Help! Messed Up With Fish Medicine!

[Elena]

I treated my fish with ich medicine yesterday I've just realised that I have carbon in my filter I thought it was just regular filter stuff so obviously I need to remove it and do it again. Should I do it straight away or shall I wait until I'm meant to re-dose in 4 days?

 

[star4]

Difficult one. How long had your carbon been in the tank before you added medicine? its usually said that carbon is only useful for anywhere from 4-8 weeks (depending on article) before its adsorption properties are used up. When removing medication I usually use new carbon and leave it in the filter for 2-3 days (some people say you only need 24 hours) before removing it and throwing it away.
 
I would say to be safe remove the carbon and re-dose again as per the instructions on the medication in 4 days as you will have no idea how much the carbon has removed, it may have removed all, half or none at all, it is a little difficult to say.

 

[fluttermoth]

I would remove the carbon, as star says, but I'd also do a big water change, before redosing, as you won't be able to tell exactly how much medication the carbon might have removed.