On 21 Mar 2005 14:26:03 -0800, "robbins876"
wrote:

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

Thanks,
Rob

Hi Rob,

I can't imagine what you are going to do with all the differing
opinions you are getting. The very fact that there are so many ideas
led me to remove the charcoal from my 5 tanks about 6 months ago. I
had noticed that I could never clean the filter media well enough to
get good flow through for the water. I experimented by removing the
charcoal and then washing the bags and was pleased to find it was the
charcoal that was holding the flow and wouldn't clean out.

My 75 gallon tank has two Penguin 330s, thus 4 bio wheels. I got
tired of the things not rotating. I learned all the things to get
them to rotate again, but was having to repeat the procedures more
than I wanted. Then I realized that my other 4 tanks did not have bio
wheels, but were keeping the water clean, so I removed the wheels
several months ago.

In my own opinion only, I think the filter mainly holds the waste
material until it solids break down to a size that can pass through
the media back into the tank. Some bacteria action probably takes
place why being held, but I believe the primary bacteria activity
takes place in the tank.

I have live plants in all my tanks, so I cannot speak for conditions
without live plants. I do regularly change 20% of the water twice
weekly.

I like to keep things as simple as possible and have found no need to
make any chemical adjustments to the tap water. I find my simple
routine is easier to do, thus fewer excuses to not do the water
changes. I love excuses. I don't clean the filter media until most
of the water is flowing around the media.

dick