Use Carbon Filter For How Long?

I recently medicated my tank and am now going to use my carbon filter after my water change today. Was wondering how long I should keep it in? I have two biobag filters and one mechanical filter so I'd have to remove one of these to make room in my HOB, but which one?

I'm guessing one of the bio filters and for about 4 weeks for the carbon? Am I able to keep the removed bio filter alive in the meantime?

 

Have you considered putting the carbon in a filter sock and allowing the water at the intake to one of your filters to flow through the carbon?
That way you won't need to reduce the bacteria colony by removing one of the biobags?

 

Have you considered putting the carbon in a filter sock and allowing the water at the intake to one of your filters to flow through the carbon?
That way you won't need to reduce the bacteria colony by removing one of the biobags?

I have not. Do you mean like IN the intake tube?

 

I have not. Do you mean like IN the intake tube?

Yes. On IN pipe to the filter.
In that way you could get the chemicals out of the water as it circulates through the filter.

 

Yes. On IN pipe to the filter.
In that way you could get the chemicals out of the water as it circulates through the filter.

The tube is kind of narrow and the carbon is in a prepackaged sock, but I'll see if it can fit when I get home. It's an AquaClear 50 btw. Pics later if needed.

 

Just prodge a dent into one part of the sock and push the input to the filter into this dent. You can use a piece of string to hold it on.

 

Yes. On IN pipe to the filter.
In that way you could get the chemicals out of the water as it circulates through the filter.

Chemical filtration should always come last so it would be better on the outflow tube not the inflow but I'm going to have to remember that, its a good idea.

 

Just prodge a dent into one part of the sock and push the input to the filter into this dent. You can use a piece of string to hold it on.

I'm sure you know what an AquaClear filter looks like but here's my situation.

One more thing, is it necessary to remove the lingering medicine with chemical filtration or is it ok to just leave it? Would anything bad happen? Like kill bacteria or fish if in too long?

 

I'm sure you know what an filter looks like but here's my situation.

One more thing, is it necessary to remove the lingering medicine with chemical filtration or is it ok to just leave it? Would anything bad happen? Like kill bacteria or fish if in too long?

Yes - I would gently push the filter input into the top end of the carbon filter until it covers the input hole and then tie it down. It doesn't have to be 100% secure...sort of pushing your finger into into cotton wool.

To be very honest, after using medicine in my tank, I have never used carbon to remove the rest of the medicine. I just do normal scheduled water changes..... nothing else.

 

Yes - I would gently push the filter input into the top end of the carbon filter until it covers the input hole and then tie it down. It doesn't have to be 100% secure...sort of pushing your finger into into cotton wool.

To be very honest, after using medicine in my tank, I have never used carbon to remove the rest of the medicine. I just do normal scheduled water changes..... nothing else.

If that's the case I might not even bother with this then -- just did a ~40% wc and do them twice a week so the medicine should go away fairly quickly I'd imagine. Just the first time I've had to treat something so I wasn't sure.