Carbon In Filters

[lizjamie]

You may have read my other posts, struggling with whitespot
Anyway I went to remove the carbon from my rena filtar I1 I2 which came with the tank.
And I couldnt find it! I put it in the tank as it was assembled.
So do filters normally come with the carbon?(and i accidnetally threw it away?) or do you get it separately?
What does the carbon do anyway (apart from absorb meds.)
Is that why my water quality has been so bad during cycling?

 

[Deano]

It depends on the model of filter

I have a Rena filter and mine didnt come with any carbon

I think you can get carbon for certain filters seperately but as far as i know it is mainly only used to rid excess medication in the tank that may harm fish

 

[csjasona]

It depends on the model of filter

I have a Rena filter and mine didnt come with any carbon

I think you can get carbon for certain filters seperately but as far as i know it is mainly only used to rid excess medication in the tank that may harm fish

Active carbon is only really active for a few days. After that, it gets 'full' and does nothing at all. They should generally be used when cycling, a few days after medicating or if you have added bog-wood (for example) and you find that your water has turned brown (the active carbon filter can effectively remove this colour). It's often useful to use an active-carbon filter for a few days after cyling your water (if you cycle every week or tow weeks, you can either use a new filter each time, or just use a filter once per month).