Carbon-filter Question

I've decided to restart my tank that I recently tore down and, embarrassingly, I have a few questions about filtration.

Pet stores sell little bags of carbon, and I was wondering if I could add that carbon into my filter (a Tetra Whisper 20) in addition to the cartridge and sponge? The filter cartridges say to change them every month because the carbon inside stops being as effective, but I know that that could throw my bacteria colonies out of wack.

What are your guys' thought on this? Could this work?

 

Yes, that’d work fine.

 

That would work, and yes changing filter cartridge "every month" is just the company trying to make more money.

 

As long as you're not running a planted tank, carbon does wonders. I'd buy it in bulk though (you can get a decent-sized canister for cheap), and just use media bags. You can measure your own dose that way, and save money by not having to buy it pre-packaged.

 

Carbon is basically useless unless you are trying to remove medication from the tank. It is far better to use the space for mechanical or biological filtration.

 

Carbon is basically useless unless you are trying to remove medication from the tank. It is far better to use the space for mechanical or biological filtration.

Would adding something like Fluval BioMax to the filter help?

So now I'm wondering if I could add a little baggie of ceramic filter media and alternate between changing that and the filter cartridge??? sorry guys i'm just having a lot of unnecessary anxiety about this lol

 

As long as you're not running a planted tank, carbon does wonders. I'd buy it in bulk though (you can get a decent-sized canister for cheap), and just use media bags. You can measure your own dose that way, and save money by not having to buy it pre-packaged.

I have to ask what does having a planted aquarium have to do with it? I run carbon in planted aquariums and the plants do quite well.

If it is that carbon removes ferts, I use SeaChem that is absorbed fast enough that it is estimated there is only around a 10-20% loss. The water clarity is critical for my photography.

The Madagascar from the 150.

So now I'm wondering if I could add a little baggie of ceramic filter media and alternate between changing that and the filter cartridge??? sorry guys i'm just having a lot of unnecessary anxiety about this lol

All this depends on several factors. I run canisters with both carbon and bio media along with HOB's in each aquarium.

Do not change the bio media. Only swish clean the cart, at least until the BB is fully established in the bio media. I clean the HOB's one week, and the canisters the other.

 

I use seachem matrix , coarse sponge , medium sponge and a polishing pad (actually plain cotton batting bought in bulk and cut to fit). I run two identical canisters and rinse one of the two every other week . The polishing pads keep my water crystal clear and I will completely change the medium sponge and batting in one of the two every 4 to 6 months or as I feel I need to.

 

I have to ask what does having a planted aquarium have to do with it? I run carbon in planted aquariums and the plants do quite well.

If it is that carbon removes ferts, I use SeaChem that is absorbed fast enough that it is estimated there is only around a 10-20% loss. The water clarity is critical for my photography.

The Madagascar from the 150.
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All this depends on several factors. I run canisters with both carbon and bio media along with HOB's in each aquarium.

Do not change the bio media. Only swish clean the cart, at least until the BB is fully established in the bio media. I clean the HOB's one week, and the canisters the other.

I had always heard not to run carbon in planted tanks, as it removes some organics from the water that plants enjoy. Obviously, nothings written in stone though, so it wouldn't surprise me if some gorgeous planted tanks use carbon.

Carbon is most definitely NOT useless. I can see a water clarity difference within 24 hours of adding it to a tank. Excess mechanical filtration can polish the water in the same way, but carbon also does it, and becomes less of a nitrate sponge IMO.

 

I had always heard not to run carbon in planted tanks, as it removes some organics from the water that plants enjoy. Obviously, nothings written in stone though, so it wouldn't surprise me if some gorgeous planted tanks use carbon.

Carbon is most definitely NOT useless. I can see a water clarity difference within 24 hours of adding it to a tank. Excess mechanical filtration can polish the water in the same way, but carbon also does it, and becomes less of a nitrate sponge IMO.

Valid point if slow absorbing ferts are used.

I am off the deep end (pun intended ) I run very high filtration and carbon

 

With recent research on Carbon for my own tank I found that you need to change the Carbon every 3-4 weeks depending on your water quality. If your water has a yellow tint to it its time to change your carbon it has stopped working. The carbon will not leech back into the water unless you have a huge change in PH levels. Against word of mouth, it is very important to run carbon in your filter system in freshwater tanks, it removes toxins from the water and also polishes it. Years ago I went by word of mouth and ran my freshwater tanks without carbon, I had so many sick fish and I lost fish to all types of illnesses. Carbon is a must in my books, but you have to change it regularly for it to be effective. The only time you need to remove carbon from your filter is when you medicate your fish. All that being said, you should most certainly use carbon in your filters.

 

With recent research on Carbon for my own tank I found that you need to change the Carbon every 3-4 weeks depending on your water quality. If your water has a yellow tint to it its time to change your carbon it has stopped working. The carbon will not leech back into the water unless you have a huge change in PH levels. Against word of mouth, it is very important to run carbon in your filter system in freshwater tanks, it removes toxins from the water and also polishes it. Years ago I went by word of mouth and ran my freshwater tanks without carbon, I had so many sick fish and I lost fish to all types of illnesses. Carbon is a must in my books, but you have to change it regularly for it to be effective. The only time you need to remove carbon from your filter is when you medicate your fish. All that being said, you should most certainly use carbon in your filters.

If one is willing to do the extra work you can reactivate carbon. Boil, bake reuse

By the way, I love your avatar, and so does Sunhawk

 

Thunder_o_b lol, thank you! Its a very cute avatar, I found it on google