Carbon Filter

[Haych]

i think so, but i just went and removed the carbon thinking i was doing more harm then good, and cant put it back now as its in the sink

i was currently browsing the site and caught this as i was in the process of doing the tank change!

 

[OldMan47]

You have done no harm Haych. You now have a place in your filter that you can fill with something that benefits your fish. If you have a marginal biological filter, fill the space with a bio-media. If you have plenty of bio-media but have a hard time keeping the water looking clear, you have a nice space for a mechanical medium. I never feel completely satisfied with the bio-filtration in any filter so I always lean toward the extra bio-media. Be aware that is more my personal prejudice than a proven fact that bio-media is the way to go.

 

[Haych]

i have added poly wool.

i have always sworn that poly wool is the best, used to add it to my internal filters (couldnt last time as it wrapped in the impellor), but it always seemed to get the water crystal clear.

i have noticed MORE flow in the tank with it too....

but thank you oldman47

 

[Hunterprey]

Wow thnx a lot for all the responses...I think I'll add this page to my favourites as a guide.

If I remove the carbon like half of it every two weeks will that be better since theres beneficial bacterias in it already and give time for bacteria to build up again?

I still gonna have the foam pads and the Biomax nodes left in my filter, will my filter be OK with just those?

Another question, where will most of the beneficial bacteria be in my filter? Is it in the Carbon since it was there from the beginning?

Thnx a lot for the help guys. I learned a lot from this site, I wanna learn as much as I can to have a healthy aquarium.

 

[OldMan47]

I think I would use the space created by removing the carbon as a place for more of the biomax myself. Of course I have already stated my own prejudices.
It would be better to remove cycled biological media a little at a time like that Hunterprey. Sudden changes of media are especially to be avoided in a newly cycled filter.

 

[Hunterprey]

Thnx Oldman

More Biomax it is and slowly getting rid of the carbon, I'd trust your judgment, thnx all for the informative responses

 

[rebrn]

Hello I don't mean to stir the pot on the carbon issue but I recently was referred to this article written by Dr. Tim Hovanec regarding carbon in filtration:

http/www.drtimsaquatics.com/Article_db_folder/page41/page41.html

The article was written in 1993, however, after emailing Dr. Tim at his website a couple of weeks ago, he referred me back to this article, so I think I can safely assume his position has not changed on the subject. Here is a small sample of the article (full article link above) regarding his views on carbon:

"Activated carbon should be part of every aquarium filtration system. This is another statement that some have disagreed with me about. However, personal experience with using activated carbon for years along with data collected in my laboratories supports my claim. Carbon has been used continuously in all types of freshwater tanks, saltwater fish-only tanks, reef tanks and large display systems in the labs and never has there been a problem.

The reasons given for not using carbon or not using it continuously include: the carbon causes some diseases, it removes beneficial elements/substances for the water, and eventually the carbon will de-adsorb everything killing the tank inhabitants. None of these reasons have ever been supported by experiments or tests. Rather, they are myths. And as myths, they circulate through the hobby growing a life of their own which becomes hard to kill.

The reason to use carbon is that it removes dissolved organic compound from the water. This has been shown experimentally. Removing the dissolved organics will increase the effectiveness of the biological filter. Again published studies have demonstrated this. Plus, removing the dissolved organics will make the water look cleaner because it will be clearer."​

Again, I really don't mean to stir the pot, I am new to all this myself, but found this article very interesting and scientifically sound. Just my thoughts