Amanda

I have a whisper filter 30 60 for my 55 gal. As you all probably know, whisper filter media is carbon. But everyone is saying that carbon is bad for th tank. What else can I use in this filter? I can't afford to buy another whole filter right now. I have carbon in my well established 10 & 5 gal. and everything seemed to be workikng okay as long as I changed them regularly.

Shawnie

this is what I do...everyone has a different opinion so im just giving you mine...

I have a few tanks (no mention on how many LOL)

on my overstocked 75 gal, I run carbon to help with the nitrates and ammonia..its changed out every 3 weeks and never a day longer...so it works awesome..but on my smaller tanks that arent over stocked, I cut a hole in the bag part and dump the carbon out before using it...

carbon use is mainly bad when not changed out every 3 weeks or so..because it only absorbs so much then the rest goes back to the tank..so as long as your changing it regularly, its fine IMO ...

Amanda

You just use the outside part of the media? That works well enough?

Shawnie

I cut a small hole and dump out the carbon...and yes just use the white filter part

mrsmuffin

My Whisper filter uses the bio-bags and I buy the ones that are not pre-assembled and just don't add the carbon if that is what I am choosing at the time. Most of the time, I do keep carbon in the filter in my 30 gallon tank, but I change the carbon out during every other weekly water change. I don't always change out the media though, I just turn the bag inside out and get the old carbon out, swish the media around in tank water and add carbon back to it. I find that this tank looks much clearer when I have carbon in it.

COBettaCouple

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Produc...1&c=3578+4150& - I believe you can find this at petsmart or order it online. I use this in all our filters instead of the bags or cartridges. It can be cut to fit and is long lasting and durable.

tanker83

so if you use carbon, you should change is regularly or its bad, right?
I put carbon in my canister filter a few weeks ago to take out medication i had to use... so should I take it out?
and if i do take it out and leave it out is my tank missing out on anything?

tanker83

*change it. sorry bout the typo

clinton1621

Tanker83,
Activated carbon usually becomes "saturated" after 48 hours or so and at that point is useless for removing anything.... some sites claim that they leach out a lot of what they initially took out, others say only tiny amounts.... either way its a good idea to change it once a week or every other if week you are going to constantly use it (which isnt necessary)

tanker83

right. thanks clinton. that was really quick

clinton1621

No problem =)
if I may ask, what type of filter/media do you use?

Slug

Yup change the carbon, its a trap for nasties and just puts them back into the tank if not changed regularly. Truthfully carbon is only needed to remove medications from the water or "polish" the water to clear it up some. Otherwise, just use sponges and filter pads.

tanker83

umm. confusing. sponges and ceramic noodles in a canister filter. that what u mean?

tanker83

thanks slug

clinton1621

lol yeah thats what I meant, sounds like a good setup.... and as slug mentioned above, its really only necessary to use carbon to remove medications after they are finished and to occasionally polish the water, otherwise they tend to also remove trace elements that your fish and plants need

tanker83

got it. appreciate the help clinton. ill remember it forever

owain

when do i need to remove the carbon from my canister filter