ADVICE on filter media

Hi all you fish lovers .About a month a go i bought a BOyu tank about 130litre or so comes with filter media -Carbon -ceramic rings -BIO balls and all that
now im wondering when do i replace carbon or do i even needed it at the moment its in its own section of the tank same with the ceramic rings and the filter.
ive got bio balls with the ceramic rings but nt sure how many i really need :unsure:


THANKS GUYS

 

Use the carbon, replace after a month for the first 3 months, then replace it with more ceramic rings, or seachem matrix.

 

Thanks but what does Matrix do for the filtration

 

Seachem Matrix is a very efficient medium for your bacteria to colonize in addition to the bioballs and ceramic rings you've mentioned - so it will improve your biological filtration. Mostly, ac is used as a polisher or to remove meds.

 

The activated carbon also removes some dissolved metals such as copper, as well as small amounts of amonia and a few other nasties as well such as chlorine. I agree with @Sean J use it, especially in the beginning stages, people often throw it out too quickly. Every time us mere mortals that dont have RO systems for our water (and have to use tap water at each water change) do a water change we are at risk of adding nasties. If I remember correctly Seachem Purigen is a more effective(couple of hundred percent more) way of doing what the activated carbon does. Activated carbon comes in many different grades, not all being really effective for aquaria filtration, using something like Seachem ensures you have the real mcoy. Use it if you have it though, it cant hurt, and if its left too long it starts acting as a bacteria colony as well, albeit maybe not the best one.

 

As a side note. If you add salt to an aquarium with saturated (old) activated carbon it dumps everything that it has absorbed right back into the tank.

 

With AC??? I'm not sure of this. I know Zeolite is recharged using salt, but AC???

 

Thats not technically a recharge, is it? I think it's more dangerous than anything else. That's why you replace it every month.

 

Not sure of the salt theory ? Its used in marine ? Take a look at Seachems Matrix carbon on their website, looks like good stuff

 

off topic --> never put salt in a freshwater tank with zeolite . The reaction will cause zeolite to release the ammonia back into the water!!!. (Poisoning the fish) Dump the carbon a little bit at a time & replace with either new carbon or other media @Turok . Is the tank new or used

 

Hi guys how you doing thanks for all the Advice.oh yes the tank is about a 2 months old

 

Seachem matrix is extremely good. I will recommend matrix above any other media. I use matrix and what I've hear about it, is that it also keeps your bacteria healthy and that help to maintain your tank.