Activated Carbon

[Rattler71]

My whole life that I have been keeping aquariums I have been using activated carbon in the filters.

Now I read you should not use AC unless you are trying to get rid of meds. How many people here still use carbon and if you are what are your reasons for doing so?

I have a 3-stage rena xp filter which uses A.C. in the top bucket. If I decide to quit using carbon what would the forum recommend I put in that bucket?

Maybe more biological filter media? Or maybe something like Phos-zorb?

In the bottom bucket I have 4 layers of foam, middle stage I have ceramic rings, and in the top(last) I have Bio -chem Zorb which has Activated Carbon.

Thanks

Scott

 

[Rodders]

I use it for crystal clean water.
My mate does too.

Why do you want to get rid of it, have any died because of it in all the time you've had fish

Loads of people have different ways of doing things, dont let one or two change the way you do things, mines staying!

 

[KentBlokey]

My Juwel come with a Carbon Filter and I used it. I bought some more after 6 weeks (that's how long Juwel say to keep them). When cleaning the Filter one day I forgot to put the Carbon back...I couldn't be arsed to lift it all out and put it back in....I haven't noticed any difference not using it.

 

[StarOrbs]

I just use 4 packs of fiber and bio wheels, t's been working great for me. I only use carbon if I need to.

 

[pnyklr3]

I have an Aquaclear that has a sponge filter, biobag, and carbon. I use all of it!

 

[Chunandler]

I use all three filter types

 

[ddm18]

I use it for crystal clean water.
My mate does too.

Why do you want to get rid of it, have any died because of it in all the time you've had fish

Loads of people have different ways of doing things, dont let one or two change the way you do things, mines staying!

Ditto - some people do, some don't. I haven't seen anyone say anything against it other than the fact that you have to keep replacing it, and the whole leeching stuff back into the water thing.

I don't think it's too expensive to keep replacing, and the leeching stuff back is surely irrelevant, because it's only going to be leeching back what it took out, which all the people who don't use carbon have in their tanks anyway, so it presumably can't be harmful to the fish.

I say - try without it (you may as well save some money if you can), if you don't notice a difference, stop using it, if you preferred it with carbon, whack it back in.

 

[Gavmoore23]

I use it to remove impurities from the water and also get rid of smell!

 

[gale]

I just use 4 packs of fiber and bio wheels, t's been working great for me. I only use carbon if I need to.

What kind of filter do you have and what kind of fiber packs is that? How do you stick it in there? I have a penguin bio wheel (2 of them in fact) and the cartridges come with carbon but I want something I can just put in there without having to cut the carbon out.

 

[OohFeeshy]

How can you go aboot adding carbon to an Elite Mini Filter? I don't mnid cutting the media in half. Do I need a gap for the water to go through?

 

[WILDER]

I used to run black carbon all the time in my three tanks, but it was getting expensive so now I don't use it only to remove meds, my tank is still crystal clear no difference just a mature tank smell.

 

[digital_run]

I never use carbon in my tanks....ive only ever used it in new tanks. Personally i think in an established tank with regular water changes there shouldnt be a need for it...but each to his own

 

[iggy01]

All you can do is assess all the info out there and decide for yourself. There is no wrong, there is no right

Personally I don't often use it, except occasionally for getting rid of meds.

 

[fufanu360]

i use it cuz its all ready in the filter media bag

 

[Fish Buddy]

I use it because I know it works for what it calims to do. But I don't think it is a requirement though-the only requirement that I can think of is media that removes floties and harbors bacterium.