Carbon Use in Your Filter

[mostlycichlids]

Do You use carbon in your filter? If so why? If not Why? I have read a lot of posts in the past and present and some use it religiously and some say a waste of money. What is the right answer, you decide?....

[RISK2123]

i only use it because i have penguin filters and it comes already inside the filter replacements. other wise i change my water atleast once per week so i wouldnt use it if it werent already in there.

[Rbishop]

Always use it. 30 years worth. However, most HOB, HOT and cartridges do not have significant enough amount to be any real help. And most people will not change it out frequently enough.

[Hurley]

I don't use it unless I need it for a very specific reason; taking medication out of the water or removing toxins or tannins. It loses it's effectiveness after a couple weeks and needs to be replaced. My tanks have run just fine without the use of carbon on a daily basis so I'm not going to use it unless I have a specific reason.

[webcricket]

Yes, and no. I use Whisper filters and have an enormous number of new replacement cartridges that come with the carbon already (got them for a nickel a piece). That being said, I only replace the cartridge maybe every 6 months (it does get rinsed at water change time), so the carbon isn't at all fresh or doing anything, it's just there.

[WaterBaby]

I also only use it to clear the tank after medicating. I cut my own filter medium and use it in my filters. If I need carbon, I have these little mesh bags that I'll fill up for use.

[H3D]

There are so many reasons "to" use carbon:

http://www.marineland.com/science/articles/17RevisActCarb.asp

The only reason I've heard "not" to use carbon is called being cheap.

[tks4d2]

i've heard that it leaches toxins back into the tank after awhile. i'm replacing mine with filter floss next mo.

[Rbishop]

It will not leach toxins back into your tank unless you keep your tank temperature at around 2000 degrees.

[mostlycichlids]

There are so many reasons "to" use carbon:

http://www.marineland.com/science/articles/17RevisActCarb.asp

The only reason I've heard "not" to use carbon is called being cheap.
Thanks for the great article.

[H3D]

Thanks for the great article.

Your welcome. Timothy A. Hovanec, Ph.D. is one of worlds leading experts in the area of aquarium water quality.

[fresh_newby]

I do not use it, and wouldn't recommend using it if your freshwater tank is heavily planted.

[bpimm]

Planted tank = no need for carbon

[Rallysman]

None of my tanks have carbon, all of them look great, and all of them have very healthy fast growing fish.

"the proof is in the puddin' "

However, I would use it to remove meds or tanins.

[H3D]

I agree that carbon is not a necessity in a planted tank. I also agree that many have had great results and have never used carbon. However in a non planted tank there are no ill effects and only positve effects from using carbon so I do not see why one would be against using it.

[fballguy]

It will not leach toxins back into your tank unless you keep your tank temperature at around 2000 degrees.


Whoa! I better turn down my heater. ;)

[nking]

CARBON :bowing:

[garbon2535]

Thanks for posting the link to Dr. Tim's article. I feel much better informed after reading what a specalist with a PhD has to say.