Do I Need Carbon ?

[laknarf]

On all of my tanks I use the Whisper hang on back #60 power filters.These filters have a sponge and a bio bag that contains carbon.

On each of my 55s I use two of these filters and on the smaller tanks I use one filter



I've been led to believe that the carbon needs to be used only to clear up medication that has been put in the tank and does not help in the filtration of the water. Can I filter the tanks effectively without the bio bags with the carbon, using only the sponge?

The water on all of my tanks is crystal clear and I don't want to mess it up.

 

[Rooster]

Dont bother then ! Ive never used it in decades

 

[helterskelter]

Carbon removes medications and toxins.

But I only use it when their is a problem with ammonia, nitrites or nitrates.
All these toxins are needed (apart from nitrates), to feed the good bacteria in the filters. So if you use carbon all the time you starve these bacteria and not completely cycle it. So once removed you could get a ammonia spike. Course this dose depend on how long the tank has been running, older tanks will not suffer so much, unless your replacing the carbon ever week.

So remove the carbon and replace with ceramic's these are better for bacteria and resualt in better filtration if cleaned regularly.