Water Filters...

[sly2kusa]

I have not used the test strips for chlorine or other parameters since seeing their inaccuracies; only use liquid now.

Since I am on a private well, I don't worry about chlorine. The community here also draws from the same aquafier layer as my well, but they add chloramine. We have that water source in the house, but the outside taps, basement plumbing and a seperate heater and tank that are plumbed for the fish tanks, all come from our well.

Search the threads or play with Google and you should be able to find your water company and see what they add and their recent test results. I don't think you have any worries with overdosing on the dechlor.

That's a great idea, and thanks for the recommendation. I don't know if they post this kind of data (or if it's even public domain), but if it is I will definitely read up on it.

Thanks again

 

[sumthin fishy]

Hi, just thought I'd ask a quick question, cause it pertains to this thread.

I don't use activated carbon, myself, because it needs to be a specific kind (Zeolite, or something) to work best, and carbon also removes metals that my live plants need as fertilizers. QUOTE]
What is in your filter then? I have an Emperor and the carbon comes in the cartridge. My plants aren't doing so hot, and never really have.

While a little off topic, I will answer this briefly here for the sake of discussion. If you want more details, a search of the forums will give you everything you need to know. The carbon in the filters is only active short period of time. After only a few weeks at stops working as anything other than a bed for your benificial bacteria. While the carbon will serve to remove ferts and other things your plants need, it will only do this for a short time. If you are constantly replacing your filters(not recomended despite the manufactureres recomendation) this could be your plant issue. If you do not replace filter cartridges, you may need to look elsewhere for your problem. Try a new post in the plant forum.

 

[plah831]

Hi, just thought I'd ask a quick question, cause it pertains to this thread.

I don't use activated carbon, myself, because it needs to be a specific kind (Zeolite, or something) to work best, and carbon also removes metals that my live plants need as fertilizers. QUOTE]
What is in your filter then? I have an Emperor and the carbon comes in the cartridge. My plants aren't doing so hot, and never really have.

I use straight mechanical filter media. It came in a big roll of fabric that looks like thick felt. I just cut out a piece that fits my filter frame (that I used to put the white cotton bag with carbon in it around). Now I just clip the felt thing to it. All I need my filter to do is mechanical filtration (remove particles larger than 100 microns) and biological filtration (Bio Foam for bacteria to live on), and circulate water of course.

 

[BlueSkies]

Mmm. Very interesting. Thanks! I've been stealing my plants nutrients all this time with the carbon! I'll be stopping that now.

 

[jnguyen4007]

carbon works best in the first 24 hours to remove odors, chemicals and medication from the water. After that, it's used in a nitrification process. If you want to remove harmful bacteria and pathogen from your water, then you need a dedicated UV filter.