Verified answer

Carbon does not remove ammonia in the aquarium. That's only the bio-max and the insert foam. And, I wouldn't go with the ammonia remover, the bio-max would be much better. I own a few AquaClears for my aquariums, and I only use the bio-max and the insert foam. They both do a really good job in keeping my goldfish aquariums clear. So, if I was you, then I would only put the bio-max and the insert foam in the AquaClear filters.

Carbon does not remove ammonia.or nitrite or nitrate. oranything.

Carbon removes meditines after you put them in the tank, but only if it is still active 1-7 days old.

Carbon removes smells and can make the water look nice and clear. but you really need to solve the source of these problems, not remove the symptoms. I have read about theories that carbon may contribute to hole in the head disease in fish like oscars. and many people do not add it unless it is needed to remove medicines.

The only thing that truley removes ammonia is the live bacteria in a cycled filter. I am hoping you fishless cycled before getting an oscar.

http://www.fishlore.com/NitrogenCycle.htm

Carbon does not remove ammonia. It removes chemicals present in the water. There should be no ammonia present in a cycled tank.

1. never ever use the ammonia remover, it harms the biologic filtration and can cause serious water quality problems

2. carbon and two sponges or one sponge and one of the biologic filter materials they sell.

note: ammonia is broken down my bacteria living in the sponges and biologic filter materials, not removed by the carbon.

you need to find out what biologic filtration is, and how to properly cycle a tank, since it's obvious you haven't learned about the nitrogen cycle yet.

Neither..

Add more biological media. That will help with any ammonia issues, and water changes help with everything else.

Ian