bio-balls or carbon

[Darth_discus]

in a discus tank should i put activated carbon or bio-balls

for bio balls does it take out medicine when traeting fish, where do u get them from and how do u set them upwhile if i still can use my filter (diagram would be good)

[kalebjarrod]

active carbon absorbs chemicals

Bio balls need time to esthablish but when they do they are a host for bacteria which thrive on the nitrates in your water

bio balls need special conditions to produce excellent levels of bacteria

water + oxeygen, they prefer dark conditions

the bacteria will not remove chemicals from your water except the ones they live on ie; nitrates

What sort of filter do you own?

[Darth_discus]

i own a jebo filter with activated carbon

[kalebjarrod]

maybe ceramic noodles would be better than bio balls

bio balls are better suited for a trickle system

[Darth_discus]

what are ceramic noodles are they the round hard things

[kalebjarrod]

Heres a pic :wink:

[Darth_discus]

yeah i have them

[Merrilyn]

Your ceramic rings, or noodles as they are sometimes called, will provide a place for your good bacteria to grow. It takes some time for a bacteria colony to establish, at least a month or so. Then they will start converting the ammonia and nitrite to less toxic nitrate.

Only use the activated carbon when you want to remove some medication from the water. I don't use it in any of my tanks now.

[Darth_discus]

thanx for advice