Carbon questions

I have some loose carbon I want to use in a tank to remove meds...and I'm wondering what I can put it in. Also does the carbon have to go into a filter with water running through it or can it just be placed in the tank? (the tank has a sponge filter...currently it has a hob in it which is cycling for use in a q tank but I'm planning on getting fish soon, so I'd rather not have to use the hob usless that's the only way the carbon's effective.)

 

As far as I'm aware of you need to put it in your hob as the water passes through it that way or at the output of your filter. Guess if you have nothing to put in it you could put in a a thin sock or go buy some filter floss and make a bag out of it.

 

The foot of a panty hose is perfect for holding carbon Since the water has to circulate through the carbon for it to be effective I would say the HOB is the place for it.
Carol

 

Using the carbon in the HOB should not keep it from being suitable for the other tank as long as the illness that you were using the meds for is cleared up. I think you can use it to remove the meds and still cycle the filter.

Rose

 

The reason I didn't want to use it was just because I want the hob available so I can get more fishies soon. ;D Oh well, I guess I'll just have to put off getting my Betta a little bit longer. The panty hose idea is great ;D I wonder if I have any...

 

O well as soon as you finish removing meds if that's what your doing you can move the HOB filter, you can do water changes to remove them faster.

 

O well as soon as you finish removing meds if that's what your doing you can move the HOB filter, you can do water changes to remove them faster.

Yes I know but I hate waiting!!! :

Changing subject completely, I love what it says in your sig, "2 gals isn't a tank, get some flowers" isn't it? lol, but so true

Ok, I put some carbon in a knee high panty hose (works great) and stuck it in the hob. Any ideas on how long it's going to take to remove the meds? The carbon is the amount that goes in one small bio bag...a good handful or so.
Oh, also I've done 2 20-25% water changes since I stopped medicating. The med I used was Melafix, dosed it for a week. Tank is 20 gals. The hob that is in there is for my 10 gal q tank so that could slow down how fast it removes the meds.
I am just looking for a rough estimate for how long it could take.

 

Not sure, not more than a week, especially if you do a 50% water change.

Well if it's three gallons you might offend some people that have three gallon tanks like Rose, I didn't want to offend her LOL three gallons is ok too

 

Well, I did another 25% change yesterday so if my math is correct there should be 30ml of meds left in the tank (total was 70ml at end of treatment), not including what the carbon has removed. The smell is definitely going away. (phew that Melafix is strong, my whole family always complains whenever they go downstairs ;D)
Anyone knw how long I have to leave the carbon in? I really want to get more fishies soon so I need that filter available... ;D

 

I don't know but I wouldn't think more than a week especially if you do water changes, but don't quote me on that. :-\

 

If you do some more water changes this week and keep the carbon in for a couple of days it should have it gone. The filter should be okay to use in the 10 gallon, but do not use the filter media that was in the filter for a betta tank. (not without a rinse in some water that does not contain Melafix at least) I think that one general rule is that you should not be able to smell the Melafix for sure.

So don't worry about the 3 gallon tank, I do not use it full time except to quarantine fish now. Since the 12 gallon got here it has been relegated to hospital/quarantine tank status. And it does not have a thing in it but plants and gravel at the moment as there are no fish in there and I needed to have the room for the plants for a bit.

Rose

 

I will do a few more water changes this week. The carbon will be in till Friday when I'm getting some new fishies.

Since the carbon is in the filter I don't think there should be any Melafix in there, but I will make sure to rinse it out with clean dechlored water. There couldn't possibly be enough Melafix left anywhere on the filter by Friday (and after rinsing it) to hurt Bettas, could there?

Whoa where'd the 3 gallon tank thing come from? Sorry I'm a bit out of it today.

 

I think it came from my signature.

Are you going to use media from another tank to cycle.

 

I am cycling the hob filter by running it in a cycled tank with fish. I will then move it to another tank to use, nicely seeded.

