ok 2 put carbon at the bottom?

[jasong8301]

i was just wondering if it would help or hurt to put activated carbon under the gravel on the bottom of a small tank with an under gravel filter system? has anybody tried it? thanx for your input

 

[Synirr]

I doubt it would hurt anything... FYI, they make gravel now that apparently does the same job as activated carbon, but comes in a variety of colours. You have to replace it every now and then just like active carbon though, so to me it isn't worth the price.

 

[JoLtNbolt]

actually i think putting carbon underneath the UGF would cut down on the flow of water through the gravel and the filter plate. i have seen things that you can attach to the bubble column that will hold activated carbon. As the bubbles rise in the column, they draw water from underneath the filter plate and through the gravel. As the water leaves the column at the top, it would then pass through the carbon.

 

[keith565]

i also think there is a possibility that the carbon may leech some of the toxins back into the tank once it has been used up. also, how would you manage when using treatments as the carbon would remove them before they got a chance to work.
you would be betta off using a carbon chamber or bubble box.

 

[Alix]

ya some treatments say to turn off or not use carbon filters when usein the chem. so wouldnt havin carbon as a substrate kinda me the same thing

 

[jasong8301]

who said i was using treatments? doesnt carbon get in the water anyways i mean it would have to...

 

[keith565]

there is always a chance that at some point in the future you may need to use treatments and you would then either need to move your fish to another tank or remove the substrate. carbon in your water is in it's simplest form, activated carbon is more complexed and designed to absorb minute particles in the water, discolouration, treatments and even odours.
what benefits are you hoping to get from putting carbon under the gravel, as it has limited uses.imo.

 

[jasong8301]

there is always a chance that at some point in the future you may need to use treatments and you would then either need to move your fish to another tank or remove the substrate. carbon in your water is in it's simplest form, activated carbon is more complexed and designed to absorb minute particles in the water, discolouration, treatments and even odours.
what benefits are you hoping to get from putting carbon under the gravel, as it has limited uses.imo.

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i was hoping that maybe it would make like the ammonia levels lower or something lol but thats why i asked thanx for your opinion