Re: charcoal filters

[schmidtcarney at ecr_net]

KI>>     Hello my name is Eric, and I am wondering if I should use charcoal
KI>> filters in my aquarium at home.  We don't use them in the classroom
KI>> because of the expenses.  Is it really worth the money?  And how long
KI>> do they last.

Hi Eric--

I agree with Tyrone. None of my tanks have carbon as part of the
filtration system, and they are all doing wuite well. I will add,
however, that most of my tanks are heavily planted (otherwise known as
"jungle" tanks by the non-fishkeeping member of the family), which helps
to stabilize water conditions.

The filter set up I use is undergravel (ug) with a power filter attached
to one of the lift tubes instead of a conventional air pump. This way I
get the mechanical/biological filtration of the ug and the higher water
turnover and ease of maintenance of the power filter. When I set up a
new tank I add a handful of gravel from an established tank to "seed"
the new tank with good bacteria and jump start the nitrification cycle.
I find that new tanks break in more quickly and have fewer water quality
problems when I do this.

Of course, no matter how good your filter system is, you still have to
do regular partial water changes! A good filter system just means you
have more room for error (such as "forgetting" to do a water change,
overfeeding, etc).

Good luck and I hope this helps.

Catherine
in foggy Ohio


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