 

I have switched my 150 gallon tank from salt to fresh. (cleaned before switch) It has been running for about a week. I have two small catfish with a tide pool filter system. My question is should you keep active carbon in the tide pool filter system. How long should I keep the carbon in. I have heard that I should only use it for a short time cause of Ph leak. Should I replace it with more filter media. Would it help the tank if I used my protein skimmer.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME
PAUL

 

welcome to fishlore! i'm afraid I don't know a lot about that type of filter system, but i'd recommend this: if you do use A/C since you have to replace it less often than typical AC which lasts a week or 2 at the most before releasing what's been captured.

 

I have switched my 150 gallon tank from salt to fresh. (cleaned before switch) It has been running for about a week. I have two small catfish with a tide pool filter system. My question is should you keep active carbon in the tide pool filter system. How long should I keep the carbon in. I have heard that I should only use it for a short time cause of Ph leak. Should I replace it with more filter media. Would it help the tank if I used my protein skimmer.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME
PAUL

Is there as reason why your are using active carbon in your tank?

I would replace this with other filter media and not use carbon at all ...

 

I have switched my 150 gallon tank from salt to fresh. (cleaned before switch) It has been running for about a week. I have two small catfish with a tide pool filter system. My question is should you keep active carbon in the tide pool filter system. How long should I keep the carbon in. I have heard that I should only use it for a short time cause of Ph leak. Should I replace it with more filter media. Would it help the tank if I used my protein skimmer.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME
PAUL

I did have AC but I got rid of it because it call unless u cange often enough it can realease harmfull bacteria into ur tank so I don't us it anymore

Peace Out Callum!

 

that's what I like about this marineland carbon, it says 4-6 weeks between changes so we'll see how accurate that is and if it's worth the money. I just added it to the filters in some of our tanks for the 1st time yesterday when I did the tank cleaning and will see how long it lasts.

 

that's what I like about this marineland carbon, it says 4-6 weeks between changes so we'll see how accurate that is and if it's worth the money. I just added it to the filters in some of our tanks for the 1st time yesterday when I did the tank cleaning and will see how long it lasts.

I can if not changed often enough I was told once a month it can release harmful bacteria back into the tank

Peace Out Callum!

 

most carbon needs replaced weekly, but this AC is a different type of carbon that's more effective and long-lasting: . I figured it was worth a test run and if it works as advertised then I'll be putting it in all the tanks.

 

Thanks for the info. I have learned a lot about how salt care and freash water care diffs.
Thanks
Paul

 

most carbon needs replaced weekly, but this AC is a different type of carbon that's more effective and long-lasting: . I figured it was worth a test run and if it works as advertised then I'll be putting it in all the tanks.

Actually, the weekly bit is to get you to buy more....You should be fine at 4 weeks.....

 

most carbon needs replaced weekly, but this AC is a different type of carbon that's more effective and long-lasting: . I figured it was worth a test run and if it works as advertised then I'll be putting it in all the tanks.

how do you determine if the carbon is still "active?"

 

with typical carbon, we just gave it a week and changed it.. this marineland black diamond is supposed to give off a smell when it's ready to be changed so we'll actually have a warning now.. I might still just change it every 4 weeks even if it isn't quite used up yet.. just to go along with the filter bag clean or change.

 

that's what I like about this marineland carbon, it says 4-6 weeks between changes so we'll see how accurate that is and if it's worth the money. I just added it to the filters in some of our tanks for the 1st time yesterday when I did the tank cleaning and will see how long it lasts.

How do you know when it's time to change the carbon? I know this is an old post, but I'm curious.

 

We followed a schedule for replacing it weekly. Sometimes the carbon will release a foul smell when it gives out and dumps all that it's collected but then it's past time to change it.

How do you know when it's time to change the carbon? I know this is an old post, but I'm curious.

 

I have noticed that a lot of people on this forum do not use carbon in their filtration except to remove medication. Could someone explain the reasoning? I am just curious since I am not one to do something just because that is the way someone else does it...

Thanks!

 

That is a really good policy to have....it is EXACTLY why I was curious to start with...Any time I see a company trying to get my money for something, I want to know for sure if it is worth it!

