I was just wondering if I could add regular carbon straight from the carton instead of buying the carbon inside the nylon pouches. I have a Fluval 304. Thanks.
Re-useable nylon pouches are available. I use them for peat pellets for my tank. I put some in either the Fluval or Filstar when needed. Bulk carbon can be bought at most all LFS's.. You will save some $ by using the nylon bags.
I got mine at thatfishplace.com. They were pretty cheap. When I use carbon this is how I do it. It's alot cheaper to by carbon in the carton thatn buying it by the pouches.
Media bags will hold carbon, or crushed coral, quite well. However, given the short active life of carbon (48 hours or so), I prefer to keep it out of my canisters and instead use it in an HOB filter such as the Aquaclear 300 as a supplementary method of filtration.