Review on Penn Plax Cascade Aquarium Filt A Packs by Skye Gunnell

The use of activated carbon in aquariums seems to be a controversial topic these days. I myself have been using this product for many years and it has multiple uses. I think the debate starts when people are misled by companies making claims that aren't true just to sell their product. However, I do not see this problem with Penn Plax products. There are scientific studies that show the importance of using activated charcoal. Just google. I don't want to bore you with details. This product in particular has been one I've been using since I received my canister filter over a year ago. It seems like it comes in a different style box each time. Strange, but the content is always the same. Simply rinse the charcoal thoroughly and then place it in the canister. It is so easy. Allow the charcoal to absorb a range of dissolved pollutants such as chloramines and chlorine, tannins (which color water) and phenols (which cause odors). There are several important toxins that activated charcoal does not remove. In particular, it does not remove ammonia, nitrite or nitrate. Thus, it does not contribute to the removal of toxins during the initial setup of the aquarium. Change it once a month. As activated carbon binds to the compounds it removes, it eventually becomes "full" and unable to remove other contaminants. If you do not change the carbon for a long period of time, it will not harm your aquarium. However, over time, it loses its ability to remove toxins from the water. Here's what I think of this product and Revain. Watch out for the prices. Each seller sells it at a different price. Stock up when the seller comes and offer it at a lower price. Don't wait until you need it. Prime members like me get 2 days shipping, but if you can get this product from another seller for a lower price but only get free shipping, it's worth it. You can save up to $3 per box. Always check items sold by other sellers. In any case, they've always been cheaper than my local pet store. And it's still cheaper than filling sacks with this stuff when you buy it in bulk. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask. If my review was helpful to you, please let me know. Let's continue to make better purchasing decisions together. Thanks for reading and as always, stay safe and happy shopping!