Seeking advice please

[ptran]

150 gallon Tangs community.

Filtration:
1 FX5: stock sponge, Eheim foam pad, 2 lb activated carbon
1 Eheim 2262: 2 lb activated carbon, dish washing sponge, 2 layer of filter floss
1 Odyssey EX350 power head with sponge.

Heavily stock:
12 Moba Frontosa 4"-8"
16 clown load 3"-5"
10 Leulepi 2"-4"
1 black congo inkfin calvus 4.5"
3 brichardi 4"
2 fat syno cat 5"
2 pictus cat 4"
2 BN 4"
1 Eretmodus 3"
1 chalinochromis Nbobhoy 4"
1 julidochromis 4"

I want to swap out the 2lb activated carbon in the Eheim for new carbon and maybe couple 100ml Purigen bags. The carbon is about 1 year old and start to break down. Hence the reason for replacement.

Question:
Would this change affect my bio capacity? I don't want any dead fish.
What can I do to make sure my bio capacity is okay in preparing for the swap?
Thanks for your advice.

[Austy16414]

Seeking advice please

I think you need more bio media period. Honestly man 4 lbs of carbon is kinda overkill. I would swap 2 lbs for some bio media now, let it seed, then remove the other 2 lbs and replace with purigen and more bio media. Heavy stocking means high bioload and you have a lot to support

[ptran]

I think you are right about the bio load. However, I always have some carbon in my system. It keeps that water clear and eliminate the smell.

I am thinking to get some bio-media in a bag and drop in the tank water for seeding.
What material do you recommend? Something inexpensive and effective.

[morpheus]

yeah you werent kidding when you said it stocked pretty full. nice mix though. i usually have carbon too...and i am well udner bio capacity. still get that off smell sometimes but i mainly use HOBs.

i have two canisters i have been meaning to get restarted. when they were running, i had a sponge, some generic material from hobby lobby in every tray, carbon bag in one tray, purigen bag in another tray, and last tray had matrix stones

[ptran]

Yes, I realize the heavy bio load now that the Moba gain some size. I might have to remove some tank mates to make more room for the Moba to encourage breeding. Maybe starting a new thread to vote for which one need to go lol.

[Austy16414]

If you want something cheap, go with pot scrubbers. I really like Seachem's pond matrix media but it's a bit more expensive

[morpheus]

If you want something cheap, go with pot scrubbers. I really like Seachem's pond matrix media but it's a bit more expensive

agreed. i liked using the matrix stones. there is a thread somewhere on here as i experimented with it. reporting my nitrate levels before and after each water change. took about 4-6 weeks to kick in, but my nitrates dropped fast after the bacteria took hold.

[Austy16414]

I'll have to check that out sometime. If it has Seachem in the name, I stand by it

[morpheus]

I dug up the thread here if interested.

http://www.houstonfishbox.com/vforums/showthread.php?61827-Pond-matrix-n-Purigen&highlight=matrix

[amcgee2842]

I use matrix, purigen, and chemipure elite. Since you can recharge purigen its not that expensive but the chemipure elite is $30 every 3 months for replacement.

[ptran]

I use matrix, purigen, and chemipure elite. Since you can recharge purigen its not that expensive but the chemipure elite is $30 every 3 months for replacement.

Yike, no wonder your tank looks so clean. Some expensive stuff.

[ptran]

I dug up the thread here if interested.

http://www.houstonfishbox.com/vforum...ghlight=matrix

Will have some Purigen for sure when I clean the filter.

[amcgee2842]

I mostly use the elite for phosphate removal because I don't believe purigen removes phosphates. I notice a lot more algae growth if I take out the elite. I haven' t had time to research cheaper phosphate removers that can stay in a canister for more than a few months.

[morpheus]

I mostly use the elite for phosphate removal because I don't believe purigen removes phosphates. I notice a lot more algae growth if I take out the elite. I haven' t had time to research cheaper phosphate removers that can stay in a canister for more than a few months.

no, purigen will not remove phosphates. i have never tried PhosGuard from Seachem but they have it available. here is a quote off the Seachem webpage in one of their threads on it:

"Purigen removes organic waste, but it will not remove phosphates from the water. If you have existing high nitrates you may want to perform routine water changes to lower nitrate. Carbon will remove organics from the water aggressively, but not impact phosphate. You may want to look at SeaGel. It is a blend of Matrix Carbon and PhosGuard for aggressive filtration and phosphate removal. As long as you are not using a phosphate based buffer SeaGel or PhosGuard is fine to use."

[ptran]

Is phosphate bad for the fish?