IMO a canister filters is only good for one thing.........and that is to use
with carbon when needed. they do make excellent heaters tough.

as for your filter pads, they will become nitrate factories if not cleaned
at least weekly, preferably more often.

your lfs's suggestion to ditch the carbon was given under what assumption by
them???

kc

"...." wrote in message
...
I am using a cascade 1500 with matrix biofilter media. I was wondering if
I
should run the filter without the filter pads that came with it, or run it
with them in? I removed the carbon baggie [as per the lfs advise], but
kept
just in case. Any suggestions?