Charcoal In Filters

Hally

Hally

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Sep 22, 2004
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Hi I'm starting to notice people not putting charcoal in their filter ... I've been in this great hobby for a long time & charcoal was kind of like a secret weapon :p for removing various odours & other baddies from out aquarium, we only took it out if adding chemicals ... can anyone help me out here with any new info about charcoal, that is if there is any :D ... To use charcoal or not to use charcoal ... for or against please reply .... Thanks in advance
 
I always run carbon and find that it polishes water and also keeps odors down (if there are any), there is some talk that it will leach toxins back into a tank after time but I can't see it if it is taken care of.
 
Thanks acefred I'm with you mate, I think its still a good thing to have in the cannister filter :D
 
The problem with carbon is that once you put it in the filter its lifespan can be measured in days. Like 3 or 4. The stuff is too expensive to replace that often. People with planted tanks (like me) can't use it because it takes out some things the plants need. Other than removing meds after treatment, it really has no use. Stores will tell you different because carbon is a big money maker for them.
I think the overall consensus is don't bother with it, especially in a canister filter. They aren't designed to be opened up every couple of days.
 
Charcoal removes impurites from the water. This may be medication or other things that create an unpleasant smell.

The thing is, with a good maintenance routine, there won't be an unpleasant smell.

If there is then something is being done wrong.

If you use charcoal to "mask" what you are doing wrong then you are simply ignoring what is wrong, instead of fixing it.

The only time I run charcoal is when I may need to remove medications from a tank.

Other than that, it is IMO the tool of a sloppy fish keeper.
 
Wow does it really have a lifespan that short a time, less than a week ... Now I dont know what to do :confused: I always thought it removed a portion of Ammonia/Nitrites/Nitrates ... So I suppose its still good to remove medication.
 
I would ditch the carbon. Ammonia and nitrites will be used by your filter bacteria. Nitrates can be controlled with water changes or plants. There's so much stuff out there that companies sell as 'must haves'. IMHO Carbon is one of them unless you really do need to get something chemical out of the water.
 
Its in the removing of those things that causes it to stop working so fast. In a properly cycled tank bacteria take care of the ammonia and the nitrites and water changes (or plants if you have them) help take care of the nitrates. Like watcher said if your tank smells you're doing something wrong.

Dang it. Somebody beat me to it! :)
 
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I left the carbon in my filter cartridge just to get the added surface area in the filter to allow a home for bacteria. I have not changed the cartridge since I bought the filter (6) months give or take. I used to use the carbon but thats the old way people did things and it has not helped or hindered my tank in either way I actually found my tanks chem readings were more stable without changing the filter media, and I have kept that up since
I would ditch changing carbon especially if you have plants which are easy to care for I just add a bit of fertilizer due to water chagnes mroe than anything. I love the plants and they seem to love me.
 
For the unplanted tank, I personally do not see any HARMFULL effects of using carbon other than $$. From everything Ive read, carbon is exhausted within a week and will either start leeching the absorbed contaminates back into the water supply or simply stop absorbing any more of them. But I personally do not see what harm this can cause. After it it exhausted, it simply becomes just like anything else that the water comes into contact with; a breeding ground for bacteria.

On the topic of not changing media cartridges:

Again, I personally do not see any harm in not changing them. Most cartridges consist of a foam layer and a layer of carbon. Again, once the carbon is exhausted it too becomes like the foam layer and starts collecting bacteria and larger debris. While this cartridge needs to be cleaned periodically, I see no reason to actually CHANGE it out completely, and would personally not recommend it as it could cause a bioload spike and send the tank back into a cycle. Unless, of course, there are two cartridges in the filter. In this case, one could alternate cartridge changing every other month or so. The only time I would be concerned is if the "replacable" cartridge actually started to deteriorate and started falling apart.

When I had a HOB cartridge type filter (mine was an Emperor) I quickly learned that changing them was unnecessary and expensive.

Personally I only use carbon when I need to clear up my water. I use it when I move a tank, add a new piece of driftwood that may be leaching, or after I redecorate and stir alot of gravel up and get all the nasties stirred up.
 
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