Cheap Carbon

[chefkeith]

Yesterday, I bought a 3# bag of carbon at my LFS for $3. On the shelf next to it was some name brand Activated carbon in a box that cost about $18 for 3#. I asked the cashier if the were the same and she just nodded. I was wondering if anyone here has any thoughts on this. Are they the same? Is one Carbon better than the next?

[aquariumfishguy]

YES, there is a huge difference in carbon grades/brands/companies depending on where you get your carbon from. I would almost bet my life that a 3lb. bag of carbon for $3 isn't what they call "activated carbon". Activated carbon is expensive which is why when you say it was 3 dollars, I almost want to laugh. I live in Michigan and if you can find truely activated carbon which has been fully processed for 3 bucks, LET ME KNOW! :D :o

[chefkeith]

I live in Michigan too.

So do you think that this cheap carbon is worthless? Does it do anything benificial? I'll go back to my LFS Tomorrow and ask another person there if I have to.

[aquariumfishguy]

The fish store won't help you---they want MONEY! :p

There is no real way of knowing if the carbon is active or not...and its even harder to tell through a computer, LOL. :o

Bottom line - I would stick to the carbon which costs a reasonable (but expected) price. This $3 carbon is probably worthless if your saying you have 3 lbs. of it!

[kveeti]

Here is a good info page on carbon. About halfway down is the question, But how can I practically choose a "good" activated carbon?. Might provide some insight, anyway: http://www.hallman.org/filter/carbon.html

[blitzen25bm]

just get the HBH brand from petsmart you get a big box and its cheap

[somefinnfishy]

Originally posted by aquariumfishguy
The fish store won't help you---they want MONEY! :p



That is a stupid comment!
If you feel that way about your lfs then your dumb for even setting foot in the door.

Most the mom and pops try hard to help and most cashiers dont know nothing anyway and I'ff she wanted to make a buck she would have sold him the $18 dollar bag :rolleyes:

[aquariumfishguy]

I don't believe this person asked the clerk which bag to get...he did say he asked if they were the same but the cashier (if they're like most out there) probably wasn't paying attention to what the price was for each bag.

I think the point of this post was to ask "is this too good to be true". I answered with my honest opinion saying most carbon which is sold at 3 bucks (for 3 lbs!) is probably inactive.

I helped run a LFS back after I got out of high school---I know how things go and I know the sales tactics people use. It doesn't matter how "nice" the people seem, they are out to make a buck...plain and simple. Yes, some would prefer to help you as well but the bottom line is they will sell you whatever your willing to buy. It is my educated guess that this guy was not interested in spending $18 bucks on carbon right then and there...the clerk saw through him. ;)

Bottom Line: I dont believe anyone is dumb for posting their opinion as none of us (99.99%) are "correct" in a sense. I find what you say to sound supercilious and rather arrogant. What a way to scare off members...

[Rometiklan]

I agree. For someone who has posted over 2000 times and has been a member for about a year and a half, you sure know how to fire back a retort that is overly harsh in the face of an innocent off-handed remark. Chill out and don't be so sensitive. He meant it in jest if you happen to notice the emoticon.

I don't agree with the first part of his comment as I find most LFS's I visit, the people there, employees and costumers alike, are more then willing to provide advice and information. But LFS's are in business to make money, which is what he was referring to in the latter part of his comment. If you don't believe that your LFS is in business to serve the bottom line, then you are naive for even setting foot in the door.

[chefkeith]

I went back to the LFS with cheap carbon Today . They were way to busy and understaffed for me to ask about the cheap carbon. The only person helping customers there was what looked like a 15 yr. old kid. That will be the last time I go there. So I went a few miles down the street to a new LFS that just opened up about a month ago. They were overstaffed. I got all the help I needed x3. I asked about the cheap carbon that the other LFS had and was told it doesn't do much. The owner at the new LFS, whom I recognized, use to work at that other LFS! No wonder why the other LFS went downhill.

I bought some Coralife Activated Coconut Carbon. Anybody have any opinions on this carbon?

Looks like great stuff, its says its phospate and nitrate free. It cost about $18 for a little over 2#'s. I really like the new LFS, whether I got ripped off or not.

[Fishskin]

Many experienced fish keepers do not use activated charcoal at all except for very limited uses. First of all, activated charcoal will only function by adsorbing chemicals for about 2 weeks give or take. After that it only serves as a structure for biofiltration. So if you are really going to use it, you need to change it quite frequently. However, many use it only for very specific tasks such as removing medication after treatment, removing discolorations and other specific impurities and do not use it any other time. It really does very little to promote the health and well-being of fish. It saves a lot of money this way. Many people are sort of intimidated into using it or have always done it and are afraid to stop, but there is little scientific data to suggest that constant usage is necessary. If you don't mind spending the money it can't hurt....but you do not have to.

[chefkeith]

Instead of throwing away the cheap non activated carbon I got, I was wondering if it would be wise to use that cheap carbon as substrate?

[t_h_e_s_a_c_k]

Originally posted by aquariumfishguy
Bottom Line: I dont believe anyone is dumb for posting their opinion as none of us (99.99%) are "correct" in a sense. I find what you say to sound supercilious and rather arrogant. What a way to scare off members...

he didnt say you were dumb for posting he meant if you thought that you LFS was only in the business for making money and not worried that customer is getting what he/she needs then you shouldnt be giving them your business in the first place.

as for Rometiklan, "chill out and dont be so sensitive".... hmmm.. seem a little hypocritical?