Chemi-Pure? Carbon? Nothing?

[discuspaul]

Originally Posted by somewhatshocked

Swapping 50% of water every week can be harmful if it's not necessary. Not in all cases, but it's definitely risky and can be confusing for those new to the hobby. Especially with those who keep sensitive shrimp.

Water changes actually can't take the place of a resign like Purigen. Not on the polishing front and not even when it comes to removing tannins from water.

Stick to what you're doing, OP, as you have the right idea and won't regret it. Crystal clear water.

I agree 100% with Jake's above comments.

WCs are good, but for superb water clarification, you can't beat Purigen.
Been using it in my 75 gal planted discus tank 24/7 for years, while still doing minimum 60% wcs twice a week. Tank is always crystal clear - just the way I want it.
I wouldn't be without it.

[ronaldvalente]

Yeah, I usually do 20 gallon water changes weekly. Looking forward to adding Purigen. Chemi-Pure has been removed and put into my Cichlid FOWLR.

[HD Blazingwolf]

Originally Posted by somewhatshocked

Swapping 50% of water every week can be harmful if it's not necessary. Not in all cases, but it's definitely risky and can be confusing for those new to the hobby. Especially with those who keep sensitive shrimp.

Water changes actually can't take the place of a resign like Purigen. Not on the polishing front and not even when it comes to removing tannins from water.

Stick to what you're doing, OP, as you have the right idea and won't regret it. Crystal clear water.

i'd like to clarify in red. its IMPOSSIBLE to overdo water changes
unless shrimp are involved
no fish, nor plant will ever show any signs of complaint about a good water change

[Steve001]

Originally Posted by ronaldvalente

What does everyone use for chemical filtration?

I have been using Chemi-Pure the last 5 years.
Just wanted to see what everyone else was using.

FWIW I have two Eheim 2217 can's on my 75G tank.

Thanks,
Ron

It bothers me that folks rely on additional chemicals to maintain a healthy planted tank. There's no reason to use chemical filtration in a healthy planted tank - ever ! That's anathema to the goal of a planted tank with is to bring a bit of nature indoors. My suggestion for you is to do some remedial reading on the processes taking place in planted aquarium. Remember you don't have a fish tank, you have a planted tank.

[herns]

I don't use chemical. Just eheim rings, ehfi lab & filter blue & white pads.

[talontsiawd]

I use Purigen in nanos, nothing in tanks larger than 10 gallons. My only reason for that is Purigen doesn't last very long in my larger canisters before it's "saturated" and I don't clean accordingly, making it kind of useless.

I have also used a UV over the years. I rarely keep it on. It's great to plug in for a day for super clear water when you are having people over. I likely wouldn't buy another.

At this point, I could care less about chemical filtration, I just use it because I already have it.

[STS_1OO]

I concur that 50% WC, especially with ferts, is nothing drastic so as long as we're talking about fish here. That being said, WC are not necessary unless you're ferting regularly.

I can't speak to purigen but I do know that may people opted for a cheaper solution in Polyfill - the non-chemically treated pillow stuffing...stuff. I've had it in my Eheim 2215 for two years now.

Not only does it saturate first, its easy to throw out and refill and very cheap.

Polyfill keeps my tank crystal clear. I'm also not big on chemical filtration for a planted tank.

[dprais1]

Anybody care to clarify these statements for me....

1. Purigen removes organics from the water.
2. The breakdown of organics cause the toxins
3. Therefore purigen is not a chemical filter but a really good mechanical filter.

4. It works so well because it is sticky (like a really well aged sponge filter gets when it has lots of bio bacteria in it). It is just a lot stickier than even a good aged sponge type filter)

...or I completely off my rocker!!

[STS_1OO]

Purigen does not remove the ferts that we dose in planted tanks.

The only case here is really financial-related. Plants do what purigen does but perhaps not to the same degree.

People have had success with and without Purigen. There's no other harm to using Purigen other than to your wallet.

[ronaldvalente]

Originally Posted by STS_1OO

Purigen does not remove the ferts that we dose in planted tanks.

The only case here is really financial-related. Plants do what purigen does but perhaps not to the same degree.

People have had success with and without Purigen. There's no other harm to using Purigen other than to your wallet.

It wouldn't be called a hobby if it was free.

[ronaldvalente]

Here is the new layout I am using for both my Eheim 2217 filters.

[talontsiawd]

Originally Posted by STS_1OO

Purigen does not remove the ferts that we dose in planted tanks.

The only case here is really financial-related. Plants do what purigen does but perhaps not to the same degree.

People have had success with and without Purigen. There's no other harm to using Purigen other than to your wallet.

I have had the exact same success with the same tank with the same filter with and without Purigen. It's not going to turn around your tank into something different, outside of being cleaner.

On the flipside, I consider Purigen cheap as a little goes a long way, and it basically lasts forever. Outside of the bags it comes in (I used to get it in bags), it lasts forever. I have one pouch that is almost 5 years old and still will be pure white after bleaching. As said, I only run it on nano's now so the pouches aren't excessively expensive, fit in most filters, and go forever.

[ronaldvalente]

Originally Posted by talontsiawd

I have had the exact same success with the same tank with the same filter with and without Purigen. It's not going to turn around your tank into something different, outside of being cleaner.

Good point here, we all should know here the quality of our tank is greater than the sum of its parts. It is the combination of everything we add to the eco system.

No single one thing is going to be the silver bullet for anything.

[STS_1OO]

Originally Posted by ronaldvalente

It wouldn't be called a hobby if it was free.

You're right. Free and planted tank hobby don't go well together. But that's why its worthwhile to some to pull to jump on it whenever and wherever we can

[STS_1OO]

Originally Posted by talontsiawd

I have had the exact same success with the same tank with the same filter with and without Purigen. It's not going to turn around your tank into something different, outside of being cleaner.

On the flipside, I consider Purigen cheap as a little goes a long way, and it basically lasts forever. Outside of the bags it comes in (I used to get it in bags), it lasts forever. I have one pouch that is almost 5 years old and still will be pure white after bleaching. As said, I only run it on nano's now so the pouches aren't excessively expensive, fit in most filters, and go forever.

Exactly my point :P