Zeolite along with GACarbon filter cartridge

[Kedar]

Friends,

I have a hangon type power filter for my 10 G tank. I recently found a
new type of cartridge which has zeolite crystals along with GACarbon.
The manufacturer claims this cartridge can remove Ammonia ..now my
question...Is it a good idea to use such a cartridge...since the Bio
filter is already happy to consume all the Ammonia ..then why remove it
artificially.

Any other comment/suggestions are welcome.

Thanks
Kedar

[carlrs]

Kedar wrote:
> Friends,
>
> I have a hangon type power filter for my 10 G tank. I recently found a
> new type of cartridge which has zeolite crystals along with GACarbon.
> The manufacturer claims this cartridge can remove Ammonia ..now my
> question...Is it a good idea to use such a cartridge...since the Bio
> filter is already happy to consume all the Ammonia ..then why remove it
> artificially.
>
> Any other comment/suggestions are welcome.
>
> Thanks
> Kedar

This can be a controversial area. I have used Ammo-Carb and similar
products in healthy aquariums with no noticeable improvements in water
parameters, but I have seen better results with Zeolite (Ammo-carb) in
new aquariums or established aquariums where something went wrong.
What is controversial is some claim Zeolite can add ammonia back into
the water in the right conditions. But those conditions usually involve
a lot of sodium chloride (salt), which is why you should not use
zeolite in marine aquariums. But in all my years maintaining aquariums,
I have never seen this happen in FW aquariums.

Carl
http://www.forumsvibe.com/betta/index.php

[swarvegorilla]

"carlrs" > wrote in message
ups.com...
>
> Kedar wrote:
>> Friends,
>>
>> I have a hangon type power filter for my 10 G tank. I recently found a
>> new type of cartridge which has zeolite crystals along with GACarbon.
>> The manufacturer claims this cartridge can remove Ammonia ..now my
>> question...Is it a good idea to use such a cartridge...since the Bio
>> filter is already happy to consume all the Ammonia ..then why remove it
>> artificially.
>>
>> Any other comment/suggestions are welcome.
>>
>> Thanks
>> Kedar
>
> This can be a controversial area. I have used Ammo-Carb and similar
> products in healthy aquariums with no noticeable improvements in water
> parameters, but I have seen better results with Zeolite (Ammo-carb) in
> new aquariums or established aquariums where something went wrong.
> What is controversial is some claim Zeolite can add ammonia back into
> the water in the right conditions. But those conditions usually involve
> a lot of sodium chloride (salt), which is why you should not use
> zeolite in marine aquariums. But in all my years maintaining aquariums,
> I have never seen this happen in FW aquariums.
>
> Carl
> http://www.forumsvibe.com/betta/index.php
>

Because chemical filtration (or protien skimming in marine/brackish tanks)
removes organics from the water before they break down further there is then
less nitrate to dilute with water changes.
Chemical filtration is a lazy persons high tech way of getting out of water
changes.
I have found most problems traditionally corrected with chemical filtration
can be quickly amended with the addition of cycled filters and a regime of
partial water changes.
Myself...... I only use zeo-lite (buy the stuff used for pool filters it's
1000X cheaper if ya can get quality!) and carbon to treat water
before/during the time I age it, adjust pH and heat it too my correct heat.