Filter media

I was hoping someone could give me an idea about the differences between -
ammo lock - zeolite - nitrazorb - purigen - or anything else in this general
family? I don't know how they work. My primary interest is inevitably
reducing nitrates. Ammonia and nitrites are never a problem. But, I don't
know whether the ammonia products keep the nitrate cycle from completing.
And of course any opinions about the desirability and effectiveness would
also be appreciated.

I have 2 Penguin 330's, a 2 basket off brand canister, and a Mini Aqua Clear
which I could add something extra to. One of the 330's + the canister are
probably my main concern, as they are in the Fancy GF tank which always has
by far the highest nitrates. The 330's do have little baskets behind the
filter mats which something can be added. Currently in those I am just
adding the cheap poly batting filter floss stuff.

I do weekly water changes and already use Prime Plus, which purports to help
reduce nitrites and nitrates as well as de chloraminating (is that a word
My tap water comes complete with Ammonia and Nitri/ates.
Thanxx
Bill

humBill wrote:

I was hoping someone could give me an idea about the differences between -
ammo lock - zeolite - nitrazorb - purigen - or anything else in this general
family? I don't know how they work. My primary interest is inevitably
reducing nitrates. Ammonia and nitrites are never a problem. But, I don't
know whether the ammonia products keep the nitrate cycle from completing.
And of course any opinions about the desirability and effectiveness would
also be appreciated.

I have 2 Penguin 330's, a 2 basket off brand canister, and a Mini Aqua Clear
which I could add something extra to. One of the 330's + the canister are
probably my main concern, as they are in the Fancy GF tank which always has
by far the highest nitrates. The 330's do have little baskets behind the
filter mats which something can be added. Currently in those I am just
adding the cheap poly batting filter floss stuff.

I do weekly water changes and already use Prime Plus, which purports to help
reduce nitrites and nitrates as well as de chloraminating (is that a word
My tap water comes complete with Ammonia and Nitri/ates.
Thanxx
Bill

use plants? I wouldn't use ammo lock, but would consider nitrazorb if I had bad
nitrate levels in tap water. Lots of plants should deal with that.

"Geezer From The Freezer" wrote in message
...


humBill wrote:

I was hoping someone could give me an idea about the differences
etween -
ammo lock - zeolite - nitrazorb - purigen - or anything else in this
general
family? I don't know how they work. My primary interest is inevitably
reducing nitrates. Ammonia and nitrites are never a problem. But, I
don't
know whether the ammonia products keep the nitrate cycle from completing.
And of course any opinions about the desirability and effectiveness would
also be appreciated.

I have 2 Penguin 330's, a 2 basket off brand canister, and a Mini Aqua
Clear
which I could add something extra to. One of the 330's + the canister
are
probably my main concern, as they are in the Fancy GF tank which always
has
by far the highest nitrates. The 330's do have little baskets behind the
filter mats which something can be added. Currently in those I am just
adding the cheap poly batting filter floss stuff.

I do weekly water changes and already use Prime Plus, which purports to
help
reduce nitrites and nitrates as well as de chloraminating (is that a
word
My tap water comes complete with Ammonia and Nitri/ates.
Thanxx
Bill

use plants? I wouldn't use ammo lock, but would consider nitrazorb if I
had bad
nitrate levels in tap water. Lots of plants should deal with that.

I know of the general principles of using plants to take up nitrates, since
I have two ponds with plenty of fish and never have hardly, if any nitrates.
However, I don't know of the reality in a tank. In my 55 gal, which is the
biggest 'problem' I have 2 Amazon Swords, 2 Tall Corkscrew type (name?),
couple of Monda Grass looking things, 6 or 8 pieces of Anacharis, and had
some Red Ludwidga and Wisteria I think it was. Nothing really seems to grow
except the Anacharis, which is not lush. They all seem to slowly waste
away. I think I have very poor lighting compared to what I have seen
suggested (2-5 watts/gal). I just have a single 'plant' lite at whatever
strength an standard hood light would be. As far as I can tell the double
tube + fixtures and higher wattage lights are quite expensive - as much or
more than my whole systems cost. (the 55 g was used and almost free). Maybe
I just found the wrong lights. I believe mine were Coral Life Natural Grow
or something similar - a little over $20 at Petsmart - no idea what the
Kelvin rating is, or whatever it's called (ie6500-10000).

I have been curious how people who have heavily planted lush 'forests'
vacuum regularly. I presume they don't, but then why don't they get
anaroebic (sp?) build up in their substrate (which I do prefer to use a thin
layer of).

I will reword my query in a less lengthy post.
Thanxx
Bill

use plants? I wouldn't use ammo lock, but would consider nitrazorb if I
had bad
nitrate levels in tap water. Lots of plants should deal with that.

I know of the general principles of using plants to take up nitrates,
since I have two ponds with plenty of fish and never have hardly, if any
nitrates. However, I don't know of the reality in a tank. In my 55 gal,
which is the biggest 'problem' I have 2 Amazon Swords, 2 Tall Corkscrew
type (name?), couple of Monda Grass looking things, 6 or 8 pieces of
Anacharis, and had some Red Ludwidga and Wisteria I think it was. Nothing
really seems to grow except the Anacharis, which is not lush. They all
seem to slowly waste away. I think I have very poor lighting compared to
what I have seen suggested (2-5 watts/gal). I just have a single 'plant'
lite at whatever strength an standard hood light would be. As far as I
can tell the double tube + fixtures and higher wattage lights are quite
expensive - as much or more than my whole systems cost. (the 55 g was
used and almost free). Maybe I just found the wrong lights. I believe
mine were Coral Life Natural Grow or something similar - a little over $20
at Petsmart - no idea what the Kelvin rating is, or whatever it's called
(ie6500-10000).

