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!)

 

[fishorama]

I may have an almost lifetime supply of carbon from various filter inserts. I almost never use any. Of course, I'd be hard pressed to find any if I wanted to, probably in many garage boxes, lol

When we 1st started in late 1970s we had little in tank box filters (remember those?). They ran on airstones, had floss & carbon (possibly called charcoal then). Then we got cool! & had airstone driven under gravel filters...often with carbon filters at the top of the tube, for a while. We later used Chemi Pure resins to get rid of some of the nasty nitrates brown gunk & funk from UGF & minimal water changes. We did 10-20% water changes every month.

So now I really only use them to help remove meds (usually in a quarantine tank). & most recently dead fish stink (although that may have been a resin). My husband was doing water changing & hopefully catching BN pleco fry while my friend & I went to a club meet. The smell wasn't noticeable unless very, very close to the tank but, man, it was awful!!

I'm not quite sure what Clearmax is, it sounds like maybe a resin? You don't need it or carbon very often. Save your $$ for new fish, plants, etc. But if you have some, save it! If it's sealed up, you might need it someday...

Like everyone has said, change water!!!

 

[anewbie]

There is no absolute right answer under the constraints provided. You need to have a much narrower concise goal to answer the question if carbon is useful or not.

I personally only use carbon when there is something of concern i wish to remove from the water column. Otherwise it is a head-ache (as it has a short usability life) and i have too many aquariums to muck with it.

In my case using carbon when not needed actually has negative impact on water quality after all all that lovely tannis from decaying leaves and such is helpful to the fishes and carbon will remove it.

 

[fishorama]

Many plant people say carbon doesn't remove plant fertilizers. I've never checked that out personally, I rarely test for anything...or fertilize often, mostly root tabs.

 

[TwoTankAmin]

For some folks what comes out of their tap needs carbon. The farther back in time we look the greater the potential for this was. But which of us has never heard on their local news about a boil water warning due to some mishap in the municipal water system?

But, if you want to read a decent discussion of carbon use in aquariums, you should have a read on Dr. Hovanec's site here ACTIVATED CARBON

Here is the first and the final paragraph from the article:

March 21, 2012 // by DrTim// Leave a Comment

Activated carbon is one of the most misunderstood filtration media available to the hobbyist. Virtually every filter system sold in the aquarium trade contains activated carbon or a section for its use. However, there are many misconceptions about what activated carbon can and cannot do. The purpose of this month’s column is to explain some of the basics about activated carbon. More detailed information can be found in two articles I have written on this subject for Aquarium Fish Magazine (May 1993 and May 1998).

Carbon is not a substitute for water changes. You cannot stop doing other maintenance chores. It is only one part of the filtration system. Most filters make using carbon easy and carbon is not that expensive. Carbon will help you get the most enjoyment from your aquarium and provide a healthy environment for your fish. Good fishkeeping!

©1993, Timothy A. Hovanec, Ph.D.
Originally published in Aquarium Fish Magazine, May. 1993

 

[GaryE]

When we 1st started in late 1970s we had little in tank box filters (remember those?). They ran on airstones, had floss & carbon (possibly called charcoal then).

I, umm, use those in most of my killie tanks, both as primary and secondary filtration. I use no airstones and mostly with floss replaced with sponge, and no carbon.

If it ain't broke, then use it til it breaks!

 

[Rusty_Shackleford]

On an aquatic plant forum I have seen the recommendation to use activated carbon in a planted tank for 24 hours every few months to absorb any excess dissolved organic compounds in the water. The thinking is it gives your tank a bit of a reset.