carbon/zeolite mix is it worth buying ?

[bert]

I have seen the packaged carbon/zeolite 50/50 mix sold it in aquarium shops, it says the zeolite will absorb ammonia a lot better than just carbon, is this true even in a canister filter that has little bio- filtration [magnum 350] how much better are those zeolite and ammo-chips they sell, do they really work ???

 

[fish_freak]

I dont like them because there covering up the bigger amonia problem in a tank there only good for cycleing imo. I would put some bio media in the carbon chamber rather than the carbon.

 

[bert]

carbon

the magnum only has the canister with a carbon basket and a floss sleeve that goes over it, i am told that there is not much, if any bio- filtration in the closed canister, unlike fluval type filters which have more than one chamber for different media i wonder how well a different media would work in place of the carbon, something i could place in the carbon basket ? any ideas ???

 

[750t]

Ehfisubstrat by eheim. This stuff is smaller than ceramic cylinders so you should be able to get more in your filter.

 

[bert]

filter

the carbon basket holds a lot of carbon, if i went to another media in there it would last a lot longer , would this different kind of media offer BETTER bio- filtration , or does the media have to exposed to air to be bio effective ? the carbon basket is 100% submerged in water.

 

[TKOS]

Carbon isn't super for bio filtration, IMO. heck I would rather stuff it full of more filter floss. But ceramic beads will probably do the trick fine. And you will only have to rinse them out every so often instead of replacing it. Saves a lot of money over carbon. And the zeolite is more of an emergency thing or else maybe useful in really small tanks where the cycle doesn't work or last the same due to larger water changes etc...

 

[bert]

carbon

I am thinking about putting something more bio- effecient in there in place of the carbon.

 

[750t]

And what part of the last 2 posts did you not understand

 

[bert]

filter

so many choices, but they are a lot more effecient than the carbon, and cheaper to use in the long run.

 

[DeVitaf]

Re: filter

Originally posted by bert
so many choices, but they are a lot more effecient than the carbon, and cheaper to use in the long run.

Bert, I also have a magnum 350 but it's the "pro system". It splits the return from the canister and sends the water over two large biowheels. This leaves the media basket open for whatever media I choose.

I believe you can order the biowheel attachment seperately for your magnum 350. IMO it offers better bilogical filtration than any media you could submerge in the filter basket.