Can the nylon sock I use for my carbon become a nitrate sponge if left too long in the sump? I leave it for a couple of months before I change it. It's usually not very gunked up.
Thanks,
Tom
Thanks,
Tom
GAC nylon sock, Nitrates if left too long?
- Thread starter TomToro
- Start date
Well, i would say that any filter media ( which nylon is ) that has the ability to trap detrius and bits of food can indeed become a nitrate factory if left un checked...
Niko
Niko
here is a quick thing hat urkes me about the term "nitrate factor". i too have used it btw, but anything is a nitrate factory if you do not have the nitrifying bacteria to break them down. bioballs, live rock, anything can do this. the only problem with trapping it is if you have a big skimmer that may otherwise remove it such as in an sps tank. but otherwise, it is blocked by something or in your water colum, or on some live rock. either way, it is in your tank decaying, creating nitrates. This is why i am a fan of oversized skimmers, because they will remove all of these before it happens, but otherwise, it isnt goign to be all too much of a difference weather it is trapped behind some live rock or in a media bag.
also, i woudl much rather have it trapped in a bag full of carbon than in the water bulum
. lol.
also, i personaly would replace carbon more often. i too should replace mine more, but you really will see a difference IMO.
so to sum up my opinion, yes, it can be the causae of nitrates (as well as many other things), but in an established tank with proper bacterial filtration, it should be too much of a problem; one little filter bag.
also, i woudl much rather have it trapped in a bag full of carbon than in the water bulum
. lol.also, i personaly would replace carbon more often. i too should replace mine more, but you really will see a difference IMO.
so to sum up my opinion, yes, it can be the causae of nitrates (as well as many other things), but in an established tank with proper bacterial filtration, it should be too much of a problem; one little filter bag.
Germanman
My fish are my babies
yea fishiness pretty much said it all but id recommend changing the carbon monthly at least i do it monthly and if i skip into a 5th week i really see a difference so i never go past a month anymore. also a nice media to add to a sump that only needs changing ever 6 months or so is chemi pure i love it and it really makes a difference in the entire water quality and clarity of the water.
I just spoke with a guy that's used Chemi Pure for years in a nano cube. What is it that makes it work? I'm not much into using anything but GAC, but I have an open mind if something works. Can you elaborate?
By the way, thanks to everybody who responded. I appreciate the help and I'll replace the gac more often. I'm just using my wife's discarded nylons to hold the carbon so I think I'll just replace the whole package. I rinse the heck out of the nylons before use so I can get the phosphates out from the washing machine.
Thanks again,
Tom
Germanman
My fish are my babies
that will work alright but commercial media bags last longer and have the right thickness for carbon but its up to u on that. the chemi-pure is a resin that pulls out organics. heres a little speil for a retail site about it...id give u the hard facts like ingredients but i cant remember it off the top of my head and im at collage right now on a break...but when i get home id be more than happy to list it all
* Multi-purpose chemical filter media removes dissolved organics
* Enjoy sparkling water and maintain a perfect pH in any aquarium
* Long-lasting chemical filter media reduces aquarium maintenance
Your fish will live a healthier life – up to 4 times longer. Works equally well in marine or freshwater aquariums to remove heavy metals, copper, phenol, ammonia and other nitrogenous waste. Helps keep pH at a consistently safe range and your water sparkling clear. Fantastic for use with African Cichlids and Discus. Use one 10 ounce unit, already packed in a filter bag, for up to 40 gallons. Remains active for 4-6 months.
* Multi-purpose chemical filter media removes dissolved organics
* Enjoy sparkling water and maintain a perfect pH in any aquarium
* Long-lasting chemical filter media reduces aquarium maintenance
Your fish will live a healthier life – up to 4 times longer. Works equally well in marine or freshwater aquariums to remove heavy metals, copper, phenol, ammonia and other nitrogenous waste. Helps keep pH at a consistently safe range and your water sparkling clear. Fantastic for use with African Cichlids and Discus. Use one 10 ounce unit, already packed in a filter bag, for up to 40 gallons. Remains active for 4-6 months.
Germanman
My fish are my babies
ok so it promotes aerobic bacterial growth as well as removing organics. it also buffers the ph allowing it to rise fast without the fish getting harmed. it removes heavy metals as well as making the water very clear. chemi-pure is a phenol. basically it just helps a lot of stuff and since i started using it ill never go without it!:dance2:
Hey German ... got a couple of quick questions for you re: activated carbon as well as chemi-pure. Do you rinse the media bags containing the two each time you clean your aquarium/do a water change? I notice that my media bag filled with carbon gets sort of brown at the end of the week. So far, I have been rinsing it in fresh water each time I do a water change. I see brown water flowing out from it leading me to believe that a rinse is necessary.
The other question I had was ... where eactly do you have the two media bags placed? In a sump? If so, do you just stack them one of top of the other under the sump's inflow pipe?
Any particular brand of carbon you recommend?
Thanks!
Yash
The other question I had was ... where eactly do you have the two media bags placed? In a sump? If so, do you just stack them one of top of the other under the sump's inflow pipe?
Any particular brand of carbon you recommend?
Thanks!
Yash
Germanman
My fish are my babies
all my filter media is in my canister filter in neat little trays evenly spaced out...lol i dont use sumps because they can overflow and dont accommodate media well. the carbon gets replaced every month and the bags are emptied and cleaned very well under hot water. the chemi-pure just gets rinsed and kinda massaged under cold and then put back in tell its 4 months are up.
so yes they do need to be cleaned regularly but its up to u when as long as u do it by the time u replace it. but the cleaner the more efficient they stay.
so yes they do need to be cleaned regularly but its up to u when as long as u do it by the time u replace it. but the cleaner the more efficient they stay.
So, if I were to continue to rinse my carbon out weekly, it is not harmful in any way is it, i.e. it doesn't affect the effectiveness of it correct?
Since I have a sump, can I simply stack the two media bags on top of each other? Or would that not be advisable?
Thanks again!
Yash