Seeking advice please

[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]

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

[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.

[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]

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.

[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]

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.