Carbon With Plants Or Not?

[wonger]

ive just set up and im currently on day 4 of fishless cycling my 72 ltr tank, its planted has a silver sand substrate and has pressurised co2 injection with bubble counter and tube run up inside a clear seal 500 ltr/hr internal power filter canister with a double layer of floss filter and bio balls (co2 level has not been checked yet as awaiting co2 test kit) and im using a pro aqua fertiliser bag from greenline

i also bought a box of activated carbon and placed a golf ball size amount in a stocking and placed in the filter cannister, but after reading a comment on here regarding carbon soaking up nutients, i removed it on day 2

can anyone give more details on whether i should be using activated carbon in a planted tank?

also my internal power filter head is completely submerged and as this is 240v im wondering just how safe this is, should the cable entry be above water level or is this safe to be submerged?

cheers

 

[zig]

We do not use carbon in planted tanks as it can remove minerals that plants may need, its sort of counter productive, we add ferts in the carbon takes them out.

As regards your filter i have no idea, some models can be submerged some cannot, best to look up the manufacturers website.

 

[wonger]

We do not use carbon in planted tanks as it can remove minerals that plants may need, its sort of counter productive, we add ferts in the carbon takes them out.

As regards your filter i have no idea, some models can be submerged some cannot, best to look up the manufacturers website.

cheers for the reply, looks like i will be putting me box of carbon on ebay then

also today purchased and wired in a switching unit so i can switch off the pump whenever i stick me hands in tank as i really dont like the idea of an underwater 240v unit being live no matter how well sealed it is