carbon filtration

[spiral_72]

Does carbon in the filter of an aquarium help remove parasites or
harmful bacteria?

[Ali Day]

"spiral_72" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> Does carbon in the filter of an aquarium help remove parasites or
> harmful bacteria?

No

http://www.bestfish.com/tips/031199.html

[spiral_72]

Thank you very much...... The web site was very helpful.

[Dick]

On 6 Jan 2005 08:27:11 -0800, "spiral_72" > wrote:

>Does carbon in the filter of an aquarium help remove parasites or
>harmful bacteria?

I took the last of the charcoal out of my 5 tanks 3 months ago. I see
not change in the fish or plants.

dick

[spiral_72]

55g FW w/ tropical community fish, Amazon Swords, Java ferns, Hornwort
- 30W 6500K florescent lighting
74F * 7.4pH * 7dKH * 7dGH * 7ppm Nitrate * 0ppm Ammonia

After removing my carbon and going to peat granules about 2.5months ago
my water has turned a slight tea color. I suppose this is due to tanic
acid present from the driftwood. I did not notice a drop in pH due to
the tanic acid or the peat. Shouldn't I?

I had hoped my carbon was leaching nutrients from the water and
stunting plant growth..... It has been about 3 months with no change in
plant growth, fish health or noticeable increase or decrese in algae
growth. The algae's unresponsiveness really suprised me. I thought
algae (blue-green algae) thrived off an excess of phosphates........

Overall..... everything is the same before and after the carbon was
removed (except for the slight tea color)...No smell, same ph...ect I
DID however notice last night the bottle of carbon says: "Phosphate
free". It may be that the phosphate causes most/all of the problems I
have read about and I just happened to buy a higher quality phosphate
free carbon. (Black Diamond - Activated Carbon)

The way I figure it:
1) Carbon doesn't do anything detrimental to my aquarium setup
2) The carbon I bought doesn't do anything detrimental to my aquarium
setup
3) The carbon does bad stuff but the peat causes all the same effects
4) My algae is not growing because of phosphates and there IS a lack of
nutrients stunting the plants' growth
or 5) I just don't have enough light to grow anything but fish
Although I am working on the last one

Just venting some of my (very limited experience and) observations
here.... Y'all feel free to criticize, it's how I learn.

[Acgelok]

(blue-green algae) ?

Blue-green algae has a very nasty smell you will not easely forget once you get
a sniff of it by rubbing a bit between thumb & forefinger Yeeeeech. I've done
battle with the stuff, as it turned out it is mostly caused from excess
nutients in the water column. Erythromicin and lights out around 3-4 days got
rid of it. Be carefull with the dosage, I used 500 mg in a 90 gal. tank.
Anymore and you could break cycle
Regards ART

[Richard Blincoe]

I think the peat contributes tannic acid as well... and therefore
contributes to the colour..


"Acgelok" > wrote in message
...
> (blue-green algae) ?
>
> Blue-green algae has a very nasty smell you will not easely forget once
you get
> a sniff of it by rubbing a bit between thumb & forefinger Yeeeeech. I've
done
> battle with the stuff, as it turned out it is mostly caused from excess
> nutients in the water column. Erythromicin and lights out around 3-4 days
got
> rid of it. Be carefull with the dosage, I used 500 mg in a 90 gal. tank.
> Anymore and you could break cycle
> Regards ART

[spiral_72]

Acgelok wrote:
> (blue-green algae) ?

Crap. I meant slime algae (cyanobacteria)

Sorry, all...... I don't know where my mind was.
>
> Blue-green algae has a very nasty smell you will not easely forget
once you get
> a sniff of it by rubbing a bit between thumb & forefinger Yeeeeech.
I've done
> battle with the stuff, as it turned out it is mostly caused from
excess
> nutients in the water column. Erythromicin and lights out around 3-4
days got
> rid of it. Be carefull with the dosage, I used 500 mg in a 90 gal.
tank.
> Anymore and you could break cycle
> Regards ART

[spiral_72]

Oh, as a quick note. I added a like a teaspoon (maybe less) to ONE of
the filters last night in my 55g. 12 hours later all the tea colored
waterwas clear. Wow! That stuff cleans a very large quantity of
water!...... Maybe I'll try dropping just a pinch in there.... I also
wonder if my pH increased at all....(in the absence of tanic acid)
Guess I'll check that tonight.