penny

I note people are taking the carbon filters out and only using in certain situations( ie medicated tanks etc). I have some driftwood which is leaching some tannin into my tank. It is not too bad at the moment -in fact gives a nice natural look to the tank, but I am wondering if the carbon in my filter is helping to remove some of the tannin. If I remove the carbon is the tannin likely to become more pronounced?. In other words is the carbon helping at all or should I just ditch it and replace with another sponge?

Nick Goody

I think carbon does help a bit with tannins, but you can also remove them by just doing water changes. Over time the tannins will disappear.

CHoffman

I have driftwood in two of my tanks....I don't use carbon unless like you said I'm removing meds after treatment is done. I do weekly waterchanges and it keeps it under control..the water is def. darker then the tanks without it but I never notice untill I'm draining the water into a bucket.

penny

OK.Thanks guys. I might as well pull it out and swap it for an extra sponge. Hopefully the regular water changes (as I am still cycling) will keep the tannins at bay. This may be a dumb question, but do I just stick in some more of the same sponge that is in the other chambers of my HOB power filter or is some other filter media recommended in lieu of the carbon?

Nick Goody

The same stuff as is in the other chambers will be fine. Or you could use filter floss.

penny

thanks mate