Carbon Filter Pads For Fluval 3+

[Robbo25]

Has anyone used these pads? I got some bogwood that I soaked and boiled whilst changing water daily for over a week and added into my tank. The water has gone a browny colour and Ive heard that these carbon pads will reduce the colouring?

How long would it take and How often should i change the carbon pads?

 

[doresy]

Personally I never use them. I believe they start to leech back what they filter out so I guess that for what you are using them for 2 weeks would be maximum.


Wait to see what others say first though

 

[madness]

i have that filter and after adding my bog wood my water wasnt very nice used the carbon filter and it didnt really do anything i ended up changing 90% of my water to get it looking nice again i dont think they do very much imo!

 

[Robbo25]

Thanks for the quick replies. I find it hard to believe that they could remove the browness.

I personally was thinking a large water change but its not really the route I wanted to go down.

Wont the wood just discolour it again?

 

[doresy]

Thanks for the quick replies. I find it hard to believe that they could remove the browness.

I personally was thinking a large water change but its not really the route I wanted to go down.

Wont the wood just discolour it again?

I believe most people either soak or pour boiling water over bogwood before using. Then they soak it for a few weeks changing the water regularily.

 

[fantailman]

carbon filters generally remove the colour from the water they are fairly useful and hardly ever need changing. I just rinse mine out occasionally

 

[orange shark]

I prefer to use the polyester pads, they are supposed to make the water clearer aswell!

 

[DevUK]

Carbon pads are sponge with carbon on them. They are used to absorb some medications after treatment (and the colouration of things like methelyne blue), and are said to remove the colouration of bogwood (tanins) from the water too. Now, from personal experience I've found carbon media useless for getting rid of tanins. Polyester pads are a finer filter media, to get rid of fine particles. They're are pretty good at it too.

Carbon media should be replaced about every month, maybe less in some cases, otherwise they will start to leech whatever they've absorbed back into the water. The carbon can only hold onto so much before it starts to break down releasing anything its held.

Polyester inserst should be replaced regularly too. They are not the main media, so aren't providing biological filtration, so its safe to replace these regularly. I generally rinse them in tank water for 2 or 3 water changes, and then replace them, or at least I used to untill I went to external filters

Hope that makes sense!

 

[Robbo25]

Cheers for the advice guys. Some great info there. Im just gonna see how its goes after a few water changes.
Ive got some polyester pads that I may add at a later date.