What Is Wrong With Carbon?

[nukeonekitty]

I have heard people saying they don't like to use activated carbon. How come?

 

[Teelie]

It absorbs almost everything from the water, good or bad. Then when it's absorbed too much, it starts to leach stuff back and can become a hotbed for unwanted bacteria. It's really only good for temporary measures like removing medications or absorbing tannins. Long term use can damage your beneficial bacteria as well if they can't get enough ammonia and nitrite from the carbon absorption. It basically keeps you chained to it.

 

[InaneCathode]

I have heard people saying they don't like to use activated carbon. How come?

If you dont change it (or recharge it via oven [very very stinky]) every two weeks or so it leaches whatever it has captured over those two weeks back into the water. On top of that they absorb meds pretty effectively.
thats what i've heard at least

 

[nukeonekitty]

Okay thanks guys!

 

[WILDER]

Only good for removing meds, complete waste of money to use it all the time.
Same as been mentioned have to change it every six weeks so is very expensive, if you don't the chemicals will leak back into the tank.

 

[AlphaBetta]

Long term use can damage your beneficial bacteria as well if they can't get enough ammonia and nitrite from the carbon absorption.

This is wrong. Carbon does not remove ammonia or nitrite. Carbon can remove toxins like chorine, smoke, aerosols like perfume/air fresheners and other pollutants from the air that gets attached to the water. It also removes color, cloudiness and organics from the water. Yes it needs to be replaced every few weeks so if you can afford it there is no reason not to use it. It isn't really expensive either if you buy it in bulk containers which can last for years. Don't knock carbon just because you don't use it or can't afford it.

 

[Teelie]

Even if it does not remove ammonia and nitrite, it needs replacing a lot faster than every few weeks making it virtually useless and impractical.

Most chemical filter media do have a surprisingly brief effective life. The carbon in your filter does almost all its adsorbing work in the first 48 hours! I was amazed when I first saw the graphs printed with Tim Hovanec's Aquarium Fish articles about activated carbon. The administration and dosage foldout that is currently enclosed with Maracide states "If an activated carbon filter is over five days old, it may be left in place." Whether you do leave your filter carbon in place when medicating or not, this goes to show how brief is the effective life of activated carbon.

I think that you should generally consider chemical filtration media as disposable. Activated carbon could only be reactivated at high heat in a closed kiln that was rendered free of oxygen (a "reducing" atmosphere). Not in your kitchen stove, as some aquarists were attempting, with disappointing results that made them skeptical of carbon's usefulness.

It's good policy to keep the three aspects of filtration separate in the filter, and separate in your understanding. In other words, though any filter medium tends to become part of the biological filter, your biological filtration should be sufficient on its own; you shouldn't even be considering the possible biological filtering capacity that a couple of tablespoons of exhausted charcoal in your filter might be offering.

Skeptical Aquarist.

So, while partly wrong, I'm still mostly right that carbon isn't necessary.

 

[AlphaBetta]

Even if it does not remove ammonia and nitrite, it needs replacing a lot faster than every few weeks making it virtually useless and impractical.

Most chemical filter media do have a surprisingly brief effective life. The carbon in your filter does almost all its adsorbing work in the first 48 hours! I was amazed when I first saw the graphs printed with Tim Hovanec's Aquarium Fish articles about activated carbon. The administration and dosage foldout that is currently enclosed with Maracide states "If an activated carbon filter is over five days old, it may be left in place." Whether you do leave your filter carbon in place when medicating or not, this goes to show how brief is the effective life of activated carbon.

I think that you should generally consider chemical filtration media as disposable. Activated carbon could only be reactivated at high heat in a closed kiln that was rendered free of oxygen (a "reducing" atmosphere). Not in your kitchen stove, as some aquarists were attempting, with disappointing results that made them skeptical of carbon's usefulness.

It's good policy to keep the three aspects of filtration separate in the filter, and separate in your understanding. In other words, though any filter medium tends to become part of the biological filter, your biological filtration should be sufficient on its own; you shouldn't even be considering the possible biological filtering capacity that a couple of tablespoons of exhausted charcoal in your filter might be offering.

Skeptical Aquarist.

So, while partly wrong, I'm still mostly right that carbon isn't necessary.

First of all nobody said carbon is necessary. In fact even a bio-filter is uncecessary if you do enough water changes. Second, everything you've just quoted is old news. Carbon IS useful in some situations as I mentioned above. Whether it's practical or not is not for you to decide for others. Just let people decide for themselves instead of perpectuating the myth that carbon is bad or useless.

 

[Underwurlde]

As you can there is quite a debate raging as to the use of carbon (I'd say it's 50-50 at the mo' )

Some people use it all the time, & others only to remove colouration or meds.

Research it and make your own mind up as this kind of carbon use question tends to get a lot of biased responses.....

Andy

 

[raptorrex]

I have heard people saying they don't like to use activated carbon. How come?

to answer your question: carbon has a maximum, aDsorption point, if it goes beyond that it can return, some of the already, adsorbed, nasties back into your tank. as such carbon can be potentially dangerous. we are all aware that putting dangerous, things in our tanks is not a good idea!! Nuff said!

 

[PrettyDiscus]

I never use carbon. Last time i used it i was treating the tank with protozin for white spot.

 

[nukeonekitty]

Are the bio zorb type medias that come with filters concidered carbon and what do you use instead of carbon?

 

[AlphaBetta]

bio zorb is carbon

 

[nukeonekitty]

okay thank you!

What do you use to substitute carbon?

 

[raptorrex]

Are the bio zorb type medias that come with filters concidered carbon and what do you use instead of carbon?

well as a polisher for my filter i use filter wool, and if you have any room left, just add some sponge bio media.

bio zorb is carbon

well ish. it is a mix of resin and carbon.