flotus48

I'm using the Emperor 400 power filter on my 55 gal tank. It has 2 bio wheels. On one side there are 2 filter pads and the other has containers for other filter media. Just wanted to get a few ideas on what one might use in the empty containers. Right now I have added another filter pad and put Diamond blend activated carbon in the other.

xero2099

i have an emperor 280 you can use chemical media if you want to like carbon or ammonia remover or you can ad extra filter pads

harpua2002

Once the tank cycles through, there shouldn't be any reason to use ammonia remover, assuming filtration is adequate and stock list isn't too heavy.

When I was running Emperors, I added filter floss to the extra media baskets. It's good for water polishing and catches the particulate matter that the coarse filter pad doesn't.

flotus48

Thanks. I'll get some filter floss.

Regal

If I'm reading your post correctly, you have both of the standard filter cartridges on the same side. You should have one on each side and then each side will have an empty slot for extra media.

You really don't need anything else but that's up to you, of course.

I don't buy the cartridges I just wrap filter floss around the black part of the cartridge after cutting off the old blue stuff. I don't use carbon or anything else, just filter pad that you can buy a big sheet of and cut the size you need.

flotus48

Now that makes sense and cheaper too. Why no carbon?

aquarist48

Hello flotus....using carbon is kind of a personal choice. I use it religiously around the clock. Others do not. Some use it only to remove medication.

It helps to keep my water clear and from smelling bad. I change it our every 3 weeks so it doesn't leak bad minerals/cooties back into the water that it has collected.
Ken

Regal

cooties Ken? How very scientific of you lol.

It's definitely a personal preference. I always used it until others here convinced me it was unnecessary. I was skeptical but I haven't seen any difference in the water in my tanks since I stopped using it. My 75 Gal, 20 Gal, and 10 Gal all have filter floss wrapped around an old cartridge. And you're right it is cheaper. The replacement cartridges from Marineland are like $3 or $4 right? I don't remember because I have not bought any in a while.

I have some "found" driftwood in a tank and the water is getting a bit tea colored. I may end up putting some in that filter for a while if it gets to dark. You can just put it in a filter bag or the leg of an old pair of pantyhose. You don’t need to buy cartridges.

If you are going to use it you do need to keep changing to fresh carbon to keep the cooties from leaching back out. I never knew that until I learned it on FishLore.

Jaysee

I agree whole heartedly. If the filter is not able to convert all of the ammonia and nitrites, then you are either well overstocked or have an inadequate filtration system, both of which are issues that need to be addressed, not covered up.

I love my emperors, but use custom media. IMO carbon is not needed for anything other than removing meds and such from the water. Not one of my 14 tanks has carbon in it. Lots of people use carbon to remove foul smells from the water, but that's just putting on a bandaide - foul smells are an indication that something is wrong, and again, the cause must be addressed, not covered up.

My media setup for my emperors is this - blue bonded filter pad/felt(floss)/cartridge. I cut the top of the cart. and dump out the carbon because the cart. keeps everything in place.

aquarist48

Thank you Sue! "cooties" cover such a wide range of bad things we don't want in our tank. (I'm just a plethora of information aren't I? lol) It would appear that you know what I mean since you used it in your own sentence.
Have a good day today!
Ken

Regal

Cooties it is then! I say that's a good name for all the icky stuff we don't want in our tanks. Isn't there a little rhyme we can say while holding hands and spinning in circles on the playground that will get rid of cooties? lol