General Filter Question

[SnoutUK]

Hi, My filter works in either 2 or 3 stages...
Either - Mechanical Foam -> Carbon Foam
Or - Mechanical Foam -> Carbon Foam -> Super-Fine Pad

Although, i have mine setup as - Mechanical Foam -> Super-Fine Pad -> Carbon Foam.

I just wanted to know wether this will effect the way the Carbon Foam works? Anyone have any ideas??

 

[dthoffsett]

It shouldn't matter as long as water flows through it. However, unless you're trying to get traces of medicine out of your water, carbon really isn't necessary.

 

[raptorrex]

Hi, My filter works in either 2 or 3 stages...
Either - Mechanical Foam -> Carbon Foam
Or - Mechanical Foam -> Carbon Foam -> Super-Fine Pad

Although, i have mine setup as - Mechanical Foam -> Super-Fine Pad -> Carbon Foam.

I just wanted to know wether this will effect the way the Carbon Foam works? Anyone have any ideas??

replace your carbon with a bio section, save you loads!

 

[SnoutUK]

So what your saying is then... The carbon pad is pretty useless unless i want to use it to remove "nastys" and medication from the water? Its the mechanical filter where the majority of the bacteria lives right?

 

[dthoffsett]

Yup pretty much. Bacteria live in the sponge, and like boboboy suggested you could add another sponge, or bio-balls, or ceramic rings in the place of the carbon if space allows, which will give more surface area for bacteria to live.

 

[SnoutUK]

Thats excellent advice. Thank you very much!

 

[Richie Hell]

Just a warning if you're adding extra sponges for the bacteria - make sure it fits! Sometimes a filter won't take extra sponges unless you trim them down or something.

I tried to add an extra one in place of my carbon sponge, and thought it was alright once I'd managed to cram it all together. 10 minutes later the whole popped apart and disassembled itself. No damage thankfullly.

 

[dthoffsett]

Yikes!! That's definately something to keep in mind.