Another Carbon Question.

[Jen_S]

I have a Penguin 170 by Marineland and a Fluval 203 running on my 46 gal bow front tank. From what I'm reading, carbon is no longer used like it used to be. I am using sponges, ceramic rings and peat fiber to filter in the Fluval. The Penguin filter had preformed filter cartriges the are a black plastic mesh back and blue filter floss on the front. In the middle, carbon is already inserted. Do I just tear the filter fiber at the edge to remove the carbon? What do most people do? I know the carbon removes the tannins from the water which I don't want as I like the look and the lowered pH. Any help would be appreciated!

 

[Bignose]

I take an exacto knife, slit the edge and then shake the carbon granules out. I usually then restuff the cartridge with some quilt batting scraps I get from my mother to increase the mechanical filtration. I usually don't get every carbon granulae out, but definitely 95% or so out -- enough that it won't matter either way.