"robbins876" wrote in message
oups.com...
I have a charcoal filter that that came with my 10 gallon tank
starter-kit. I've been reading up on biological filtration. Am I
correct in the fact that charcoal filters are not the same as bio
filters?

Yes. Charcoal is chemical filtration, partly a mechanical filter as well,
dependent on the size of the charcoal.

Since I don't have a bio filter, how imperative is it that I
get one? IS charcoal just a chemical filter?

Charcoal is used for removing chemical toxins in the water. It will not act
as a biological filter. What you you should aim for to have biological
filtration, which is where are all of your good bacteria will live, is
remove the carbon and replace it with plain old, cheap filter floss or
sponge. Then your tank will have to go through an establishing cycle, which
could be stressful for some or all or your current fish, so you need to read
up on that before you venture into it.

Try these links for some infomative information:

http://www.2cah.com/netmax/basics/water/water.shtml
http://www.skepticalaquarist.com/doc...t/nitcyc.shtml

They should give you some ideas about what and how to change the filter's
media over and the pitfalls of not doing it patiently or properly.

Is this filter air driven by any chance? One of those little green cartridge
types with carbon at the top and foam in the bottom half? If so, I'd remove
it and replace it with a small sponge filter.

Oz

--
My Aquatic web Blog is at http://members.optusnet.com.au/ivan.smith