I have been curious how people who have heavily planted lush 'forests'
vacuum regularly. I presume they don't, but then why don't they get
anaroebic (sp?) build up in their substrate (which I do prefer to use a
thin layer of).

I will reword my query in a less lengthy post.
Thanxx
Bill

Hi Bill

I don't have a forest in my 55g, but have plenty of Cabomba, Red Cabomba,
Elodea, Amazon Sword, Mushroom Plant, Wisteria, and Mexican Oak.

I still vacuum when I do my waterchanges.
Now and again, a plant will come out, but I just put it in again.

I have 2 - 3 " of small-ish gravel, plants are in with rockwool and lead,
one plant tube, one daylight tube both 38 watt (supplied with the tank, so I
don't know what they are) with reflectors.

If it's a Nitrate problem, what about a Nitrate removal sponge ?

Peter

"2pods" wrote in message
...
use plants? I wouldn't use ammo lock, but would consider nitrazorb if I
had bad
nitrate levels in tap water. Lots of plants should deal with that.

I know of the general principles of using plants to take up nitrates,
since I have two ponds with plenty of fish and never have hardly, if any
nitrates. However, I don't know of the reality in a tank. In my 55 gal,
which is the biggest 'problem' I have 2 Amazon Swords, 2 Tall Corkscrew
type (name?), couple of Monda Grass looking things, 6 or 8 pieces of
Anacharis, and had some Red Ludwidga and Wisteria I think it was.
Nothing really seems to grow except the Anacharis, which is not lush.
They all seem to slowly waste away. I think I have very poor lighting
compared to what I have seen suggested (2-5 watts/gal). I just have a
single 'plant' lite at whatever strength an standard hood light would be.
As far as I can tell the double tube + fixtures and higher wattage lights
are quite expensive - as much or more than my whole systems cost. (the
55 g was used and almost free). Maybe I just found the wrong lights. I
believe mine were Coral Life Natural Grow or something similar - a little
over $20 at Petsmart - no idea what the Kelvin rating is, or whatever
it's called (ie6500-10000).

I have been curious how people who have heavily planted lush 'forests'
vacuum regularly. I presume they don't, but then why don't they get
anaroebic (sp?) build up in their substrate (which I do prefer to use a
thin layer of).

I will reword my query in a less lengthy post.
Thanxx
Bill

Hi Bill

I don't have a forest in my 55g, but have plenty of Cabomba, Red Cabomba,
Elodea, Amazon Sword, Mushroom Plant, Wisteria, and Mexican Oak.

I still vacuum when I do my waterchanges.
Now and again, a plant will come out, but I just put it in again.

I have 2 - 3 " of small-ish gravel, plants are in with rockwool and lead,
one plant tube, one daylight tube both 38 watt (supplied with the tank, so
I don't know what they are) with reflectors.

If it's a Nitrate problem, what about a Nitrate removal sponge ?

Peter
Thanxx for your response. Well, that sounds at least hopeful. Don't know
what the Mexican and Mushroom are or why my othrs arent doing well then. As
mentioned my Wisteria wasted away as did my Cabomba (just fell apart and
wrapped around my impeller). I have less small gravel and am currently
using rocks & rubberbands for weights. My wattage is similar to yours.
Brown algae grows with no problem, so some of the componets must be there.

I don't know what a nitrate removal sponge is. I know of the sponge filter
with an air pump, but I thought that was just a cheaper bio/mechanical
filter, which still produces nitrates.
Thanxx
Bill

In article ,
says...
I have been curious how people who have heavily planted lush 'forests'
vacuum regularly. I presume they don't, but then why don't they get
anaroebic (sp?) build up in their substrate (which I do prefer to use a thin
layer of).

Seems to me I read somewhere that the plants minimize that possibility
as well. Others can comment if they know more.

And a couple of catfish keep at least the top layer stirred up pretty
well :-).

--
Homo sapiens is a goal, not a description

I don't know what a nitrate removal sponge is. I know of the sponge
filter with an air pump, but I thought that was just a cheaper
bio/mechanical filter, which still produces nitrates.
Thanxx
Bill



It's a replacement sponge for one of the sponges in your biofilter,
impregnated with AFAIK some kind of resin which reduces Nitrates.
Works for me, Nitrates are usually 5

Peter

"2pods" wrote in message
...
I don't know what a nitrate removal sponge is. I know of the sponge
filter with an air pump, but I thought that was just a cheaper
bio/mechanical filter, which still produces nitrates.
Thanxx
Bill



It's a replacement sponge for one of the sponges in your biofilter,
impregnated with AFAIK some kind of resin which reduces Nitrates.
Works for me, Nitrates are usually 5

Peter
I have to laugh at myself sometimes, so feel welcome to do so also. I had
to google to find out what 'some kind of resin' AFAIK was The sponge
sounds interesting. Not sure that I have seen. Would that be some sort of
Nitra Zorb sponge (which I have seen for Renas-dont have) or something a
little different. Not ammonia reducing sponge right?
Thanxx
Bill

Would that be some sort of
Nitra Zorb sponge (which I have seen for Renas-dont have) or something a
little different. Not ammonia reducing sponge right?
Thanxx
Bill


Something the same. Mine is for a Juwel filter.
You can also get ones to take out phospates, ammonia, etc

Peter