mc54

Hi, Been doing a lot of reading around here, and finding a lot of good stuff for a new guy. This is my first tank, hoping to set it up for cherry shrimp. Black fluorite, driftwood and a few rocks, hope to add live plants after the cycle. Want to do a fish less cycle but my question is when the tank is cycling do I use the carbon in the filter or not. Thank you for any help, Mark

andy65

nope no carbon. Plus, if your thinking of doing live plants, the carbon will take stuff out of the water that the plants will need to grow and be healthy.

COBettaCouple

Welcome to Fishlore.

Carbon wouldn't really be necessary and we don't even run it in our established tanks. We only use it for a few hours to clear meds, if needed.

steveangela1

Welcome to fishlore, some of us even will go so far as to cut the cartriges that have carbon and get the carbon out. (me for one). Im glad to see you are doing a fishless cycle, its very healthy for your fish.

mc54

thank you for the replys

Shawnie

welcome to fishlore mc!! a fellow new englanda! great advice and lots of help when needed on this site...goodluck! and we love pics here !! HINT HINT