View Full Version : Does a Diatom Filter replace water changes?
BernieMc
11-01-2005, 3:25 PM
Does a Diatom Filter replace water changes?
Jericho
11-01-2005, 4:09 PM
NO nothing replaces water changes. While the filter will polish the water and may buy you a little time on build up of toxic bi-products nothing replaces water changes.
BernieMc
11-01-2005, 4:44 PM
Thank you Jerico!
Why use the Diatom filter, because it makes water a little clearer?
Why not Clean your tank more often, and use proper filter media?
Jericho
11-01-2005, 4:56 PM
From what I know of them, and I am no expert, they are used to catch small particles that are not cought in a regular filter. They are supose to work well for taking algae out of the water and turning your green water clear. They are only run for a short time to polish the water and then you go back to the regular filtration.
Two entirely separate and distinct functions. Water changes remove dissolved materials which can never be captured on any particle filter - when we vacuum while water changing to get as-yet undissolved materials (still solid in other words) out, that is a bonus. Particle filtration removes particles, logically enough. If you go down to micron and sub-micron filtration (small to very small particle capture), you get those particulates invisible to the naked eye, but which do in mass affect the clarity of the water.
BernieMc
11-02-2005, 9:22 AM
Thank you guys for the clarification. Big help!