Too carbon or not

[Swampman]

I use clearmax in all of my heavy planted tanks. A couple of fish buddies told me I do not need to use Clearmax or carbon since the plants are filtering the water. I disagree. I would like to know what others believe. Thanks

 

[Rusty_Shackleford]

I used to use activated carbon, but not any more. I can't see a need for it other than separating me from my money.
The only time you really need any chemical media is to remove medications.

 

[Magnum Man]

IMO... you wouldn't need carbon on tanks with plants, unless you are not changing water like you should be, or are wanting to remove residual medications faster than water changes allow... it's been years, since any of my tanks have seen carbon...

 

[GaryE]

IT depends on what your goal is. Carbon entered the hobby as a smell remover - in the old days before people did regular water changes, you knew who had an aquarium when you entered the house. That swamp smell could be heavy. You could smell it even through the stale cigarette smell, when I was a kid.
Activated charcoal's also of use to remove medications.

Your plants won't remove the problems - you will. Both responses are wrong, in my easily rejected analysis. Plants can do a lot. Carbon can do a lot. Water changing does what's needed. A combination of planting tanks and doing regular water maintenance ( I remove and replace 30% to 50% of the water every 7 to 10 days) will do more for the tanks and fish than expensive products will.

All the products will do is buy you a little time if you are willing to let things go but don't want anyone to know.

 

[Swampman]

IT depends on what your goal is. Carbon entered the hobby as a smell remover - in the old days before people did regular water changes, you knew who had an aquarium when you entered the house. That swamp smell could be heavy. You could smell it even through the stale cigarette smell, when I was a kid.
Activated charcoal's also of use to remove medications.

Your plants won't remove the problems - you will. Both responses are wrong, in my easily rejected analysis. Plants can do a lot. Carbon can do a lot. Water changing does what's needed. A combination of planting tanks and doing regular water maintenance ( I remove and replace 30% to 50% of the water every 7 to 10 days) will do more for the tanks and fish than expensive products will.

All the products will do is buy you a little time if you are willing to let things go but don't want anyone to know.

I do water changes 7-10 days about 30%. My tanks smell good. I supposed I do not need to add Clearmax. I started the hobby about in the late 60's. Stopped in the early 70's. Highs school. I started back in 2010. My guess my old school ways won't hurt the tanks. I buy Clearmax on line because it is a lot less than then pet shops. Thanks for the reply.

 

[Rusty_Shackleford]

I do water changes 7-10 days about 30%. My tanks smell good. I supposed I do not need to add Clearmax. I started the hobby about in the late 60's. Stopped in the early 70's. Highs school. I started back in 2010. My guess my old school ways won't hurt the tanks. I buy Clearmax on line because it is a lot less than then pet shops. Thanks for the reply.

If you feel it's helping or it does no harm, then keep using it.
But if your maintenance habits are good and you want to cut an unnecessary expense then you'll be fine without it.

 

[Magnum Man]

... and actually carbon, can absorb nutrients your plants need... I don't do any fertilizer, but carbon, can absorb some of the components of plant fertilizers, so you could be filling up the carbon, and starving your plants at the same time

 

[GaryE]

I've had fish for 59 years now, so I've watched filtration systems and media come and go. If you had asked me at 25, I thought carbon was essential. I unpacked some HOBs today and guess what they had? Carbon inserts. I turned them into straight biofilters, but clearly, there's still a market.

 

[WhistlingBadger]

I do water changes 7-10 days about 30%. My tanks smell good. I supposed I do not need to add Clearmax. I started the hobby about in the late 60's. Stopped in the early 70's. Highs school. I started back in 2010. My guess my old school ways won't hurt the tanks. I buy Clearmax on line because it is a lot less than then pet shops. Thanks for the reply.

The hobby has come a long way since the 70s. Now we know that you have to change the water sometimes, not just top it off. (Maybe people knew that in the 70s but I sure didn't!)