I have a 38 gallon fish tank filled with tropical fish. Cleaning a tank this size is a commitment and I usually set aside one evening a week to take care of my tank. Fortunately, there are some products that make my job easier. Maineland Emperor Filter Cartridges are one of those products. These cartridges are produced to fit the Emperor filter systems.

The Maineland Emperor Filter Cartridges use a combination of mechanical and chemical filtration, which I really like. Each filter cartridge comes with a ribbed back made of polyfiber, which catches and suspends waste and dirt particles within the pad. This is the mechanical aspect of this filter.

The chemical part of the filtration cartridge is a plastic case attached to the pad, which contains two ounces of Black Diamond Premium Activated Carbon.

How to Use
The filtration cartridge has a 44 square inch surface and is about a half inch thick. When the cartridge is removed from the package, it needs to be placed under running water for about one minute to dislodge any dust or dirt from the factory. Then you simply slide it into the slots in the filter. Ta-duh! It's that simple. No measuring, no messy products.

How often you change the filter depends on how big your tank is, how many fish you have, and how often you and how much you feed your fish. The company that makes these filters recommends that you change the filter at least once a month. Sometimes I can tell by looking at the filter that it needs to be changed sooner. Other times, like when my fish population is down, I will leave the filter in longer. My filter system also has an additional media filter to which I can add Ammo-Chips, which also kills ammonia.

Why to Use
When fish live in a contained environment, such as an aquarium, there is build-up of uneaten food, pollutants from the air (such as cigarette smoke, air fresheners, etc.), fish waste, plant waste, and other by-products. These ingredients eventually start to decay, which causes ammonia. Ammonia is very deadly to fish and deprives them of oxygen.

Changing the water frequently in your tank will help the water conditions, but it will not remove all of the ammonia. Using carbon in your filtration system breaks down the ammonia and other pollutants, giving your fish more oxygen and a cleaner environment.

My Recommendation
I very highly recommend the Maineland Emperor Filter Cartridges. I have used nothing but these for the last six years and my fish are very healthy and colorful. I have three Clown Loaches and three Yo-yo Loaches that are almost seven years old, and I very rarely ever have a fish die of anything but old age. I feel that a lot of that is due to the filtration system. The cartridges also cut down on odors in your tank. These cartridges are extremely easy to use and they work they way they were intended to. I usually buy mine at a discount pet store in a box of four, which cost about $11.99.

Recommended: Yes