carbon

The small Whisper I recently bought is a single piece filter. If it were my filter I would, for the time being, rip the carbon out of the filter pack. At the same time I would stick in an extra piece of foam or sponge cut to fit in the filter. In a coupel of weeks this piece of foam will become full of good bacteria and you can keep that in your filter all the time, adding new catridges if wanted but you will always have a bacteria source that isn't dependent on the carbon.
 
I haven't seen filters that are multi-piece. All the ones that I've bought so far have been 1 piece with the carbon already in it. So I think I'm going to buy a new filter and rip it up and take out the carbon and use that filter while I treat my tank. Then if I ever have to treat again I'll have a filter without any carbon already. Or should I do this vice-versa. Cut out the carbon on the filter that's installed now, and buy a new one and use the new one when I'm done treating the tank. I heard that turning up the temp. and adding some salt will help, but it's not working for me. Any other suggestions are always helpful! Thanks.
 
By the way, I forgot to mention this, and I don't think I posted it earlier. I have 2 filters on the tank I'm treating. I have a Aqua-tech that hangs on the back, which is the one with the activated carbon, and I also have an Undergravel Filter powered by an Aqutech Powerhead that's 170gph. Is it possible to just not use the filter that hangs on the back and just use my UGF with the powerhead so I don't have to purchase another filter just to rip apart, or so I don't have to rip apart the filter with the "good" bacteria already on it? That way the tank is still getting filtered while I'm treating the tank. Let me know please!! Thanks again!
 
The only probelm with turning off the HOB is that without water flow the bacteria will stop getting a fresh supply of food and oxygen levels for the bacteria will drop. I wouldn't buy a new catridge, I would just get some filter sponges or foam and cut them to fit in the HOB. That is all I use in mine and have been for a year now with no problems.
 
Are you going to use the old ich infested filter media after you clear up the ich in the tank? How will you treat the old filter media to get rid of the ich that may be in it? I would just toss it since most of your bio filter is in the gravel (due to your UGF). Any excess ammonia/nitrite produced due to the loss of the beneficial bacteria in the HOB media you tossed out would be removed by the water changes you'll be doing during treatment...right? As always, keep an eye on ammonia/nitrite levels after replacing some of your filter media.
If your old carbon is just that...old, it has probably exhausted its ability to remove meds so you'll want some fresh carbon on hand when you're finished treating, or due a few extra water changes.

Good luck!
 
Thanks for the info. I was going to use the filter that has been in there! I wasn't even thinking about that! I'll go ahead and replace the old filter with a new one. I'm glad you mentioned that. So ich just pretty much gets everywhere huh? But yeah, I'll replace the old filter with a new one now. You probably just saved me from another ich problem!! Thanks!
 
Yeah, it does get everywhere. I don't have info on nutrient/respiration requirements while its encysted and reproducing so I can't say that simply leaving the media out and damp will kill the "spores" in "x" days. Certainly if it is dried, that would do the trick. I would leave it dry for 3 days just for peace of mind anyway. Dry meaining completely, all the way through.
Most sites mention ich falling off and attaching to the gravel, but it can attach to plants and decor, tank walls and I've seen studies that suggested some float.
Ich almost ruined the hobby for me too when I first started...never again...ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha...:rolleyes:
 
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