Tannin And Activated Carbon

[mtv8dmarine]

As a lot of you know, I recently added a pretty large centerpiece driftwood in my aquarium. I know the tannins don't affect the fish directly, and haven't done anything to my water except lower the Ph as expected. Should I be replacing the carbon more regularly to aid in clearing the yellow water? The fish don't seem to care at all but I would like my clear water back.

 

[PDSimon]

Tannins are known to benefit fish but activated carbon will remove it.

 

[mtv8dmarine]

Right...I would just like to know aside from water changes, how frequently I should replace carbon to help clear up the water. I don't want highly yellow water.

 

[PDSimon]

I'm not sure on that

My carbon is meant to be replaced every 2 months so it doesn't leach back into the water but some people have different opinions...

 

[RadaR]

My carbon is meant to be replaced every 2 months so it doesn't leach back into the water but some people have different opinions...

Carbon physically can't leach stuff back into the water. Carbon aDsorbs materials, not aBsorbs. It's like a lock and key. Ever see those diagrams to illustrate enzymes and catalysts? It's kind of the same. The toxins/tannis etc, fit snuggly into tiny pours in the carbon. They dont come back out.
How often you replace the carbon depends on the size of the tank, how much tannis etc are in there, how much carbon you have in there. I'd go for every 6months though.

 

[LondonguyJ]

Hey guys I have a carbon related question myself. On Friday I bought some diamond tetras from a breeder who stressed that the only treatment he used in breeding was esha boost as he believed it brought out the best colour/shimmer in all his tetra stock.

So on his advice I bought this product from my lfs later that day. I had a brief read through and like most treatments it says you should remove the carbon pad but not when you should put the pad back in once the dose is complete?

I plan to use the esha boost at the two week mark of getting stocking if all goes well but my question is when should the carbon pad be returned?

 

[RadaR]

Well surely you dose for as long as you keep the fish, judging from what the breeder has said.
However no one NEEDS these products. Waste of money, just keep the water clean.
When you no longer dose this product then you might as well put the carbon back in.

 

[LondonguyJ]

Well I completed a cycle and check my stats every 12 hours and my ammonia and nitrite are at 0 so so far so good. I was just asking because I wasn't sure if there would be a residual affect that would react with my carbon pad and release toxins.

There doesn't seem to be a clear and definite answer online so I figured I'd ask in the first carbon pad related thread I came across.

 

[PDSimon]

A healthy diet is better for the diamond tetras than any chemical product, my LFS just feeds them well and they are stunning little fish!

 

[RadaR]

Carbon wont release materials back into the water. It keeps hold of it. Thats why you cant recharge it. YOu have to replace it.