My guess is--- and its only a guess--- that the claim of promoting bacterial
growth and nitrification is true only in that as a filter medium, these
products provide surface area on which nitrifying bacteria can grow. This
is true of ceramic beads though-- there is nothing too magic about lots of
surface area. It might be interesting to write the companies involved to
ask for an explanation of how these products work. Seachem is IMO a really
good company, and if you write them, they are quite willing to discuss the
science behind their offerings.

As for the other claims you cite, I take them at face value. Note for
example though, that trace amounts of copper (which you specifically
mentioned) are needed for good plant growth. Other trace nutrients/metals
such as Zinc, Molybdenum, Boron, etc, are generally present in very small
quantities in tank water. Nevertheless, they are important to plants.
Sounds like these filter mediums potentially remove at least some of these
nutrients, which is not necessarily desirable.

Having said this, if it works for you, possibly there are bigger things to
worry about. Maybe some of the other frequent and knowledgeable
contributors to this newsgroup will offer their opinions/analysis. I myself
would like to find a solution to the surface scum problem. If these mediums
help you eliminate surface scum, that is a big plus. Maybe be on the look
out for plant nutrient deficiency if you decide you cannot live without the
carbon and/or other chemical/metal absorbing mediums in your filter.

Thanks for the information on these products. -Bruce Geist


"SlimFlem" wrote in message
.net...

Chemi-Pure is an Ion filter medium made by Boyd Enterprises that is
supposed
to promote aerobic bacterial growth and nitrification as well as remove
dissolved organics. It is also supposed to remove copper, metal, ions,
odors, all pollution, gases, CO2, etc. The removal of CO2 makes me
wonder,
but that's why I was hoping someone would throw their 2 cents in if it
really does indeed remove CO2 in a way harmful to plants. PuriGen by
SeaChem is about the same thing. The guys at the LFS said either can be
run, as well as carbon, in a planted tank. I hear so many different
opinons
about this, it's hard to know what to believe. I use carbon here and
there
for a few days at a time and all surface scum is removed and doesn't build
back up for a couple of weeks.

"Bruce Geist" wrote in message
...
I am using an Eheim surface extractor with limited success. The surface
extractor I am using tends to clog with leaves and other plant parts. I
have added a couple of powerheads to produce small amounts of surface
agitation to help keep surface scum at bay.

Other than that, I change 40 to 50 percent of my tank water once per
week.
I still get some film on my water by the end of the week, but its not
too
bad.

Protein skimmers do not work well in freshwater. This is second hand
knowledge; I have not tried it myself. Apparently in fresh water,
bubbles
are not fine enough to make the thing work. As for the other products
you
mention, I am not familiar with them. What is in them?

-Bruce Geist
"SlimFlem" wrote in message
news:ZJOQ9.593213$NH2.39586@sccrnsc01...
If the general consensus is not to use carbon in the planted tank,
what
is
the best way to remove disolved organics and/or protein "scum"/film
from
the
surface? Would something like PuriGen or Chemi-Pure be acceptable? I
had
begun to develop a white film on the surface of my tank. I ran carbon
for
4
days and the film was completely removed.

Would protein skimmers be worth it in planted tanks? What about
surface
extractor add-ons for canisters such as Eheim?

Thanks,
Jesse


"Bruce Geist" wrote in message
...
Take it out for a planted tank. I doesn't really help you, and it
may
(especially when its fresh) take significant trace elements out of
the
water. You are better off with out it. Replace it with some other
high
surface area filter substrate-- like ceramic beeds or the like.

-Bruce Geist
"cindy" wrote in message
om...
Still getting my first planted tank squared away...its looking
quite
nice. Should I be removing the activated carbon from my filters?
I
use a Penquin 170 that has carbon inside the filter material.
Does
the carbon remove the trace elements and ferts I am adding to the
tank? Also, I have been changing the filter monthly as
recommended
by the LFS but I have read on other forums never to change the
filter
(because it houses the beneficial bacteria), however I also have a
bio
wheel.

TIA,