activated carbon question

[DeCoY]

Many medications say to remove carbon from filter during treatment. but is there any point in which carbon is no longer effective? just wondering if i have to remove carbon from a 4 month old filter in my Q tank. that brings me to my other question, what is the main purpose of carbon?

Thanx

 

[reptileguy2727]

carbon absorbs chemicals, including meds, odors, and discolorations, and yes a 4 month old used batch of carbon could possibly remove some of the meds, it couild also start to release what it has already absorbed, so it should be removed either way.

 

[carpguy]

Activated Carbon bonds with certain chemicals, removing them from the water. Mostly organics including tannins, bad smells, and medicines.

The carbon will stop doing this after a surprisingly short time, say a week max (more like a day or two), after which it makes a nice mechanical and bio filter. No harm in leaving it in, but it isn't doing any chemical filtration at 4 months. If you specifically want chemical filtration (to remove tannins, bad smells, or medicines) you'll need fresh carbon.

Under normal (ie survivable) aquarium conditions, there is no chance of adsorbed chemicals being released back into the water. They're chemically bonded to the carbon.

For the longer version check out the SkepticalFeller.

HTH

 

[TKOS]

Keeping some carbon on hand (and sealed) is not a bad thing, but a tank doesn't need to have it to run fine. I have been running with just sponges (though I recently added some ceramic rings to my fluval) and no carbon for over 3 years on one tank. Proper water changes will be more tahn enough. And you can just use water changes to get rid of medications as well. Daily 25% water changes will remove most of the medications after a week.

 

[reptileguy2727]

it doesnt hurt to use carbon, but it can hurt them if you dont, so why risk it? i have tried to run without carbon and as soon as added carbon again, smell went away and the water cleared up, so i will use it and recommend that people still do the same.

 

[kyle3]

after carbon has used up it's chemical filtration abilities is becomes a very good biomedium- it has all kinds of surface area for our favorite bacteria to live on so keep it in it's part of your biological filter.

 

[msouth468]

Carbon is kind of like a maintenance item. If you water is alittle cloudy or stinks alittle, a water change followed by some carbon will help it.

 

[carpguy]

Carbon is a good short term chemical filter. If you want to have short term chemical filtration pop in some fresh carbon.

After it stops being chemically active, its a good mechanical filter and makes a good biofilter. It will not release 'nasties' back into the water column. No harm in leaving it be, or in rinsing it out at filter cleaning.

Your tank shouldn't smell bad or be cloudy with regular filtration and regular water changes. Carbon can be a way of treating a symptom instead of addressing an underlying cause. Better to figure out why the tank smells bad (it shouldn't).

Its good to keep in mind that its a short-term thing. It stops doing its thing (chemically) after just a few days. If I wanted short term chemical filtration for a specific reason (like removing meds, smells, or tannins), I'd get some carbon. You don't (or at least shouldn't) need it on a regular basis. I haven't used it in several years, but I wouldn't hesitate to use it for a specific reason.

 

[rrkss]

Carbon is good at polishing the water and stripping heavy metals, residual chloramines and some meds out of the water. Carbon will not remove formalin from the water. The only effective way is through water changes.