Is it true? Activated Carbon removes essential plant nutrients from the water?

[Ezekielz]

Hey guys, I just bought an Aqua Clear 50 Powerfilter for my 28 gallon bowfront tank. And I was wondering (since I like clear/clean water) is it true that activated carbon that comes with this filter removes plant nutrients from the water? I dose with dry ferts I purchased from Aquariumfertilizers.com aswell as Flourish Excel. I have seachem black sand substrate and a 55w light kit I purchased from AH supply. Would it be okay to have carbon in the filter? Thanks.

 

[vampie]

Yep, carbon can remove them.

 

[DGalt]

don't run carbon in your filter unless you need to remove medication or some toxin or something like that.

 

[Mgamer20o0]

its debatable at best. if your adding them i dont think it could suck them all up if you did. there are many good reasons why to use carbon.

 

[Riiz]

the best chemical filtration is free or close to it..... waterchanges

 

[James0816]

I've been told yes and no. I didn't even think about when I setup my canister. I put the charcoal pad in it. Just started dosing the PMDD as well.

So...bumpers to the top to get other answers.

 

[rich311k]

I do not think so. It will not remove nitrates so that is at least one that will be safe. The people who have seen say no are the experts I would trust.

 

[Penfan66]

http://www.barrreport.com/general-p...carbon-yes-no.html?highlight=Activated+Carbon

See what Plantbrain et,al. have to say about it here.

 

[H3D]

When someone can prove carbon removes the "mystery trace elements" I'll believe it.

 

[bazil323]

I can believe it, although it is really only useful for a short time. It quickly loses it's maximum efficiency and then really just becomes a place for beneficial bacteria to grow. That's why it is recommended that you buy only a small amount of activated carbon at a time as, once it is exposed to air, water, etc, it so quickly becomes useless (except as a place for bb to grow.)

I thought that I'd add that activated carbon is used in hospitals, etc, to remove excess medications, etc, when someone overdoses, accidentally or intentionally. I work in a hospital. Shocked me the first time I transcribed that!

So, yeah, it definitely will soak up some things very well, but I'm not sure what other than meds.