I have a fluval c2 filter for my 10 gallon tank, in it are 2 platties a dwarf frog and I plan to complete it with a dwarf gourami. The fluval c2 has three filter compartments. A sponge, chemical, and bio. Alot of people are telling me to just never change the sponge so my tank will have alot of bacteria. They also say carbon isn't necessary and to use a bio media in that chamber as well. Do I really need all that bio media?
https://www.dropbox.com/s/57twr6x6pgykuch/Photo May 20, 5 25 17 PM.jpg
how is it not necessary? If carbon removes dissolved organics it cleans the water doesn't it? Ideally I would like to swap the sponge and carbon regularly to keep the water quality clean especially in a closed off environment that has no other exit for impurities.
So wouldn't all the surfaces in the tank(tank walls, sand surface, castle, plants, driftwood, dedicated bio chamber in the filter, filter walls) hold enough bacteria to take care of 2 platties, a frog and a dwarf gourami? I am speaking in terms of a cycled tank, as for now I am not replacing any media until that completes.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/57twr6x6pgykuch/Photo May 20, 5 25 17 PM.jpg
how is it not necessary? If carbon removes dissolved organics it cleans the water doesn't it? Ideally I would like to swap the sponge and carbon regularly to keep the water quality clean especially in a closed off environment that has no other exit for impurities.
So wouldn't all the surfaces in the tank(tank walls, sand surface, castle, plants, driftwood, dedicated bio chamber in the filter, filter walls) hold enough bacteria to take care of 2 platties, a frog and a dwarf gourami? I am speaking in terms of a cycled tank, as for now I am not replacing any media until that completes.