carbon and catfish
- Thread starter barb man
- Start date
I don't use carbon in any of my tanks because it can remove vital trace elements and micronutrients which can lead to an assortment of problems. Odor and discoloration should not be an issue if enough water changes are being done.
irishspy
There is a stargate in my aquarium.
I've never heard that one. There are reasons pro and con for using carbon, but I think your LFS droid is repeating a myth.
pretty sure carbon is completely inert and only used for its porous properties to absorb chemicals, and should not cause any problems to your fish.
I've used carbon with no ill-effects w/plecos, synodontis, and pictus catfish. I also had a pad leak some fine carbon soot into a tank with plecos and a pictus catfish and they're fine.
I've used carbon with no ill-effects w/plecos, synodontis, and pictus catfish. I also had a pad leak some fine carbon soot into a tank with plecos and a pictus catfish and they're fine.
Only good quality activated carbon should be used. Carbon ADsorbs, it does not ABsorb and cannot leach anything back into the tank. I use it in all of my tanks and always have. The tanks are healthy, planted, fish and plants thriving, and several varieties of fish spawn regularly. I rarely use ferts for the plants. It would seem if the myth about carbon taking out valuable trace elements and important nutrients were true that my fish and plants would be pretty sickly. I have albino cories, false juliis and am raising a small brood of baby albino cories spawned in one of my tanks.
It is not a guarantee that carbon will cause problems, but there is evidence that it will. Sometimes the difference is that the fish and plants do BETTER without it, not necessarily that they will die with it. It has even been shown to be related to some cases of HLLE.
It is not needed. It will do no harm to stop using it. It may do harm if you continue using it, so why risk it?
It is not needed. It will do no harm to stop using it. It may do harm if you continue using it, so why risk it?
Carbon is such an important element in most everything organic I have trouble understanding how it could be detrimental. I'm not criticizing anyone, just confused. Carbon has been used to filter aquariums, drinking water, swimming pools, etc. for many years and I have never before heard of a negative effect. Does anyone know of any studies?
I agree that good filtration, water changes and not overfeeding or overstocking will pretty much eliminate the need for charcoal. With good maintainence, in my opinion, it does become redundant. I use it in my diatom when there is a specific need. I also do a much smaller volume of water changing in my aquariums than is regularly mentioned by hobbyists and my fish and plants seem pretty happy. I'm not going to win tank of the month any time soon but that, in my case, is more of an artistic thing.
Beasts
I agree that good filtration, water changes and not overfeeding or overstocking will pretty much eliminate the need for charcoal. With good maintainence, in my opinion, it does become redundant. I use it in my diatom when there is a specific need. I also do a much smaller volume of water changing in my aquariums than is regularly mentioned by hobbyists and my fish and plants seem pretty happy. I'm not going to win tank of the month any time soon but that, in my case, is more of an artistic thing.
Beasts
One argument against using carbon in tanks is that it can leech bad stuff back into the water (if not replaced often enough). I'm one of those that never changes out the carbon, and recently had some disease in 2 of my tanks (both problem critters were catfish - some cories and synos ). My carbon was probably well over a year old. I decided to remove it entirely, although there's no real way to know if that was the cause or even a factor in the problems.
It's also claimed by some that carbon is bad for planted tanks, since the plants need micronutrients that are thought to be removed by carbon.
Since there's no well established proof that I know of, I'm a vote for using carbon only for removing medication.
It's also claimed by some that carbon is bad for planted tanks, since the plants need micronutrients that are thought to be removed by carbon.
Since there's no well established proof that I know of, I'm a vote for using carbon only for removing medication.
carbon will remove any chemicals from the tank, its indiscriminate on what it removes.
that said the discussion of carbon affecting chemicals and what not doesn't really pertain to the question, as the question was if carbon would burn the catfish.
the answer is no, carbon is completely INERT it cannot do anything by itself.
the question of whether you should use it or not, is really up to the individual, I like to use it, and like some people said my plants were doing fine. However I had a bout of illness from a new fish I added, and had to remove the carbon to medicate so I have left it out. I probably wont put it in, and will just use bio media.
that said the discussion of carbon affecting chemicals and what not doesn't really pertain to the question, as the question was if carbon would burn the catfish.
the answer is no, carbon is completely INERT it cannot do anything by itself.
the question of whether you should use it or not, is really up to the individual, I like to use it, and like some people said my plants were doing fine. However I had a bout of illness from a new fish I added, and had to remove the carbon to medicate so I have left it out. I probably wont put it in, and will just use bio media.