pos_user Posted April 7, 2004 Share Posted April 7, 2004 Hey guys..does anyone know what is the preferred media to use or avoid when using a AC 150 for a 10 gallon nano. Should i keep the carbon and sponge, just the sponge, or all media ? thanks...i have heard mixed reviews on what to use Link to comment
NanoAmyDee Posted April 7, 2004 Share Posted April 7, 2004 I use the carbon and the sponge. Make sure to change them regularly though. Link to comment
pos_user Posted April 7, 2004 Author Share Posted April 7, 2004 carbon is the black one right? what is the other one. The beige gravel type. Sorry but I am not familiar with filter media that much. I just know to use them in FW...not sure about SW. Link to comment
NanoAmyDee Posted April 7, 2004 Share Posted April 7, 2004 The only two you should use in SW is the black bag of carbon and the sponge. Nothing else. You could always just dump the media and throw a few bits of live rock and sand in there. Turn it into a fuge. But it would be a mighty small fuge, and only do well for making a few pods. Link to comment
jaguilar Posted April 7, 2004 Share Posted April 7, 2004 ditch all media that came with the aquaclear filter. replace with a bag of chemi-pure. this stuff is the best reef grade carbon available. the carbon that comes with the aquaclear is known to leak out a lot of phosphates which leads to algae outbreaks. i had a serious cyano problem prior to using chemi-pure. if you really need to, you could use the filter sponge also, but it has to be cleaned out frequently to prevent it from building up nitrates. like i said, i just run one bag of chemi-pure in my ac200 24/7 without the sponge, and my tank is always crystal clear and free of nitrates and phosphates. Link to comment
pos_user Posted April 7, 2004 Author Share Posted April 7, 2004 cool...sounds good. I'll try that. Link to comment
jaguilar Posted April 7, 2004 Share Posted April 7, 2004 i guarantee that you will be happy with it. and another thing that's good about this stuff is that it can be used for up to six months. it just needs to be rinsed off occasionally. good luck... Link to comment
trmiv Posted April 7, 2004 Share Posted April 7, 2004 I use Purigen and Black Diamond Carbon in my AquaClear. The Purigen is great for getting rid of organics. Purigen combined with my fuge keep my nitrates at 0. Even though it claims to, I don't think Purigen kept my water that clear. So I added the carbon, which made a HUGE difference in the clarity of the water. Link to comment
MrKrispy Posted April 8, 2004 Share Posted April 8, 2004 the carbon bag from my Aquaclear nuked my tank with a huge algae bomb withing a weekend. Ditch it. The white stuff is zeolite for absorbing ammonia. Obviously it isn't going to work in saltwater. Link to comment
pos_user Posted April 8, 2004 Author Share Posted April 8, 2004 ahh, i see. I will take out the zeolite for now and just get chemi pure when i can get to my LFS. Link to comment
trupel Posted April 8, 2004 Share Posted April 8, 2004 I have an AC500 and I just have scrap LR and LS in there... you can never have too much! Link to comment
Tempest Posted April 8, 2004 Share Posted April 8, 2004 Chemi-pure or Black diamond carbon. You can also use Phosban if phosphate becomes a problem. Link to comment
saltytoolman Posted April 10, 2004 Share Posted April 10, 2004 I 2nd Mr. Krispy....DO NOT USE THE AQUACLEAR CARBON BAG...I kept trying and trying to figure out why my phosphates were >2.0ppm untill finally I ditched the AC carbon bag and started using kents' premium carbon (I think that any premium grade carbon would do though). I'm now running only .1ppm carbon waiting patiently for the clean up crew to finish all that algea left on my LR. Link to comment
saltytoolman Posted April 10, 2004 Share Posted April 10, 2004 PS seriously consider buying the surface skimmer for your AC...Its worth the money even though it does occupy a little too much real estate Link to comment
sailforfun15 Posted April 10, 2004 Share Posted April 10, 2004 I'm a bit confused. I seem to remember reading a lot of advice about not using carbon at all for a nano reef. On my MB 7 I'm using the AC Mini with nothing in it at all. On my MB 2.5 QT I'm using the Whisper with the carbon dumped out of the filter and 1 pound of (currently uncured) LR in the tank. Todd Link to comment
pos_user Posted April 10, 2004 Author Share Posted April 10, 2004 you have the AC mini bow with nothing in it? What is the purpose of even using that filter other than water circulation...if thats the case...you can just add another Power head...thats what I would do atleast. I will try chemi pure as soon as I can get ot my LFS. For now I will leave the carbon and sponge in and take out the white back, which i believe is for reducing Ammonia. Link to comment
Jean-yus Posted April 10, 2004 Share Posted April 10, 2004 Chemi-Pure all the way. I just got some this weekend and within two hours my tank was clearer than it ever was... Link to comment
MrKrispy Posted April 10, 2004 Share Posted April 10, 2004 sailforfun15, I don't use carbon, however for those don't don't keep it in 24/7 it is good to have around for tank blowouts, corals with attitude i.e. chem warfare, etc.... Stinky water sucks too... Link to comment
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