Do you use "supplemental" filter media?

[mmarino]

Hi -

I'm new to the planted aquarium hobby, and haven't seen much about filter media beyond using charcoal (occassionally) and biological media (bio balls and such).

When I had a fish-only aquarium, I routinely used products like Purigen, ChemiPure and the like to assist with the removal of organics and other stuff harmful to fish.

So here's the question: what do you use in a planted aquarium with lots of fish? Do you still need to use supplemental media in a filter or will that remove the fertilizer and trace elements being added for the plants? Do the plants do an adequate job of keeping water quality high, or do they benefit from an assist to the mechanical and biological filtration?

Cheers, Mike

[ColeMan]

Purigen is ideal for planted tanks...it won't remove ferts from the water column but still polishes the water really well; plus (as I'm sure you now) you can re-use it!! Things like carbon, zeolite, etc. are still okay to use at start up or if you're trying to remove something specific from the water column, and after they are "used" they become excellent bio-media.

[oregonaqua]

im down to using filter floss (pillow batting from the local craft store $3 for a huge bag) once the plants can take over filtering the water. i do 50% wc every sunday. i used to add a little carbon to the filter if i had meds in the tank but i got a uv sterilizer and havnt had any reason for carbon either.

i have been thinking of using purigen just as a preventive measure but not yet.

[Orlando]

I use Micron filter pads in the 50 micron and 100 micron range. I love it no bags no fuss no mess.