Do I use carbon while doing a fishless cycle using flakes

Hello everyone I am fairly new to the fish world so please bear with me. I just ordered a 20 gallon Tetra color fusion with a Whisper 20 filter. My question is when cycling fishless with flakes do you take out the carbon? I read that using it when cycling is pointless because the carbon is only good for a few weeks and after that time it may leak. The Whisper filter comes with a biobag filled with carbon and I was thinking I could take out the carbon and replace with fluval biomax rings. I have very limited space in my filter so I have to choose between the two. Thanks so much in advance for any help)

6 Gallon: 1 male betta Charlie
5 gallon: 1 male betta peppy and a mystery snail

Is this a really dumb question because this is the second community I have posted it in and no response.

 

hI and welcome to fishlore! it will be fine to use carbon while cycling, (that is the way I did it.) good luck with your fish tank!

 

Hello and thank you for the warm greeting and response). I was just under the impression that the Fluval bio max would be a better option because it will hold a lot of BB. The whisper 20 filter is very limited in space so I have to choose one or the other. Since the carbon only lasts a couple of weeks I thought the bio rings would be more beneficial for the cycle. Any thoughts?

 

It's my understanding that carbon does not remove ammonia, nitrates nor nitrites. It doesn't hamper or slow down cycling a new tank.

I put the carbon in when I set up my two tanks.

 

hmm, I think that the fluval is the way to go.

 

Thank you very much for the advice, truly appreciated.

 

From my understanding (I'm new to this too) carbon won't hurt a cycle, but it won't do much to help. If you only have room for one thing, I'd go bio rings

 

hmm, I think that the fluval is the way to go.

Thank you, I can now breathe easier knowing that I somewhat have a clue as to what I'm doing. Lol.

From my understanding (I'm new to this too) carbon won't hurt a cycle, but it won't do much to help. If you only have room for one thing, I'd go bio rings

Many thanks my fellow newbie). Bio rings it is then!! Have a nice day...

It's my understanding that carbon does not remove ammonia, nitrates nor nitrites. It doesn't hamper or slow down cycling a new tank.

I put the carbon in when I set up my two tanks.

Thank you for the response. I wouldn't worry so much if I had more space in my filter but as it is I have to choose between the two and I think bio rings are the way to go. Have a great day...

 

So, after you've cycled, every time you want to change the floss bag, you have to move the bio rings to the new bag? the new bag you are going to have to make out of pad or remove the carbon each time, the carbon that comes with a stock one ?
IMO, you're overthinking this.

 

So, after you've cycled, every time you want to change the floss bag, you have to move the bio rings to the new bag? the new bag you are going to have to make out of pad or remove the carbon each time, the carbon that comes with a stock one ?
IMO, you're overthinking this.

Ahahahaha I am a little OCD when it comes to this hobby.
Yes I would move the bio rings to a new bio bag that doesn't have any media in it. Or as someone suggested use a piece of floss and thread the bio rings through, tie it off and try to squeeze it in the bottom of the filter. I appreciate your thoughts, thank you!!

 

Welcome to the forum

Personally, I would ditch those cartridges and get a thin sponge, filter floss or polyester batting to function as your mechanical filtration and then a media bag of ceramic rings as your bio filtration. Both would last so much longer and would be cheaper than buying cartridges. Carbon is optional and with the limited space you have in the filter, those other 2 stages of filtration would be more valuable.

As far as fishless cycling, I recommend using pure ammonia (found at Ace Hardware) to use as your ammonia source instead of fish flakes which are messier and harder to control/dose.

Here's a thread for more info but I would just dose to 1ppm ammonia instead of the amount suggested there. A bacteria supplement like Tetra SafeStart Plus or Seachem Stability will help cycle faster.

https://www.fishlore.com/aquariumfishforum/threads/ammonia-instructions-for-a-fishless-cycle.19627/

 

Welcome to the forum

Personally, I would ditch those cartridges and get a thin sponge, filter floss or polyester batting to function as your mechanical filtration and then a media bag of ceramic rings as your bio filtration. Both would last so much longer and would be cheaper than buying cartridges. Carbon is optional and with the limited space you have in the filter, those other 2 stages of filtration would be more valuable.

As far as fishless cycling, I recommend using pure ammonia (found at Ace Hardware) to use as your ammonia source instead of fish flakes which are messier and harder to control/dose.

