Am I An Idiot?

zak15

AC Members
Oct 15, 2007
79
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0
Dauberville, PA
Does the activated carbon in my HOB filter take out the fertilizers I have been dosing? I've been dosing potassium nitrate, plantex csm+b, and potassium dry ferts weekly. I just read another post where someone said not to use it.
 
Why are you using carbon at all?
 
What carbon does take out is medications if you had a sick fish and want to stop dosing medications for a sickness.
 
I'm using carbon in my HOB Filter (penguin 150) because I thought you need it. But I just read in another post that it will remove ferts I've been adding. Maybe I'm just an idiot for reading it wrong. Do I need carbon?
 
Carbon is useful in removing tannin, medication, and dissolved organics in the water. It should not be needed on a regular basis.
 
Carbon has many good qualities to it. At the same time it can also have a negative impact on your system depending on conditions. If you are using it because it is contained in the filter cartridge, don't sweat it. If you are adding it to your system - stop if you so desire. Carbon is not so essential as some would have you to believe.

Many of us do not use carbon and see it as an unnecessary expense. It depends alot on the quality of your water.If you have city water then it is unlikely to do you any good. It won't harm anything - it just isn't needed in most aquariums.

I do not use it unless it comes in a filter cartridge. I don't remove it if it does. When I change filter media, I mostly use poly fiber (floss). I remove the old material and put the plastic piece back in to use as a divider and then I fill the backside with floss.(Where the filter pad would have been) I can change about 20+ times for $3-4 instead of using the factory pads.

"Idiot" - nope, not even close. You were smart enough to ask.
 
carbon does remove co2 efficently from what I have read, but overtime the carbon well "expire" and wont continue to remove impurities and what not. I am the one who posted that in response to a set-up question. I have had people tell me that it removes ferts as well so I added that in. But it does for a FACT remove co2.

EDIT: read this website it tells about activated carbon and ferts: http://www.yamatogreen.com/ActivatedCarbon.htm
 
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