What All Does Activated Carbon Do For The Tank?

[phlawed]

It seems it filters meds and other nutrients plants needs to grow. So what are the advantages to keeping it in?

 

[onemisterchristian]

Active carbon polishes the water and keeps it crystal clear. Go ahead, remove it. It does steal the plants nutrients!

 

[@ombomb]

Well you answered your own question... It removes meds from the water... AFTER you have finished treating the tank. Best not to have it in all the time, just use it if you've been medicating.

 

[Tempestuousfury]

Just a matter of chemical filtration. Various compounds, both good and bad, readily bond to the carbon, as is seen in many water filters human use to filter drinking water.

IMO, it's far too costly for general use, and mechanical and biological filtration is all you really need. I would suggest only keeping a few cartiridges for once you finish medicating your tank(s).

 

[Torrean]

Another reason to keep some carbon handy is incase something terrible happens in your tank like windex gets in it or something. When that happens massive water changes are required and carbon can help the process along.

 

[BigIan]

My filter came with "carbon in a bag" a sort of over grown tea bag thing....

i also happen to have a waking stack of carbon "pellets" will i be able to use these instead of the carbon in a bag when it runs out??

 

[fish_keeper2]

where i live carbon is pretty cheap. i use it all the time with no probs.

 

[Torrean]

I don't know about the carbon pellets thing. I use activated carbon that came in a plastic jar. I got it from a lfs i think.

 

[jpedersen024]

Also, if you leave the carbon in too long without changing it (should be done with regular maintenance anyways), it can start to break down and re-release all the chemicals it was holding back into the tank..