Hello again!

Before I post here are my Water Parameters:

4/06/2010:
Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 10-20
PH - 7.8

I have had my tank established since 3/13/2009.

Okay, now onto my Concern/Questions.

I was doing my weekly maintenance and took/changed only 10 gallons of water to rinse the filter media in my Marineland 280. The Marineland was actually pre seeded in my 10 gallon tank for about one month before I put it in my 60 gallon tank, but when I was rinsing the filter media it broke and all the carbon came out. So, I decided to just put a bag of ceramic bio material in there instead. ( I rinsed the new bag of bio material in the tank water I took out)

I was wondering should I just buy more Bio material that can fit for my Marineland filter? or should I buy a replacement Manufactured Marineland filter media for it?

I do have another Aquaclear 300 HOB that is still running. I haven't done any maintenance to it, so I believe that my cycle still should be okay. Or will it?
Ill be watching my water Parameters closely for the next couple of days. If there's anymore information you need please let me know. Thanks

Ohhh and I posted a video of my fish in my profile. Check it out if you get a chance

water parameter is perfectly fine!

losing the carbon bag won't affect your system. having another one
running is the best back up....now for the lost media... you can fill
it with pot scrubbers.
www.oscarfishlover.com/oscar-fish-advice...2&start=12#42027

yes as Paul said thats the best way...

also a factual difference

carbon is good to pull impurities and chemicals
ceramic media is good to house beneficial bacterial..

as far as I know this is the diff... now if your HOB has enough of carbon in it.. it will be still fine.. else you might need some carbon as well..

as paul has mention just fill your emperor with pot scrubbies and you should be fine. since your ac 300 is still running on your tank you shouldnt experience any problems with ammonia spikes but keep an eye out just in case. and as for the carbon it is not needed in your filter. not many oscar keepers use carbon in their filters it is not needed unless you need to remove meds from your tank.

I have 2 emperor 400's and I just use four mechanical cartridges with the carbon taken out and I squeezed about 8 mesh bags filled with fluval ceramic rings into the spaces normally used for the baskets. It worked really well..so well, in fact, as to cause nipple hardness, such as when you walk outside on a cold winter's morn and eventually have to use band-aids to prevent chafing against the coarse wool fibers of your favorite reindeer sweater.

lol Wth! Gotta try that! sounds kinky.. Anyways, ahaha I went ahead and bought some small Bio Balls and was able to fit a whole packet behind the Grey Mesh holder you were talking about. I might go get that fluval ceramic stuff to to fit in there. Thanks for the tips

johnnyphoenix wrote:


LMFAO!!! Johnny you crack me up!

StevieBoarder wrote:


Listen...I joke alot but those ceramic rings and mesh bags are really great...I always bought the fluval stuff...I like it. I'm a HUGE fan of BIO-Wheels too...you won't be disappointed....

johnnyphoenix wrote:


ok i am a little lost with the analogy.. not so sure.. but does it get cold when he uses mesh instead of carbon??

warlock wrote:

from which one are you confused? the hardening nipple in a sweater or the
mesh holding the ceramics rings instead of carbon?????

It's just that filling the basket area with mesh bags and ceramic rings works so well it causes nipple erection. I'm tellin' ya...you'll be so happy those suckers will cut GLASS.

hahaha cut glass.. now thats from FRIENDS .. Rachael says that to Monica