Am I supposed to use both the cartridges that come with this filter? One says best for tropical &amp; the other says best for gold. My 10g tank smells!
1416053
Your supposed to used both. The more filtration the better. Also depends on how many fish you have.
527871
I replaced the filter with a fluval filter. Yeah, it was strong and dangerous in my opinion. I just sold this tank! It is an awesome tank! More on the fluval mini filter, you can adjust the current. Make sure you can return it because I have found some models of the filter to be noisy.
2204796
Just to kinda help you out. I have a 75 gallon aquarium. I also have a fluval 406 canister filter. I use 2 350ml of purigen and it last for 6-7 months. It's not specific to gallons. It's based on how cloudy/discolored/dirty your tank is. 2 bags of 100ml would last me maybe 2 months.
1861601
I switched from an otw filter to a sponge for my 10gal tank. It works even better! Surely there must be an appropriate sponge for your 60 gal.
1590257
It takes the large filter cartridge. Not the extra large. I am trying these now and I am impressed. I put them on 30 gal tanks filled with baby fish and they are working great!
81299
I realize you are looking to keep turtles but the absolute beauty of this very large canister filter, is you can fill it with whatever you want to. It really depends on whatever you are keeping. Since I keep only very large fancy goldfish in a 125 gallon tank (messy critters that they are) I am using in the top basket: Fluval Universal Filter Media Bags - one filled with ammonia remover and another with activated carbon. The second basket: Seachem Purigen in a Seachem Filter Media bag (very fine mesh able to contain the Purigen) and in the 3rd basket: Seachem Matrix Bio Media in the bottom canister covered with filter pad cut to fit the circle shape of the basket. Hope this helps somewhat! I realize you are looking to keep turtles but the absolute beauty of this very large canister filter, is you can fill it with whatever you want to. It really depends on whatever you are keeping. Since I keep only very large fancy goldfish in a 125 gallon tank (messy critters that they are) I am using in the top basket: Fluval Universal Filter Media Bags - one filled with ammonia remover and another with activated carbon. The second basket: Seachem Purigen in a Seachem Filter Media bag (very fine mesh able to contain the Purigen) and in the 3rd basket: Seachem Matrix Bio Media in the bottom... » Read More I realize you are looking to keep turtles but the absolute beauty of this very large canister filter, is you can fill it with whatever you want to. It really depends on whatever you are keeping. Since I keep only very large fancy goldfish in a 125 gallon tank (messy critters that they are) I am using in the top basket: Fluval Universal Filter Media Bags - one filled with ammonia remover and another with activated carbon. The second basket: Seachem Purigen in a Seachem Filter Media bag (very fine mesh able to contain the Purigen) and in the 3rd basket: Seachem Matrix Bio Media in the bottom canister covered with filter pad cut to fit the circle shape of the basket. Hope this helps somewhat! « Show Less
344378
It isn't a bad filtering system . It has easily exchanged cartridges you can get on line or at an aquarium shop . How often you change them depends on the number and size of fish in the aquarium and your water supply. Using clarifying water tablets/conditioners and an alga remover helps with filtration.
590229
There is no need to find replacement cartridges. The carbon is useless unless you are using it remove medication and still yet it is such a small amount that it would have little effect. The cartridges are the money makers for the manufacturers. Go buy carbon in bulk off Amazon or wherever you can find it if you really insist on using it. As for the sponge... it should not be replaced unless it is completely breaking down. It is the only source of biological filtration (the reason why you have a filter in the first place I hope) and by throwing it away you're going to restart the nitrogen cycle. Rinse out the sponge in a bucket of conditioned tap water or in the bucket you used to hold the water you changed out of your tank, then put it back in. Done. If the sponge does break down you can buy Aqua Clear sponges and cut them to size. You can also go on eBay and buy them for much cheaper in bulk.
112591
I use the filter for a 25 gallon tank. Seems to work well. The filter completely stops when the cartridges need to be changed. Hope that helps.
1345855
The little air driven filter included with this actually works better if you forego replacement cartridges and instead cut a piece of filter sponge to fit it. That can simply be rinsed/squeezed out regularly in tank water, providing both mechanical and excellent biological filtration (most important type). Carbon (embedded in the cartridges) is generally unnecessary in established tanks.
1858099
Off hand, I would ask, WHY? The gold filter is made to work on its own. The ceramic FILTER HOLDER is meant to be used with the 4 cup paper filters (bleached or unbleached). I've not tried using the gold filter I have inside my ceramic filter holder as it seems redundant. The single problem that I have had with my gold filter is occasional granular leakage when the coffee is ground too small. I can not really see any benefit to placing the gold inside the white ceramic except, perhaps, to save the cost of the paper filters.
1080081
It works well for replacing the cartridges that is what I origionally bought it for and it will capture particles. However, the activated charcoal runs out quickly only last a week maybe two. But for the price differnce of a cartridge you can replace more frequently and save money. It really does depend on your aquarium system and level of stocking, if the charcoal will be powerful enough.
513814
As Hometown 72 said, each filter has its specific use. I have both fresh water tropical and goldfish ( in different tanks of course). I use the zeolite for the goldfish and carbon for my freshwater tropical. With the marina filter using two filters, I change one out every 1st of the month and then the second one out around the middle of the month. It really helps to keep the tank clean. I buy bulk through amazon and save that way on the cost.
1852732
Just search for these on amazon...AQUARIUS 6-Pack Mini Might Filter Replacement Cartridge for Aquarium
1671320
Mostly because they are worried about rinsing the beneficial bacteria off of their used filter cartridges. I don't do that, I just rinse it off in tap water, but generally you clean the filters at the same time you do water changes, so it works out that you have the tank water hanging around. In my opinion, if the beneficial bacteria can be killed in your tank by rinsing the filter cartridge with tap water, then you have a very weak tank and maybe need some supplement.
869628
Yes, I purchased this specifically for a 10 gallon and it worked very well. It is an extremely efficient filter, easy to change cartridges, and basically soundless. Could not be better for a smaller tank.
1969814
I've had cartridge filters and sand filters and I prefer sand filters. They are much simpler to clean - simply backwash - and you don't have to replace cartridges. Technically cartridge filters take out smaller particles than sand filters, but they are more of a hassle to clean and more expensive to use as they have to be replaced often, and I honestly didn't see much difference between the two as far as cleaning the water in my pool. You can also mix sand and DE in a sand filter for removing even tinier particles that using sand alone. Here is a short article discussing both sand and cartridge filters. http://www.poolsupplyworld.com/blog/choosing-between-a-sand-filter-and-a-cartridge-pool-filter/ I've had cartridge filters and sand filters and I prefer sand filters. They are much simpler to clean - simply backwash - and you don't have to replace cartridges. Technically cartridge filters take out smaller particles than sand filters, but they are more of a hassle to clean and more expensive to use as they have to be replaced often, and I honestly didn't see much difference between the two as far as cleaning the water in my pool. You can also mix sand and DE in a sand filter for removing even tinier particles that using sand alone. Here is a short article discussing both sand and... » Read More I've had cartridge filters and sand filters and I prefer sand filters. They are much simpler to clean - simply backwash - and you don't have to replace cartridges. Technically cartridge filters take out smaller particles than sand filters, but they are more of a hassle to clean and more expensive to use as they have to be replaced often, and I honestly didn't see much difference between the two as far as cleaning the water in my pool. You can also mix sand and DE in a sand filter for removing even tinier particles that using sand alone. Here is a short article discussing both sand and cartridge filters. http://www.poolsupplyworld.com/blog/choosing-between-a-sand-filter-and-a-cartridge-pool-filter/ « Show Less