Confused About Carbon

[xamy_valox]

Hi there,
I upgraded my filter a few months ago to a Fluval U4, since doing so everything has been great in my tank. Have never before had such good water quality. Now however I am wanting to treat my tank as I am worried my male German Blue Ram might be suffering from a bacterial infection. I currently have carbon in the tank, the one I had from the very start, I have had this probably 4 months now, maybe even longer.

I have been told that because the Carbon has been in the tank so long it will be fine to treat the tank with it in as it is not doing its job anymore anyway, is this true? Or will my meds be taking no action at all? With the Fluval U4's, the back of the carbon and the carbon itself holds a lot of the bacteria. If I was to take it out whilst I treat the tank, could I keep it and put that same one in again or would that disrupt my water stats?

I just want to know wether to take it out and ril my water stats going haywire, or leave it in and perhaps have the medication take no effect!!

I have posted about my ram in another thread. He has a white mark on his head which now looks like his scales have come off, I think he must have hurt himself somehow and I am trying to make sure or doesn't get infected or turn nasty. I have Disease Clear, Pimafix and Interpret Anti Internal Bacteria to hand. Which would be best? Also, would melafix be any help? As I finished my bottle of this (well it went out of date) but if it will help I will definitely buy more as I really don't want to lose my ram.

Answers to this would be appreciated as soon as poss as I'm about to do a water change and would like to mess with the filter if needed at this point haha.

Thanks xx

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

Active carbon will use up it adsorbing properties within ~7 days of adding to a filter, after that it just becomes another surface for bacterial colonies to grow on. I have treated fish with medication using both of my U4s and the meds did its job.

Do give the U4 filter pads a squeeze in removed tank water at least every couple of weeks, they quickly clog up and reduce the filtering efficiency. The impeller and its cavity should also be given a clean with a cotton bud at least once a month.

 

[fluttermoth]

The carbon is most probably used up, but I would take it out anyway.

I'm sure on my U3, you can remove the carbon bit from the sponge; is yours the same?

edit; if N0TG says it's ok, it will be

 

[xamy_valox]

So keep it in then?
The carbon is separate to the actual sponge bit, but it has two sides to it, one is the carbon, and then when turned over its the flossy kinda stuff that really holds the poop!!

Yeah I only recently squeezed the one side out. I do it one side at a time (one side one water change, the other another time) so as not to lose all the bacteria.

Its just I have been treating the tank with different products to try and help my poor ram as I am petrified of losing him, but nothing seems to be working! I assumed it was because of me keeping the carbon in, but obviously not if its not active anymore anyway!

Any suggestions as to what I can use? I have ordered some Melafix anyway, as I have used it in the past and everyone says how good it is. That won't be here until around thursday though =\

Here is what the problem is:

It started as just a white mark, but it seems to have become an open wound. It's not red, and it doesn't seem to be affecting him in anyway. It does look worse in the flesh than on pictures for some reason?! I have been advised to get antibiotics in the other post but I would have no idea where to find any!!

What is the best thing to treat with until my melafix comes out of the options I have to hand previously listed?

Thanks.

 

[fluttermoth]

I would just keep the water really, really clean; some extra water changes will be the best first aid (it usually is).

 

[xamy_valox]

Yeah thats what I have been doing. I have been doing an extra one in the week instead of my normal weekly and also been doing one extra bucket just incase. The stats are fine, no ammonia, no nitrite, 5 nitrate.

Does it not look lethal then? Do you think the scales will just grow back?
And lastly, should I use the melafix when it does arrive or just continue with water changes?
Sorry to be a pain but he is one of my pride and joys!! haha

 

[fluttermoth]

I would expect an injury (and that is what it looks like) to heal up perfectly well on it's own.

You could use the Melafix, as it will help make sure that the fish doesn't develop any secondary infections. Sorry I missed your thread on him!

 

[Mikey1]

carbon only lasts about a week.....

carbon is way over rated.....the only good use for it is for removing medications that you have added to the water and now want gone....other than that it really doesnt serve any useful purpose.....i have not used carbon in my filters for over 10 years....

you are much better off removing the carbon and in its place adding more foam, wool, or sponges (whichever you are currently using), or even bio balls

 

[xamy_valox]

Once the carbon is looking a mess I think I will just dispose of it, and not bother replacing then. Or just have some handy incase I want to remove meds.

Thanks for the help guys, and thanks fluttermoth, I'll wait and see how he goes then and when I receive the Melafix I will add just as a precaution.

 

[xamy_valox]

I'm still panicking about my ram. I'm almost positive the wound has gotten worse. It seems to be deepening rather than getting wider? I am currently treating with the melafix as well as keeping up my water changes. One of my cories has a huge hole in his face and I'm worried it may be the same thing that is wrong?
What can I treat with that is stronger and will help the healing?

 

[fluttermoth]

I would try Myxazin; it's my go-to treatment for anything that might be bacterial.

 

[xamy_valox]

Can you cast your eyes and see if you think it looks worse? Or if I am just being paranoid? I know it's hard to tell from a photo.

Can I get that from any LFS?

 

[Essjay]

You can get Myxazin from any shop that sells Waterlife products. I've found that each LFS stocks one or two brands. Not all of them will stock Waterlife brand so you may have to try a few to find it.

 

[xamy_valox]

Ive just ordered some from eBay. £5.40 for 100ml which I thought was fairly priced. Ordered it from a seller I use often on the site so going on their normal dispatch time I am hoping it will be here in the next couple of days.

Does it look any different in your opinion? I do worry I am a bit of a hypochondriac with stuff like this!!

 

[fluttermoth]

It doesn't look any worse to me, but it is hard to tell from pics.