Question About Carbon Filter Media

[mrcobrajet]

Does the CARBON media in a aquarium filter also contain benifical ammonia eating bacteria too?
THANX
Scott

 

[the_lock_man]

A brand new carbon catridge for a filter does not hold any beneficial bacteria.

It is used for removing various nasty bits from the water, including heavy metals. Many forum members, including myself, only use a carbon filter to remove medications from the water after it has run its course.

Once the carbon has been in a while (I have read estimates of between 1 day to 3 weeks), the carbon is saturated, and cannot adsorb any more. THis is why the manufacturers tell you to replace them regularly.

A carbon filter does make a good place for the bacterial colonies to grow, so in that respect, a carbon filter that has been there a while DOES contain ammonia-eating bacteria. However, every time you change that filter (either because you are following the 4 week replacement sugggestion, or because you need a new filter to remove a different course of meds), you are throwing away colonies of bacteria.

 

[mrcobrajet]

THANX

 

[Aqua Tom]

Ditch the carbon filter media, you dont need it unless you are removing medication from the tank. Replace it with some nice new media homes for your bacteria.


Tom

 

[peter212693]

I too was thinking about replacing mine with some more ceramic media. My question is.. im hopefully nearing the end of my fishless cycle so the carbon will be housing some bacteria. If I replace it with ceramic after the cycle is complete will it start the cycle again and the bacteria count will be lowered?

 

[4seasons]

I too was thinking about replacing mine with some more ceramic media. My question is.. im hopefully nearing the end of my fishless cycle so the carbon will be housing some bacteria. If I replace it with ceramic after the cycle is complete will it start the cycle again and the bacteria count will be lowered?

Only if you replace all of you media will you have to start over. If your carbon filter media is less than 1/3 of your total media you can replace it without upsetting much. You may go thru a mini cycle when you replace some of your media though which can run anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. All a mini cycle is though is the bacteria catching up and replacing what was lost.