Carbon In Filter...yey Or Neh?

[Steffyboy]

Would like your input on having carbon in filters.
At the moment i don't have any in my external canister nor my internals and always think it's more trouble than it's worth.
Having to spend out all the time and change it every few weeks...just sounds to me like another headache.
What's your thoughts on having it and is it worth it?

 

[frapadoodle]

Unless removing meds or such, I don't use it.

 

[Noahsfish]

I use it just for the heck of it.

 

[Shadders]

I never use it, total waste of money, the only thing it benefits is the companys selling it

 

[Chad]

It depends. It does a great job removing dissolved organics which can yellow the water. But in some tanks you don't want to remove the tannins or other organics. In a planted tank I don't run it but in a non-planted I do. Plants work much in the same way as the carbon does making it unnecessary.
 
In a reef tank it's indispensable if for no other reason than it removes the toxins corals produce in a mixed tank as part of their allopathic warfare. But the clarity it gives the water allows better light penetration and thus better PAR for the corals to grow. Carbon certain has its place in the hobby but it's not necessary for every tank.

 

[Noahsfish]

Well I use it in place of seachem prime (in some of my tanks) and I've noticed no negative affects. Besides that I sometimes use it in tanks after medicating. I've never noticed any negative effects on any of my fish/invertebrates although I know it's DEFINETLY not necessary to have in your filter.

Also I'm switching around dw in my tanks a lot, and in some of my tanks I don't want the water to be softened too much, also if I'm not going for the tea color.