Aquariums And Carbon Filters....

[julielynn47]

I know a lot of you do not use the carbon filters.  I have always used them as they came with my HOB filter and I don't see any reason not to use it.
 
I know they are good for taking meds out of the water. However, I can't even remember the last time I even put meds in my 55 gallon.  I just don't use them, basically because nothing I have ever medicated for, they didn't help one bit and the fish still died...but that is another thread altogether. LOL 
 
Anyway, I am using a canister filter, first time canister user, and it has so many trays and so many places to put pads and such, I am just wondering...if you fill all those trays with the white filter media, why even mess with carbon? I mean, once the water passes through all those it should be pretty clean shouldn't it?
 
 
 

 

[fluttermoth]

Generally, as you've gathered, most set ups don't need carbon.
 
In a canister filter, you want to fill it mostly with bio media with a small amount of filter floss to act as mechanical filtration.

 

[cooledwhip]

I use my carbon in my HOB for my 20 planted just because there's no point in taking it out. I'm trying to work on a DIY method to hack into these things to make them reusable. So far I've gathered that if you cut open the top, take out the carbon and add sponges, you only need to use the single filter pad once. No replacements ever. Just wash it with a water change in tank water and the bio bacteria stays on.

 

[cowgirluntamed]

Even with a canister, if you ever had to medicate for whatever reason, you would still need to use carbon to help take the medicine out. Filter pads won't do it(unless you get a carbon filter pad for this reason lol.) But you can just add carbon(properly rinsed) to a filter media bag and place it in the canister filter.

 

[julielynn47]

Okay, this is probably going to sound like a stupid question, but I have to ask it anyway because I don't know the answer.... are sponges, filter floss and bio media all the same thing?  And if not where do I buy sponges or filter floss?
 
edited to add--- Okay, I googled.  http/www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=5277&cmpid=11cseYY&gclid=CNjkiIyf5M4CFcYlgQodmpgP2A
 
This is filter floss I guess?  So if you wanted to do away with the carbon filter packs that you buy for the HOB filters, this is what you get?  Correct?
 
When I googled the sponges this is what I got  http/www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=32820&cmpid=03cseYY&gclid=CJiNnM-f5M4CFY87gQodeZEP_g
 
So they look pretty much the same. Are they? or are they different and it is just hard to tell?  

 

[fluttermoth]

Okay, let me clarify

Biomedia is anything that makes a good home for your filter bacteria. Sponges are a good biomedia, but they can get clogged quickly, so most people use something like ceramic rings or 'alfagrog', which is like small, very rough rocks.

The two items you've linked to are both mechanical filters and are more or less the same as filter floss, although that's looser, sort of like cotton wool. They are very good at filtering small particles out of the water, but can clog quickly and need replacing, so they don't hold many bacteria. You only need a small amount of mechanical filtration; one or two layers in a canister (put it near the top, so you can get at it easily) is plenty. Any more and it'll slow the flow down too much.

Actual filter sponges are thicker and less dense, like this; http/www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+4136+32822&pcatid=32822

 

[julielynn47]

Okay, got that.  The black stuff you linked to is what my HOB has in for the biological filter.   I have bio rings in that filter and I have enough left over to put in my canister for the 75 gallon.  So, I should put them in as close to the top as I can, maybe even in the same compartment as the black biological filter media? Like, lay it in the compartment under the black filter media. Correct?
 
And when it comes to my HOB filter in my 55 and my 10, the other things mentioned above would be the right sort of thing to use in replacement of the carbon filter???

 

[Byron]

You could just leave the carbon cartridge in permanently, and rinse it at each water change.  Carbon has a limited life, say a couple weeks (when it is removing a lot of stuff) to maybe a month or so.  After this, to retain the effect of the carbon filtration, you need to replace it.  But if you don't replace it, from then on it will simply act as mechanical and biological filter media, same as anything else.  Point here is that you can leave it in the filter, rinsing it regularly, rather than fussing over buying something else.
 
I don't know your level of understanding, so it may help to back up a moment.  Filtration can be mechanical, biological or chemical.  Chemical is stuff like carbon, purigen, etc, that somehow alters the chemistry of the water by removing stuff.  Biological occurs in every aquarium and is completely unavoidable, filter or no filter, because the various types of bacteria colonise all surfaces covered by water.  So all filter media will be biological to some extent.  And in a balanced aquarium, there is more biological filtration occurring in the substrate than in the filter, as well as a lot of other bacterial actions that are essential to a healthy aquarium.  Mechanical involves passing the water through some media which removes the suspended particulate matter.  This aspect is the water clarity.  The media used will support bacteria obviously, so it also functions as biological filtration.
 
I never use chemical filtration (carbon, etc) though this may sometimes be useful such as to remove medications after treatment, though water changes do this and I prefer those.  Biological as I said always occurs no matter what, filter or no filter, so I never "encourage" this as with plants and provided you don't overstock or overfeed you are not going to have issues with biological filtration.  That leave mechanical, which is the only type I actively use, be it a simple sponge filter or a canister or whatever.
 
Byron.

 

[julielynn47]

I understand the biological media where the good bacteria live.  I understand the carbon to a point...that is why I am asking so many questions. LOL  I can ask questions and give you more knowledgeable people a real workout!  And I want you all to know how much I appreciate it...