Carbon Filters

[skimpy]

Hi everyone, it's me again with yet another question

Background - entering 5th week fish cycling - levels been steady for 7 days now and lfs said i can have some fish tomorrow . As a precaution it was suggested to put in 15 mil liquidsil general tonic (18 gallon tank) but the lfs did not tell me to remove the carbon filter. I then found out it should be removed when using the tonic so i removed it. Do you think it will be OK for new fish. Schedule below:

Entering 5 week of cycling (so carbon filter now 4 weeks old)
Yesterday (Thursday) 22.00 hours put in 15 mil gen tonic
Today (Friday) 9.00 hour took out carbon filter
Tomorrow (Saturday) should collect 5 guppies (assuming levels ph8 am0 ni0 - still stable)
Monday put in new carbon filter

What do you guys think

 

[Dubby]

The carbon filter is not a necessity. The only time I use it is after a medication to get rid of any remaining stuff.

 

[skimpy]

Thanks Dubby

So in effect are you saying a tank runs ok without carbon filters (not saying that I will remove mine) just asking in theory.

 

[Phantom Thief]

Yup, tanks are perfectly alright without carbon.

P.T.

 

[skimpy]

Thanks P.T.

At last I can stop worrying. I am sure this whole "learning about Tropical Fish" stuff can make you paranoid or crazy at the beginning.

 

[Phantom Thief]

LOL, i totally know what you mean!

When i was a newbie, i was completely baffled by cycles, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH, and all that. Dont worry, keep reading and everything just falls into place after a while.

P.T.

 

[Phantom Thief]

One more thing, thought of it after i posted the last one. There is nothing wrong with cycling using fish. I have done it, many people have done it, and personally, i wouldnt have it any other way. I am just too impatient

P.T.

 

[skimpy]

Thanks P.T.

Thats nice to hear

 

[Bol]

Just to clarify something, ...

So in effect are you saying a tank runs ok without carbon filters

If you have a filter that uses a 'carbon in a pouch' kind of cartridge, it's ok to take/leave out the carbon, ... but you should still probably keep the actual cartridge in the filter.

 

[appleblossom]

Also carbon needs to be replaced quite often or it starts to leech the bad stuff it has absorbed back into the water...

 

[Bol]

Also carbon needs to be replaced quite often or it starts to leech the bad stuff it has absorbed back into the water

That's mostly a myth. It can happen, but it's not likely under typical aquarium conditions.

The carbon will become "useless", though, fairly quickly -- in a week or so, usually.

 

[nirvanarama]

im not trying to hijack this thread or anything but what stuff does the carbon take out exactly?

 

[Phantom Thief]

Mostly chemical stuff. I am not sure exactly what either though.

P.T.