Panty hose as a media bag?

Can I use panty hose as a media bag to hold carbon?

My filter looks like this:



Its a 5 gallon, planted, with Flourish Root Tabs.

I was thinking, cut the big sponge in half, and put a bag of carbon next to it, so the water flows through the sponge, and then through the carbon. Should keep the panty hose from getting clogged up, right?

Or should I just buy a media bag? Also, the carbon won't bother the fertilizers, right?


*edit* Here's what I've done, for now.



I forgot I had an AquaClear 20 carbon insert. So I cut a corner out of it, dumped 1/2 into a bag for later, and rubber banded it up.

I do still need to know how the carbon will effect the root tabs before I leave it in too long, though.

 

I don't see why not because water can easily flow throw. Just make sure they are new as fabric softeners from washing can decimate the tank. Many members on this forum think carbon is useless and have discontinued using it because of the cost. As for the fertilizers, I honestly don't know the effects of carbon. Look and see if there are any instructions on the fertilizers.

 

I don't see why not because water can easily flow throw. Just make sure they are new as fabric softeners from washing can decimate the tank. Many members on this forum think carbon is useless and have discontinued using it because of the cost. As for the fertilizers, I honestly don't know the effects of carbon. Look and see if there are any instructions on the fertilizers.

They're good

I read the box, but it just says how to use them (one every 4 inches, and so on). Doesn't say if carbon removes it or anything.

The reason I'm using carbon is because the water here isn't snail friendly unless there's carbon in the water. PetSmart figured this out. They have to have a snail only tank, with carbon in it, to keep the snails alive, other wise the straight water as they use it in rest of the system kills them, and I've just gotten MTS and Mystery Snails. I've already lost 1 or 2 Mysteries, and I just got them yesterday. The MTS I got today, and haven't added yet.

The whole situation is quite strange lol

 

Been doing this for years.
Never had any issues.

I do wimp out and have my mom by the hose however.

 

Yes, you can use panty hose, so long as it hasn't been washed in soapy water or been exposed to chemicals.

The one concern I would have is that the activated carbon will be removing your ferts.

 

..

The one concern I would have is that the activated carbon will be removing your ferts.

That's what I was afraid of. What can I do make sure my snails don't die, then? I don't know what makes it that the water is not snail-friendly, but the shrimp I've had were always fine. Just that snails always die. As I said, PetSmart found a way around that, by adding carbon to their snail tank.

 

I honestly do not know. Copper is the only thing I can think of, but it can easily be removed with Prime. It has to be something else.

Hmmm, wonder if it would work to pre-filter with carbon prior to going into the tank

 

I honestly do not know. Copper is the only thing I can think of, but it can easily be removed with Prime. It has to be something else.

Hmmm, wonder if it would work to pre-filter with carbon prior to going into the tank

Hm, maybe. Problem is, I only have one filter, though I have two tanks. Maybe a Tetra 3I would work for the pre-filter tank? Or what if I got water from a re-fill station at the grocery store ($0.30 per gallon). But I don't know what kind of water those things spit out. Drinking water, I guess.

 

Activated carbon will not remove all copper.
It depends on what the copper is bonded to, as to level of removal.

 

I use Prime as my water conditioner. Theres apparently no chlorine or nitrites in my tap water, so it goes to what ever else is needed to be taken out, if anything.

 

Sounds good.

 

And actually, wouldn't copper effect the shrimp, too? My shrimp are, and always have been, fine....

Any thoughts on getting water from the grocery store re-fill stations?

 

In Oregon, those stations pump out carbon filtered tap water. You'd have to check.

 

In Oregon, those stations pump out carbon filtered tap water. You'd have to check.

Where would I find that out?

*edit*

Ok, so I found this:



This is the company that supplies the water. And it has the run down of how the water is "prepared." Would this be ok?

 

It appears to be good. But, then again, you don't really know what it is that affects the snails.

If you decide to give it a try, test the pH and hardness levels of the bottled water. It's liable to be very different.

 

It appears to be good. But, then again, you don't really know what it is that affects the snails.

If you decide to give it a try, test the pH and hardness levels of the bottled water. It's liable to be very different.

What numbers should I be looking at for everyone to be happy? I've got a Betta, ADF, snails and shrimp. I don't want to go out and buy something to make my snails not die, just to kill of the other guys in the tank. Because, honestly, I'd rather have the snails die than my fish or frogs.

If the numbers are no good, then what else can I do for them? RogueAgent said something about calcium pills, or something? Where could I get those?

 

I used glacier water for my 14 gallon and it's ok(nothing but a clean tank happened)

 

i've used panty hose. on the snail thing.... have you tried using a liquid calcium supplement? I use it and it makes a big difference. my 75 likes to kill mystery snails....the ph is low, plus I wasn't doing calcium as often as needed.

the 26, where mr.mystery is has a semI low ph....but I use calcium and his shell has improved a lot, since pulling him out of the 75. maybe consider that, instead of carbon. plus, plants don't mind a little extra calcium either.

