Fluval Chi Carbon Filter Pad = Stupid

I used to have big canister filters, but now I've downsized to a 5 gallon tank and filter. I don't understand how Fluval manufactured the filter/carbon pad.



From my understanding, carbon needs to be replaced periodically (otherwise it leeches back into the water). However, since the filter pad and carbon is an all-in-one piece you'd have to toss the whole pad. End result is that you'd lose all of the beneficial bacteria. It does come with a thin piece of foam, but tossing the pad would mean losing 50% of bacteria.

Any suggestions?

 

That's pretty much the same construction used by all cartridges. What we advise for those is to cut the floss off the frame and put it back in with the new cartridge for a while.

I would just get fine filter pad material or synthetic quilt batting and cut my own!

 

It's actually not a cartridge. It's fabric sealed together. One side is white filter pad and the other side is black fabric for carbon?

Anyone have a Fluval ChI and use something different?

 

If I remove the filter pad while I'm cycling... is that going to be bad?

 

Well, in a way it is a cartridge, just a horizontal one My definition of a cartridge is any prepared multi-function, multi-part filtration unit that you change out in one go. You can get those carbon-impregnated pads on their own so I would just cut that to fit if you really must use carbon and then the floss pads separately.

 

It's actually not a cartridge. It's fabric sealed together. One side is white filter pad and the other side is black fabric for carbon?

Anyone have a Fluval ChI and use something different?

I quickly did away with this filter, but I did get it cycled while I used it. The water flows up through the pad and through the course, black filter which is supposed to be the bed for BB, and I was concerned that this teeny piece was in no way sufficient, so since the water flows up and trickles out of the top I broke a piece of lava rock into small pieces and stuck in the top of the box where you're supposed to put that bag of river rocks. As long as the filter was clean it circulated the water over these rocks, but when it was dirty it wasn't efficient at doing this. I ended up removing the lights (you can and have to to clean this well) and stuck more, course black media inside the box itself, which was really all it needed.

This tank and filter is really only meant for a very low biological load; single Betta, few small shrimp...

I ran it stock for about 2 months before I replaced the filter/light. It looked like a cool tank, but I very quickly became unimpressed with the filter/light combo.

And you don't NEED to replace carbon periodically. Sure, it where's out after a while, but unless you're using it to remove medication what's it really leaching back into your tank that's not already in it? The small carbon pad doesn't have enough absorption capabilities in this tank to release anything back into it in sufficient levels to do any good or harm.

 

I used to have big canister filters, but now I've downsized to a 5 gallon tank and filter. I don't understand how Fluval manufactured the filter/carbon pad



From my understanding, carbon needs to be replaced periodically (otherwise it leeches back into the water). However, since the filter pad and carbon is an all-in-one piece you'd have to toss the whole pad. End result is that you'd lose all of the beneficial bacteria. It does come with a thin piece of foam, but tossing the pad would mean losing 50% of bacteria.

Any suggestions?

 

I'm with Fluval ChI 3 months already with 20 fish's inside and everything is OK but you must to improve your filter. Put more carbon inside the box and cotton wool on the top of the filter under the rocks.

 

I'm with Fluval ChI 3 months already with 20 fish's inside and everything is OK but you must to improve your filter. Put more carbon inside the box and cotton wool on the top of the filter under the rocks.

20 fish?!

 

20 fish?!

Too much I know , but if you care it correct , everything is OK , so far so good

 

I'm sorry but there is no way to correctly care for a tank so desperately overstocked. You might be able to keep the water parameters in line but the stress to the fish is unimaginable! Stress from overcrowding and competition does more damage than you realize.