Here's a thread for more info but I would just dose to 1ppm ammonia instead of the amount suggested there. A bacteria supplement like Tetra SafeStart Plus or Seachem Stability will help cycle faster.

https://www.fishlore.com/aquariumfishforum/threads/ammonia-instructions-for-a-fishless-cycle.19627/

Thank you for the greeting and response!! I understand switching out and using bio rings but am a bit confused on what floss and polyester batting are. Could you please elaborate a bit more on that?

I initially was going to use flakes because it seemed to be an easier method but I really don't want to deal with the mess so ammonia it is. You have been so much help, much appreciated!!

 

Filter floss would be something like the below. It's nice because you get that large bag of it and you take just enough to fit into your filter.



Polyester batting is the pillow stuffing you could find at a crafts store like Michael's. Works just like the above.

You could also get a bonded filter pad which is what I have. You just cut to fit for the size of your filter.



All of the above work great to catch those big and small particles and would last you months!

 

Filter floss would be something like the below. It's nice because you get that large bag of it and you take just enough to fit into your filter.



Polyester batting is the pillow stuffing you could find at a crafts store like Michael's. Works just like the above.

You could also get a bonded filter pad which is what I have. You just cut to fit for the size of your filter.



All of the above work great to catch those big and small particles and would last you months!

Well if you're using a bonded filter pad and I know you know what you are doing then I shall look into that.
Have a great day) Thank you!!

 

Welcome to FL

Yes, I agree - Ammonia ( or Dr. Tims ammonium chloride ) for fishless cycle is the best way. Putting in fish flakes and or raw shrimp, etc is messy AND stinky!

Also using a carbon filter is of no use when cycling. I would save it for when you are cycled instead of wasting it with no fish in the tank ( it usually only lasts a few weeks at best )

Cut to fit filter pads are really great because its economical and can be used for months!

Good luck!

 

Welcome to FL

Yes, I agree - Ammonia ( or Dr. Tims ammonium chloride ) for fishless cycle is the best way. Putting in fish flakes and or raw shrimp, etc is messy AND stinky!

Also using a carbon filter is of no use when cycling. I would save it for when you are cycled instead of wasting it with no fish in the tank ( it usually only lasts a few weeks at best )

Cut to fit filter pads are really great because its economical and can be used for months!

Good luck!

Hello Junne just got back and I have the ammonia and Fluval bio max to get my tank going. I didn't see any bonded filter pads but I only went to petco so I'm sure they have it somewhere close by. Thanks so much for your reply, I'll update in a couple of days.

 

Hello Junne just got back and I have the ammonia and Fluval bio max to get my tank going. I didn't see any bonded filter pads but I only went to petco so I'm sure they have it somewhere close by. Thanks so much for your reply, I'll update in a couple of days.

I usually buy the filter pads at my lfs and or Amazon ( deep blue brand )
I have never seen them at petco before....

 

Oh thank you Junne!! I will look at my lfs and if not then Amazon. Are you familiar with the tetra whisper power filter? Well it comes with a bioscrubber and a cartridge with a biobag full of charcoal. I am going to take out the carbon and replace with as many bio rings as I can. My question is can you put loose bio rings in the filter? Thanks

 

Oh thank you Junne!! I will look at my lfs and if not then Amazon. Are you familiar with the tetra whisper power filter? Well it comes with a bioscrubber and a cartridge with a biobag full of charcoal. I am going to take out the carbon and replace with as many bio rings as I can. My question is can you put loose bio rings in the filter? Thanks

You should be able to put loose bio rings in that filter but probably not much. If anything, you should put them in a mesh media bag or the like as they will need to be rinsed out occasionally and it's much easier to lift up the entire bag than individual pieces.

 

Petco used to carry the bonded pad in Marineland UPC 047431010000 but now they carry it in their brand imangitarium

Your setup with the whisper filter is not ideal for using those rings. There is a user on this board that has modified a filter, but to each their own.

FYI- I use quilt batting for any pad use and pillow stuffing for any floss.

Whatever you end up doing, concentrate on the cycle. Good luck.

 

HI there). Thank you for the tip on what and where to get the bonded padding. Yes I agree that loose rings would not work in the filter but I can put the small type in the biobag. I went to petco and looked at the bags and filter and I think it will work quite well. I feel that when cycling the carbon is useless compared to the rings. Thank you again for all your help.