Purigen In An Ex1200 ?

moochy13 · Dec 16, 2011

ive got a bag of purigen ready to go in my filter which i might clean today if i get round to it. i plan to have the filter set as folows :

bottom to top

rings
bioballs with floss
coarse sponge pads
coarse pad with floss

thinking of cutting a bit of coarse sponge out and putting it in the 3rd tray, unless theres a specific place it should go ?

ZoddyZod · Dec 16, 2011

I'd put it in the last possible tray in terms of water flow. That way you are filtering out the large particulate and then using it to tidy up anything tiny that has been missed.

minnnt · Dec 16, 2011

+1. Don't cut the sponge, add it under floss in the top tray.

three-fingers · Dec 16, 2011

Isn't using Purigen a bit pointless on freshwater tanks? Its going to get used up very, very fast and then you'll have to recharge it.

In the meantime, your plants, fish and filter bacteria would have probably been better off with the nitrogen, tannins and other DOCs left in the waterv- why do you want to remove them? :blink:

Did an LFS talk you into buying it?

Purigen is useful if your trying to replicate a reef - your starting off with pristine RO water with salt that never gets dirty because the Purigen removes contaminants before they build up - but you would never manage to keep a freshwater tank that clean because your much more heavily stocked, tap water already has contaminants it it and the filtration system is completely different.

Maybe keep it in case of an emergency - but using it without a specific reason in a freshwater planted tank is just complicating things for no good reason IMO. Expensive stuff too - I used to use it on my marine tank :crazy:

.

moochy13 · Dec 16, 2011

no lots of people on this forum suggested it, not 'newbies' either.

StandbySetting · Dec 16, 2011

I use a little as it improves water clarity, but you don't need it.

minnnt · Dec 16, 2011

The main reason I use it is because ianho recommended it to me to help get the water crystal clear. Something which it has done. Recharging is as necessary, which tbh, I haven't had to do yet as the water condition is still fantastic.

ian · Dec 16, 2011

Purigen is great in a planted tank, especially if you're dosing N and P. As purigen has an affinity for organic N and P (bad), it leaves the inorganic stuff alone. I have used it for a year or so now in my tanks and i wouldn't be without it. You will find many experienced aquascapers and planted tank keepers using this media now in there tanks. There are reports of no diatoms appearing in planted tank with this media also. As above it also makes your water gin clear, which IMO is a great bonus.

minnnt · Dec 16, 2011

BigbruiserAl · Dec 16, 2011

I read that it can only be re charged 9 or so times, this marketing rubbish?

I know re charge will be stocking/tank dependent but what are we talking for time in-between charges weeks/months?

ian · Dec 16, 2011

I don't bother recharging mine, i'm a little lazy and just buy another bag. It lasts a good 4-5 months, so i don't mind paying a tenner. You can see when it's full as well. It goes dark brown. If you were gonna recharge it it'd last ages...BTW i have read somewhere that Seachem state you must use Prime to help dechlor it after bleaching. I can't see why this would be, IMO this is marketing blurb. Any dechlor would be fine IMO.

three-fingers · Dec 16, 2011

However in a planted community tank with no inorganic N or P being added, the Purigen is adsorbing the plants food, right? :huh:

Also to consider in the natural as opposed to high-tech tank is that those DOCs would have provided some CO2 for the plants as well.

Your also going to be losing the added protection to your bacteria, inverts, plants and fish from DOCs ability to bind with heavy metals from tap water, now relying totally on the chelators in water conditioner.

Just seems unnecessary to take a perfectly functioning ecosystem and remove potentially beneficial substances - these aren't marine fish, freshwater lakes and rivers are full of DOCs and some freshwater species can't even live in their natural habitats without them.

As much as I'm harping on, it probably wont make a massive difference, as I doubt it's actually as effective as the pack implies, but I certainly cant see any benefits for the tanks inhabitants...only to the aquarists viewing pleasure.

A great product if you have a planted tank where your dosing all the inorganic salts anyway, a reef tank using RO or maybe a fish-only tank...but IMO for the average community tank with plants it's not a great media. I like carbon because it's rubbish in comparison lol - it gets rid of obvious tannins and gets used up before it can grab anything else...cheaper too, though obviously used differently.

That said, enjoy your ridiculously clear water, just watch the plants and don't skimp on water conditioner!

minnnt · Dec 17, 2011

Have you seen ian's tank? His plants don't look at risk or unhappy. Neither does andy's who is also an advocator of purigen.

Also, why would you not want crystal clear water? :look:

three-fingers · Dec 17, 2011

minnnt said:
Have you seen ian's tank? His plants don't look at risk or unhappy. Neither does andy's who is also an advocator of purigen.

Also, why would you not want crystal clear water?

Ian's and Andy's tanks are all amazing

. However they both run high-tech tanks and dose inorganic salts.

Because it's missing the aforementioned DOCs that I love

. And because very-near-crystal clear water is perfect for me if it's what the fish prefer.

It's just because I'm lazy and running a natural tank gives me more leeway with regards to maintenance :shifty: