Filters & Filters

[123justin]

I just bought a tank kit, came with everything.

The filter is a carbon filter. I keep reading about people not using carbon filter on a regular basis.

They seem to only use it to either remove medication from the water or to get their water a little more clear.

Why are some people against using carbon filters on a daily basis and would rather go for a regular piece of sponge?

Can somebody explain the pros/cons of different types of the filters?

 

[sinistral]

Carbon filters offer "chemical" filtration.

They are useful, as you mentioned, for cleaning the water of some types of harmful toxins and getting rid of medicines after you are done with treatment.

The downside is that carbon needs to be "activated" in order to provide that type of filtration. Furthermore, it only stays active for a short period of time (I've seen people suggest between 2-6 weeks of activity...probably somewhere in the middle). After this, you either have to replace the carbon filter to maintain the benefits of chemical filtration or "recharge" the old filter, which is a ridiculously impractical and expensive process.

If you leave carbon filters in a tank for a longer period of time, they'll discharge the chemicals that they filtered out of the tank back *into* the tank.

It's up to the individual needs of the fishkeeper in terms of making the decision whether to use it or not. I don't in my tank.

Regular sponge filters offer "biological" filtration, meaning they offer lots of surface area for bacteria to colonize.

I can't describe this biological filtration better than Alien Anna did in this thread. HTH~

EDIT: It's very very important for you to read Alien Anna's post about biological filtration-- I can't emphasize it enough. HTH~

 

[123justin]

Thanx for the helpful info and link. This forum rocks!

 

[Tempestuousfury]

And of course, a cheap alternative to those cartridges is filter floss, with provides the biological filtration without added risks.

 

[One_Trick_Pony]

thanx guys i to had been wounderign about carbon filters as i had o tak mein out for some emds, i assum once the meds ave worked the carn will have de activated and i should get another carbon pad to remove the remaining meds??

 

[Danny - the lost soul---]

I think it's up the the hobbiest prefference and experience with the carbon filters. I know MANY hobbiest that preffer not to use only when trying to remove meds resedu after a treatment. And others like myself who for years have used and swear by them. JUST my opinion now.
I use the whisper 1,2 & 3 with carbon. Though yes as mentioned prior by sinistral there are the downfalls. Which can be avoided with proper tank maint. and filter maint. I use them in most my tanks from fish only tanks to plant tanks. the carbon (activated) helps keep water clear, fishie oders (that may come from poor maint) and not to mention they collect all those particles / debris left floating around that syphoning doesn't remove. Personaly I preffer to use carbon filters over just a sponge filter. Most my tanks (the more populated ones) have both means of filtration. The plant tanks have less bedris and stay clear 24/7. Again this is just my past and present experience using external filtration w/ carbon. I rinse them once a week and the carbon is replaced every 2 - 3 weeks depending on the tank and inhabitants. There are MANY diff. brands though IMO/IME not all preform the same.Over the years I have heard so many diff. opinions and ressons why and why not to use carbon filter(external filters) but IMO like the hobby itself can vary from individual experiences. Some things/systems work for some and not others. I guess what works works being no carbon filtration or carbon filtration.
danny