Replacing Carbon

[denismen]

How long can I use carbon in my filter for before it is useless and needs to be replaced or done without, and what purpose exactly does the carbon do and do I really need it at all?

 

[fluttermoth]

Carbon will remove tannins (and medications) from the water, possible keeping it 'clearer', but it will not remove ammonia, nitrite or nitrate. There's really no reason to use it all the time, unless you have a lot of bogwood and don't like the brown water.
 
It will last a week or so before it becomes inactive.

 

[Mikey1]

How long can I use carbon in my filter for before it is useless and needs to be replaced or done without, and what purpose exactly does the carbon do and do I really need it at all?

 
in my opinion you dont need it, i have not used carbon for years,
 
you would be better off replacing the carbon with more foam/filter floss,

 

[denismen]

Tnx for the advice...I assumed the floss cotton pads would strain fine particles and I may not actually need the carbon unless I was trying to clean up medication so thanks for clearing that up.

 

[DrRob]

I use carbon in my more heavily planted tanks, or if I have more tannin leaching than I'm happy with.

I can tell the difference, but I'm not of the opinion that it's necessary.

 

[goldfinger]

Carbon is good for chlorine, sediment, and volatile organic compounds but does sod all with minerals and salt.
TBF carbon filters have been around a few hundred years and we still use them today. What I don't like are the prices for crap carbon filters (low surface carbon content). I buy bulk pads 1" thick and cut them to size and use all off cuts buy bunching them together to form a larger sponge so none of it goes to waste as for how long they last depends on the filter output and quality of water.