Filters

[jeff_hopkinson]

Hi, i have a question maybe some one out there can answer, the general agreement is that you do not run filters with a carbon sponge in unless your filtering out medication or the likes even fluval plus filters tell you if you have to use the carbon remove after seven days. BUT, the compact h filter system consist of five different sponges and a carbon sponge which is the last one with a poly pad on top of that. as this is part of the system do you leave it in or do you remove it. has anyone got an answer.

 

[specks]

I take it you are referring to the juwel filter system compact h. Remove it from the basket. When I first set up my tank I left it in as I didn't know any better, within a few weeks it went horrible & started to disintigrate.

 

[jeff_hopkinson]

Hi, thanks for your reply yes you were correct as to the system although mine stayed in tact, i will remove them forthwith.

 

[julia298]

hi ive had my new jewel tank running for 6 weeks now and have never heard of not keeping the black sponge in. Mine seems ok. Why are you supposed to take it out?

 

[rdd1952]

Carbon actually will have absorbed all it can in a week or so. After that, all it's dong is providing a surface for bacteria to colonize. It is also said that over time it can release the toxins or what ever it has absorbed back into the water causing major problems. Most people only use it for removing medications.

 

[Dubby]

The black sponge is not required (unless you wish to remove medication). I have replaced mine with filter wool which helps keep the water crystal clear !!!

 

[morgan]

I have a Juwel Rekord 96 and I leave the carbon sponge in. I only removed it when I medicated for popeye. When I put mopani wood in my tank (which I had soaked) the water went brownish for a few days then was clear again. Only thing is the cost I suppose. P.S. I have had my tank since last July.

 

[CFC]

Carbon doesnt really do much in a healthy aquarium and is pretty much a waste of money. I like most experienced fish keepers only use it when i am removing a toxin from the water, for instance if i have misdiagnosed a disease and need to change treatments quickly or if someting has managed to enter the water such as a household cleaner for example.
When i had juwel filters i replaced the carbon sponge with another coarse blue sponge but once i realised what a terrible design they were i soon ripped the juwels out and replaced them with more reliable equipment.

 

[kat and james]

i didn't realise you did this either, we are running an ugf at the moment (so no where to put carbon anyways), but when we set up the new tank we will have two xp3s. should we remove the carbon from these also?? what do we need to have in the filter.. one is new and one is second hand and therefore has no media!
sorry to step in on your thread jeff!!

 

[CFC]

All you need is some biological media such as sponges or the more hi tech stuff such as ceramic rings, sphintered glass balls, bio balls etc and some mechanical media such as filter floss to trap any sediment from the water before it goes back to the tank.

 

[julia298]

HI

Why is jewel terrible design?

What did you replace it with?

Julia

 

[kat and james]

i have heard quite a few ppl saying that juwel filtration isn't really up to scratch, and that more often than not they have to add an extra filter. but the reason we didn't go with juwel was because the filter is internal, thus depriving the fish of that extra bit of swimming space, we went with rena.. although havne't set it up yet (for the new tank)!!

 

[morgan]

Not arguing with your point of view but we are having a notified power cut for 6 hours next Tuesday. As I have an internal filter I am not worried about the filter sponges drying out and the beneficial bacteria dying. How do people with external filters cope? Especially people who work and can't be around to keep the filter media wet? Just wondered.

 

[CFC]

When the power goes off the filter stops and the water in the canister stays where it is keeping the media wet, if it is a planned powercut the valves can be shut off before hand to seperate the filter from the tank.

If your power is going to be off for 6 hours i strongly suggest you either remove the media from your internal filter or get a battery powered air pump to run a air stone in the tank for aeration. Bacteria use masses of oxygen and will soon deplete the tank of any oxygen reserves which will suffocate the fish, not only that but as the bacteria starts to die off from being disconected from its oxygen and ammonia source it will pollute the water rapidly which could kill all the fish.

The main problem with Juwel filters is that a lot of sludge and gunk is able to build up inside the filter casing due to the by-pass system. Because the filter casing is fixed to the glass it is difficult to get to this gunk and if it goes unnoticed can lead to sudden massive rises in nitrate, pH crash and overload of dissolved organic solids. The best way to deal with this problem is to stick a hose down inside both compartments of the filter casing (after removing all media) and suck out all the sludge, but this is fiddly and awkward. Its far easier to cut the juwel filter out, toss it in the bin and use another more user friendly and reliable filter.

 

[morgan]

Oh, I see. Thanks for the info. I am sticking with the Juwel for now but I like to know about different types for the future. I do have a battery operated air stone, thank goodness. With any luck they might finish the work in under six hours.