Carbon filter required/not required?

[Nefersmum]

I had to replace my Fluval U3 internal filter yesterday and, of course, it came with the usual carbon filter in the cannister.


I moved my existing media to the new unit but I can't remember the last time I used a carbon filter. I've never really understood the purpose of them.

Can someone enlighten me? Are they necessary and do they need changing as often as the filter instructions suggest? It was a while ago but that may be why I stopped using them in the first place - needed a replacement and couldn't lay hands on one so we did without.

 

[StarGirl]

If you use it you should replace it like the directions say for carbon. It gets used up in about a month then is worthless. You dont need it unless you are removing meds from the tank.

 

[carsonsgjs]

Personally i like the fluval internal carbon pads. The carbon is useless unless you need/want it for a particular purpose as stargirl has said, but it is backed with polywool which adds a bit of additional fine mechanical filtration. Handy for polishing the water and trapping fine waste.

 

[Jordanlp]

I had to replace my Fluval U3 internal filter yesterday and, of course, it came with the usual carbon filter in the cannister.


I moved my existing media to the new unit but I can't remember the last time I used a carbon filter. I've never really understood the purpose of them.

Can someone enlighten me? Are they necessary and do they need changing as often as the filter instructions suggest? It was a while ago but that may be why I stopped using them in the first place - needed a replacement and couldn't lay hands on one so we did without.

That was the very first filter I had, at first I replaced the carbon a couple of times as per instructions. After a little bit of research I decided I didn’t want carbon in my filter, I think there is an alternative ‘official’ Fluval chemical cartridge without carbon and I used a couple of those. After that and getting a bit more confident in my research with such things I replaced the official cartridges with just normal filter sponges I cut and did away with the chemical cartridges altogether.

Unless your wanting to grow plants with specialist fertilisers or something like that, the expensive Fluval carbon cartridges will help keep your water clear, but with a normal stock you would have to replace them every few weeks (I can’t remember how often Fluval sat you should) as the outer floss gets gunked up fast and the carbon itself only has a few weeks worth of use anyway, so it would be expensive but wouldn’t do any harm. Personally I think it’s better small filters like that just set up just for mechanical and biological filtration, it would be much more efficient, but I know some people like to follow the manufactures guides.

 

[Nefersmum]

That was the very first filter I had, at first I replaced the carbon a couple of times as per instructions. After a little bit of research I decided I didn’t want carbon in my filter, I think there is an alternative ‘official’ Fluval chemical cartridge without carbon and I used a couple of those. After that and getting a bit more confident in my research with such things I replaced the official cartridges with just normal filter sponges I cut and did away with the chemical cartridges altogether.

Unless your wanting to grow plants with specialist fertilisers or something like that, the expensive Fluval carbon cartridges will help keep your water clear, but with a normal stock you would have to replace them every few weeks (I can’t remember how often Fluval sat you should) as the outer floss gets gunked up fast and the carbon itself only has a few weeks worth of use anyway, so it would be expensive but wouldn’t do any harm. Personally I think it’s better small filters like that just set up just for mechanical and biological filtration, it would be much more efficient, but I know some people like to follow the manufactures guides.

I've just been using sponge filters for ages but when I brought in the new unit I suddenly wondered if these were necessary.

 

[Jordanlp]

I've just been using sponge filters for ages but when I brought in the new unit I suddenly wondered if these were necessary.

I like the idea of them, it’s incorporating a fine mechanical filtration and chemical filtration in one little cartridge, but like I say on a small internal filter it will be cheaper and just as effective to just put sponge or something in there once you’ve used the ones that came with the filter IMO.