Carbon needed in filter?

[Fresh04]

Hi all,

What circumstances would you need carbon in your filter, besides taking out medications? I have a Magnum 350, and the carbon is by far the biggest pain! If the granules are small enough, they get through the carbon basket and into the impeller pit and make a hell of a lot of noise for days. Does a number on the magnet as well. I have a planted tank, and just would like to know everyones opinion on the carbon. If I could go without it and put a spare poly filter stuffed in the carbon basket to use on a quarantine tank, that'd work out nicely.

So anyone with Mags, or any other canister, give me some advice, can always use it!!! :cool:

[Wippit Guud]

If there's something in your water you don't necessarily want.... excess minerals or something...

[sumoschro]

Carbon, along with the mechanical filtration, are the most important parts to the filter IMO... I would always keep carbon in my filter, unless i was medicating and the medicine said to take it out. Carbon takes away any smell to your water, discoloration, and most importantly chemicals in the water that shouldnt be there. If you're having problems with the granules, then make sure you really rinse it out good, because if you do it well enouigh most of the smaller particles should come out, leaving you with a nice, quiet filter. I have an HOB on my main tank, but if its a basket like im thinking maybe some polycarbonate mesh on the bottom of the basket would help keep the carbon in the basket?
HTH

[OrionGirl]

Totally disagree. I do not run carbon on any tank unless I am removing medication or tannins (discoloration). Water changes with clean water are more effective at controlling the content of your water. Carbon is only active for a brief time, requiring frequent replacement--costly! You tank will run fine without carbon, especially if you maintenance is appropriate for your stocking.

[RHJ]

I have to agree with OrionGirl. I don't use carbon either, except to remove meds which I have only had to do once in the past couple of years.

[Gimli]

I've heard mixed things about carbon.

Most people seem not to use it.

So what would you use for a filter?

Someone had me buy some of that polyester/cottony batting kinda thing that replaces the fuxxy thing on my eclipses carbon filter.

Cheaper and does a nice job.

What else would I need to filtering?

[OrionGirl]

It's important to note that carbon provides a different kind of filtering than sponges or poly. Mechanical filtration is the trapping of solid waste particles--a sponge of poly can do this easily. Biological filtration are the colonies of bacteria that break down ammonia/nitrites--sponges and poly, as well as noodles, ceramic rings, bio-balls, and bio-wheels are all good for this. Chemical filtration refers to the adsorbtion of chemical components into the surface of carbon. Carbon has a role in aquaria--but IMO, it is not needed full time. I use 2 sponges in my aquaclears, and can add carbon if needed without interupting my mechanical and biological filtration.

[RTR]

Like OG, I use carbon only when I see a specific and limited need.

Also like OG, I'd much rather rely on good water change routines to keep my water clean and clear. It is both significantly cheaper, it is much broader spectrum. As an example, the ability of carbon to remove minerals is minute, tiny, trace levels. The ability of water changes to remove anything dissolved in the water is in direct proportion to the percentage changed.

[TKOS]

My tanks have been up and running for a year now without any carbon, just a mixture of sponges and filter floss. All fish accounted for.

[sumoschro]

Hmm, i guess i've been living under the misconception that carbon was needed in an aquarium for all these years. Maybe i'll try not using it for a while and see how it works out....sure would be less messy....my sink always gets this black film when i rinse out my filter. :rolleyes:

[kveeti]

sumoschro - When I first joined here and learned carbon wasn't necessary, I bought extra sponges for my filters... and held my breath. LOL! I trusted the knowledgeable people on here but, silly me, I still expected something bad to happen. It didn't. I figure I should have been putting the money I've saved for over a year into a jar or something, like people sometimes do when they quit smoking.

[RTR]

LOL @ kveeti! Sure, start a jar toward the next tanks, as they are sooo much less expensive to operate that you first thought! I like the concept.

[JesseJ]

I was talking to a Hagen rep at a fish conference a few months ago and we talked a bit about filter media. Carbon is generally active for a few hours to two days depending on how much it has to filter out. after that it's just a medium for bacteria cultures. I usually put a small, well-rinsed bag into my aquaclear for 1 day every 1-2 months just to keep the water good. You don't have to use it but I personally like to.

[Grassguy]

I no longer use carbon either. For years I did. Then I heard it wasn'yt necessary and quit. Nothing bad has happened. Now, I only use it to remove tannins and meds (which I rarely need). I once went to it when my water got a fishy smell to it. Investigated the cause, fixed it, and two weeks later removed the carbon. It is only on those rare occasions that I use carbon now. That freed up one of my baskets in my canister for other media, replaced it with crushed coral to bring up my KH and pH (from 6.6 to 7.2).:cool:

[JSchmidt]

Like many others, I rarely use carbon. Water changes and good maintenance procedures go much farther (and are cheaper) than carbon.

I keep some around, in case meds need to be removed (rare, as I don't often use meds) or if there was accidental exposure to somthing I fear may have some toxitity (e.g., wife gets to close to the basement tanks with the Spray-n-Wash!).

I can't remember the last time I had to use carbon.

Jim

P.S. Yes, my dear wife knows not to use aerosol stuff anywhere near my tanks. That was my attempt at an outlandish example.