Activated carbon

[steelhealr]

Ok....I've seen multiple comments re: use of activated carbon. I'm curious to see what the numbers are. SH

Please note that this was earlier posted as charcoal and I changed it to carbon, hence, any discrepancy in responses. SH

 

[freddyk]

Unfortunately a poll won't tell you what the voters water quality is like. 5 out of 50 people might use charcoal, but those 5 might actually need it because of their inferior water quality. This is something you need to judge/experiment with yourself based on the quality of your local water.

 

[Fish Buddy]

I don't think that any aquarist should use charcoal in their tanks. It was used 20 years ago before carbon was used for the same job. Charcoal is a pain as it must be replaced every 4-5 days so that leaching does not occur. Carbon, or 'activated carbon' is far superior in removing those unwanted chemicals out of your tank (and even the good ones too!). Carbon does a wonderful job at cleaning the water to make it crystal clear and mostly stink free.
I have been using carbon for all of my tanks for a number of years. Just recently though I have taken it out of the tanks which house plants because it reverses what I do to add benifitial minerals (meaning it takes out the minerals that I added for the plants!)

 

[freddyk]

I assumed that's what he meant.

 

[newfishies]

WHOOPS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i read carbon, not charcoal!!!! i voted i use it in certain situations, but i use carbon in those situations, not charcoal..sorry for screwing up the poll results!!!

 

[The-Wolf]

there are three states of carbon
coal, graphite and diamond

activated carbon is just a pure form of charcoal (charred coal)
so the poll question is a valid one IMHO.

personally I only use it when getting meds out of the tank water.

 

[phishluvr]

ok, so what do you guys use?

I have a fluval 330 with two bins carbon, 4 bins bacteria beds on a 75g planted aquarium. It's not doing the greatest. First b/c of the soil substrate there's always soil in the filter to clean out. Second, it's still not cycled after 6 mos! It's my first time w/ a canister. I used a biowheel for 15 years but switched to prevent co2 release from splashing water and never had issues.

I thought carbon was a necessary? what other combos work better?

 

[steelhealr]

ooops..activated carbon, but, I'm enjoying reading the reponses. Thanks for replying.

 

[Fish Buddy]

I thought carbon was a necessary? what other combos work better?

You know, I'm beginning to think that all that is really needed is a place for the bacteria to do it's thing.
The ammorex-you don't really need
and the carbon-you don't want if you have plants for sure (otherwise you can use it)
Then their is the sponge-you need

Thinking about it, all the media is so expensive. it's crazy, especially if you don't need it and you are spending the money on it.

 

[steelhealr]

With regards to activated carbon, I have an AquaClear 70 OPF. It has the three components of sponge, activated carbon and BioMax 'stones'. One of the moderators, Inchworm, has posted that she only uses sponges, sometimes with floss and that the other components are, as mentioned above, extra money spent. Although someone posted above that the poll would not give certain information, I knew that it might generate some posts that WOULD. Wouldn't another sponge and some floss provide more area for biologic filtration?. I wanted to read what others experiences are before departing from the 'standard' recommendations of my filtration unit and the several texts I've read on FW aquaria. As most of you know, the majority talk about carbon as a standard component of ones filter. Thanks for your input. SH

 

[yvez9]

I used Purigen
removes 4 times more solids than carbon, lasts forever and finally, it doesn't remove the plant fertilisers (iron) from the water

my water is crystal clear and the fish seem happy!

 

[freddyk]

The setup of my filters is very complicated. First a layer the foam sponge. Then I layer some more foam sponge. Then some fine filter floss. And, um.. that's it. covers the biological and mechanical filtration - no need for more.

 

[lucky62]

I stopped using it on a regular basis years ago , aside from bio and mechanical filtration , I depend mainly on regular partial water changes for good water quality .

 

[steelhealr]

Thanks everyone....So, almost 75% of responders either don't use it or use it for special situations (eg, removal of medication), not that 16 people is a 'mandate'. I think I"ll keep my extra box of carbon aside for emergencies and finish up this last bag I have in my filter. I like the stacked sponges idea...that's next. Experience is the best teacher. SH

 

[phishluvr]

Is "polyester filter fiber" the same as floss? (petcetera brand)

btw, this thread has useful info for me as well. thanks!