Does Filter Carbon Absorb Fertilizers?

[Katty]

I have a new(er) filter, and the carbon media that came with it has lived it's lifespan and its time to remove or replace it. I also have plants that I use flourish excel on and sometimes some liquid fertilizer (iron or something, can't be bothered to check). I'm wondering if I should bother to replace the carbon or if it's just going to suck up the fertilizers I'm putting in? I know medications always say to remove the carbon, but I haven't seen anything like that on the fertilizer bottles.

I imagine most people are going to say do away with the carbon as you don't really need it anyways, but I have some new driftwood and if I can I'd like to keep the carbon to suck up the tannins, but not if it's just filling itself up on my fertilizers.

 

[Mikaila31]

It will absorb the fertilizers. In a planted tank carbon has a negative effect, under normal circumstance it will last for only 3 days. In a planted tank it will expire very quickly.

 

[Dave Spencer]

The basic principle of activated carbon is that it provides a high surface area, on a par with sintered glass (I`ll try and find the link to this).

It is fairly indiscriminate in what it adsorbs, but so what if it takes up some ferts, just add more. Many planted tanks run with carbon and no plant deficiencies at all. Some use it below an inert substrate as it will hold ferts and make them available to plant roots.

Many people have no use for carbon, and many planted people such as myself have never used it, but it has been used successfully in planted tanks for a variety of reasons, and will continue to be used. I have tons of the stuff and intend to start using it under fine gravel once my ADA Amazonia runs out.

Dave.

 

[lljdma06]

The basic principle of activated carbon is that it provides a high surface area, on a par with sintered glass (I`ll try and find the link to this).

It is fairly indiscriminate in what it adsorbs, but so what if it takes up some ferts, just add more. Many planted tanks run with carbon and no plant deficiencies at all. Some use it below an inert substrate as it will hold ferts and make them available to plant roots.

Many people have no use for carbon, and many planted people such as myself have never used it, but it has been used successfully in planted tanks for a variety of reasons, and will continue to be used. I have tons of the stuff and intend to start using it under fine gravel once my ADA Amazonia runs out.

Dave.

It is also quite a bit cheaper than ADA Amazonia, isn't it?

 

[Katty]

Thank you all for your comments. I think I will go without it, since I haven't added any medications to the tank and don't really have an express need for it.

 

[RadaR]

Carbon is good for other things instead of getting rid of meds.
It clears the water but also removes organic waste, hormones and cellulose. I'll always use it in my tanks. FLuval make a product which is a carbon and zeolite combo called Zeo-carb. It's good stuff.