3, I don't normally use this kind of thing, but think giving it a go might be a good idea.

Does it actually work? Or is it a gimmick?

Many thanks!

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Ahhhh found this on search:

Filter aids and filter tonics

One final note. There are various tonics and potions available that do things like remove silt (e.g., Interpet "Filter Aid") or boost the effectiveness of the filter bacteria each time you do a water change (e.g., Interpet "Filter Start"). Silt removers are very useful if you have just added pond soil or sand to a tank, but otherwise serve no real purpose. Note that to get the best use from these filter aids, you need a fine medium such as wool in the filter. As for the bacterial supplements, they at least don't do any harm, and if you want to use them, then go ahead. They certainly aren't critical though.

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OK will give it a go...

 

[nurglespuss]

Ooooookkkaaayyy,

well it had an instand effect... now the tank is REALLY misty... (21.2ml for 106L)... Hmmm it doens't mention a time scale, so I guess I'll just have to be patient and wait for it to clear...

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Should have known not to try it ona day like today! cloudy and getting cloudier still, now fish shimmying...

Think yet another huge water change is in order!

(possibly a knee jerk reaction - but it doesn't look right!!

 

[nurglespuss]

OK well thats decided, never use that stuff again!!

Just did an 80% water change, tank still a bit cloudy (even though I syphoned the water back in slowly - but our tap water is cloudy anyway, shrugs).

Back to where I was before, except now the filteraid has caused some particulate matter to gunk up on the java moss patch... Hopefully the snails will eat it!

Sheesh.

Will be grabbing some filter wool/floss from shop tomorrow to put in the external.

BTW how long roughly do you guys leave your old media in the new filter? Normally I run filters side by side for a couple of months, not really done it this way before.

 

[DrRob]

Most of these things work by flocculating the bits in the tank (making all the small bits stick together into bigger bits). Couldy water would result but they'd then be big enough for something like filter wool to pull them out of suspension.

I'm guessing you had enough left in the 20% to flocculate the rubbish in the tap water, therefore the tank remisted.

It should settle with some fine filter wool or settle with time.

 

[nurglespuss]

Hi there cheers

Yeah, it misted the tank (before the water change) completely, I think our tap water is very particle laden.

Nearly so bad it started to look like milk...

After the water change, its still a little misty but not as bad.

I'll grab some fine stuff tomorrow, hope petsathome stock some!

(I take it that it just goes in the top of the filter, under the outlet as a 'polisher'?)

Thanks.

 

[minnnt]

Its actually really good stuff. Like rob says, it makes all the particles that are too fine to be removed by the filter stick together so that the filter catches them. The mist is normal and would have been clear by the morning. Lol.

Fine filter floss and seachem purigen would be all you need.

 

[nurglespuss]

lol I have no patience sometimes, lack of sleep making me reactionary ;p lol, well plenty of clean water now!

I'll see how it looks in the morning ;p