Carbon Sponges...

[Coomon10]

Right! I know that carbon sponges have a life-time and after that after this time has expired they are little more than normal bacteria holding sponges But, how long do they last (I seem to remember 3 months)? And is their life-time calculated by actual time spent in water or from the second they hit the water for the first time?

I ask since i want to get rid of a medication i have run and whilst i will do some water changes to aid this i think it is important the carbon sponge (that i have used before) is still going to do its job, plus this morning when i took it out of storage and rinsed it little black bits fell off it and i can't remember that happening before!

TIA

 

[Sp00ky]

carbon should be replaced every month i believe. The reason for this is because it can become so saturated that it starts to release toxins back into the tank.

Hope that helps

 

[Coomon10]

carbon should be replaced every month i believe. The reason for this is because it can become so saturated that it starts to release toxins back into the tank.

Hope that helps

Is that not when it is permanently placed in the tank?

I use the carbon only when removing meds, therefore it does a 24 hour stint then sits out of the tank for a month etc... It does leach but i don't know how to measure its usage?

 

[Sp00ky]

carbon should be replaced every month i believe. The reason for this is because it can become so saturated that it starts to release toxins back into the tank.

Hope that helps

Is that not when it is permanently placed in the tank?

I use the carbon only when removing meds, therefore it does a 24 hour stint then sits out of the tank for a month etc... It does leach but i don't know how to measure its usage?

all i know mate is if it is in the filter contant, it only last 1 month LOL. HOWEVER, i do know that some people "BAKE" the carbon in an oven which re-activates it.

 

[Coomon10]

Not sure i am all up for that, missus might mistake it for my attempt at dinner

Will just put it in and see what happens, its a shame theres no way of measuring the med content as part of the water stats since it must have an effect on them otherwise you wouldn't remove the meds!

 

[The diver]

does it really last that long? - so you don't have to replace the juwel ones every three weeks.

 

[Coomon10]

does it really last that long? - so you don't have to replace the juwel ones every three weeks.

Again though is that 3 continous weeks of use or cumulative 3 weeks use? Is definitely a brain scratcher especially since it is in Fluval's (or any other manufacturers) interests for you to replace it regularly whereas in at least the case of the nitrate sponge (green one) it is widely accepted that you don't need to!