 

i've used panty hose. on the snail thing.... have you tried using a liquid calcium supplement? I use it and it makes a big difference. my 75 likes to kill mystery snails....the ph is low, plus I wasn't doing calcium as often as needed.

the 26, where mr.mystery is has a semI low ph....but I use calcium and his shell has improved a lot, since pulling him out of the 75. maybe consider that, instead of carbon. plus, plants don't mind a little extra calcium either.

My pH isn't low, though. Its 7.2. That shouldn't be causing any problems, right?

Where can I find a liquid calcium supplement? PetSmart, PetCo? Maybe even WalMart...?

 

If the numbers are no good, then what else can I do for them? RogueAgent said something about calcium pills, or something? Where could I get those?

Do you know what your hardness levels are? KH and GH? This will tell you how much calcium and magnesium is in the water. If KH is below 4 degrees, then your tank is short. I've heard that you can add Tums to a tank to help snails with calcium, but the tablets may cloud your tank.

Snails need the pH to be above 7.0 degrees or the low pH will erode the shells.

 

Do you know what your hardness levels are? KH and GH? This will tell you how much calcium and magnesium is in the water. If KH is below 4 degrees, then your tank is short. I've heard that you can add Tums to a tank to help snails with calcium, but the tablets may cloud your tank.

Snails need the pH to be above 7.0 degrees or the low pH will erode the shells.

There are from my 10 gallon blog, but, I tested this tank a few weeks ago, and it was the same:

pH: 7.2
Hardness: 150
alkalinity: ~90

That's all they test for, other than ammonia, nitrite and nitrate, chlorine.

But I will get this tank tested tomorrow, and get you exact numbers.

 

Your buffers look good, assuming the new test returns the same levels. You don't want the alkalinity to drop as it is on the low end.

 

Well, every time I had the 10 gallon tested, it was the same, so the tap water is stable, it seems.

And, I'll actually have to get a new test on monday, because I had to do a water change, and used Prime. Sorry 'bout that!

 

Good morning,

As far as carbon and fertilizers, I think there will be people on both sides of the fence:


Ken

 

Good morning,

As far as carbon and fertilizers, I think there will be people on both sides of the fence:


Ken

Thanks, Ken! I think I will try and find where I can shoot the maker of these Flourish tabs an email and see what they say about the effects of carbon on them.

 

HI Akari,

I use SeaChem Flourish Root Tabs. Check out the link below:


Maybe you can ask the question there and see what the response is.

Ken

 

Thanks again! I'll let you know how it goes...

 

It works fine for me.

Edit: I didn't read thru all the post before posting. I'm curious now about ferts and carbon. I'm wondering if that's why my plants don't grow as good as I'd like. I might just have to remove mine and see if it makes a difference.

 

its a marine calcium....so one of those places is bound to have it

though it's weird...the nerites don't have any issue. nor do the others. just mysteries

-j

 

its a marine calcium....so one of those places is bound to have it

though it's weird...the nerites don't have any issue. nor do the others. just mysteries

-j

Maybe the Mystery stock is becoming weak? They're really popular, and easy to breed...

 

or maybe the nerite shells are thicker, and less effected by the water. who knows! but the liquid cal really does help. you can do a calcium tablet...but those can get messy. but not a huge deal. worth a try I guess.

you can get the plain, chewable ones....i'm not too sure about flavors, since there's dye in them etc. or probably the pills.

 

Hey, guys! Got an email back from SeaChem. I made a new thread for it though, since this one got kinda off topic, and the name of it pretty much doesn't mean anything now LOL

 

I knew I had gotten the results written down when I had my water tested a few weeks ago!

Hardness is 75, and Alkalinity is 30. This is for the 5 gallon, from about 3 weeks ago. It was going through a minI cycle at the time, so the only other thing that would have tested properly was the pH, which is still 7.2.

 

doesn't it seem kinda weird though.

 

doesn't it seem kinda weird though.

Whats that? That snails hate my water? 'Cause in that case, yeah, it does LOL

 

yea there snails aren't they supposed thrive in water lol

 

Well, they do need certain needs to be met, for their shells, but other than that, you'd think it would be that simple lol

There are from my 10 gallon blog, but, I tested this tank a few weeks ago, and it was the same:

pH: 7.2
Hardness: 150
alkalinity: ~90

...

Wow, I wonder what made me think they were the same LOL Though that test was taken... a long time ago. Dunno how long ago. I'd have to go back in my blog and find out. That's really weird... At that point, the tank had two pieces of driftwood!