Well for me the
Pros of carbon.
It absorbs things out of the water.

IF you use ozone to purify your tank water, it helps scrub your water of any ozone that might adversely affect your tank.

Cons of carbon.

After it absorbs things out of the water....until it is full, it then releases it back into the tank, this can CRASH your cycle.

Carbon is expensive and to do a "good job" you have to replace it often. Good for the stores, bad for your pocket book.

Water changes also take care of the quality of water in the tank. It is also free for me as I don't pay for water.

Carbon also takes out nutrients that your plants need. IF you keep a planted tank you would then have to spend more money adding these back to be able to grow healthy plants.


I feel carbon IS good to keep on hand....if you have used medications, after the full stint of treatment, you need to remove any medication so it won't continue to cause problems if you change and use a different one, or to keep it from killing too many of your beneficial bacteria. It is hard to keep your cycle healthy if you have left over meds. in the tank.

Other wise, save your pocket book and just do water changes.....

 

I have to find the filter cartridges for my filters w/o carbon if that's the case I can save a fortune. Water aint free here but its gotta be less expensive than changing my cartridges every 3-4 weeks.

 

another con of carbon is the release of phosphates into the water, one of the key components to algal growth. removing the carbon removes much of the phosphates, severely limiting algae.

I stopped using carbon a month or so ago, and I'm pretty happy. I only see benefits like reduced algae growth and more space in the filter for bio-media. I have yet to see a detriment, aside from a very slight odor (which requires the wine taster's nose to detect...)

 

- we cut this to fit and use it instead of the expensive cartridges/bags they sell. Very durable and I think a better home for the bacteria.

Sustina-flower covered it well and we don't use carbon.

 

Thanks for all of the info! It certainly helps in making an informed decision.

 

It seems that everything everywhere that I read says that carbon is needed for chemical filtration. Is susitna-flower basically saying that this chemical filtration isn't needed if you have water changes often? Is 20% every two weeks often enough? If you remove carbon do you supplement filtering with something else?

I would love to ditch carbon in my system, but it just seems so counter-intuitive to what I have read for so long. I have a 20 gallon system and I plan on putting in lots of plants and if stopping using carbon helps the plants AND the fish then I will do so.

Also, what is this "ozone"? Susitna mentions that you use it to filter the water, but that the carbon removes it, and that this is a good thing?

One more thing, the carbon in the filter would at least be beneficial when cycling a tank right?

 

Whatever is necessary to keep your nitrates under 20. I try to do 20% a week on most of my tanks. In one overstocked tank, I do 30-40%

As far as ozone goes, you can apparently use it to purify the water (never heard of this, and I wouldn't do it if I had, as ozone is mildly toxic). Carbon would help remove the ozone, keeping your fish save from harm caused by the ozone.

 

So it sounds like paying to use carbon filters is similar to putting off a water change for a week. I read once about somebody who would cut open his filter and remove old carbon and pour in new carbon and put the filter back in. This seems rather efficient since you can buy large quantities of activated carbon at the store for a relatively low price. Doing that once a month sounds like less effort than doing water changes twice as often. Maybe I am missing something here.

 

I just don't fill my cartridges and usually don't have to change the media out for a few months. As long as water flows through, the media is doing what it's supposed to do.

 

Carbon really isn't necessary for your filtration. All of our tanks run without it and Dino runs around 150+ tanks without it. We just use that filter floss cut to fit and filter sponges in all of the filters. Some tanks have had the same piece of floss in for almost a year.

 

I don't use carbon either...I want to start buying the filter floss like cobetta, but I'm trying to figure out how to start using it without causing a minI cycle...I have the cartridges that came with the tanks, and I cut a hole and took the carbon out, but to do a switch for the floss will loose my bacteria... with or without carbon tho, tanks should have a weekly water change ..IMO

 

I think you'd be ok if you got the filter floss, cut it stick it in your filter, hang it in the tank...wherever, bacteria would begin to grow on it after a good amount of time..then just get rid of the cartridge and put the floss in the filter.