Carbon filter

[Dave S]

I've seen a number of posts re carbon. I'm not sure that I understand what
carbon is supposed to do! Can anyone explain (in Janet & John language)
please.

Thanks - Dave

--
cadasco at hotmail dot com
Hampshire - UK

[Charles]

On Tue, 13 Jul 2004 06:39:15 +0100, "Dave S"
> wrote:

>I've seen a number of posts re carbon. I'm not sure that I understand what
>carbon is supposed to do! Can anyone explain (in Janet & John language)
>please.
>
>Thanks - Dave
It absorbs some impurities, it will clean up a bit of the yellowing
phenols that build up, it will adsorb some medications, and it will
wear out in about a week. It is useful for some specific purposes,
but for long term it is not much good.


--

- Charles
-
-does not play well with others

[Dan J. S.]

Charles wrote:
> On Tue, 13 Jul 2004 06:39:15 +0100, "Dave S"
> > wrote:
>
>> I've seen a number of posts re carbon. I'm not sure that I
>> understand what carbon is supposed to do! Can anyone explain (in
>> Janet & John language) please.
>>
>> Thanks - Dave
> It absorbs some impurities, it will clean up a bit of the yellowing
> phenols that build up, it will adsorb some medications, and it will
> wear out in about a week. It is useful for some specific purposes,
> but for long term it is not much good.

And after 3-4 weeks it releases all the things it caught... i dont use it.
Manufacturers love it because its a high margin item and you have to buy
lots of it to effectively use it.

[Donny]

> Charles wrote:
>
> And after 3-4 weeks it releases all the things it caught... i dont use
> it. Manufacturers love it because its a high margin item and you have
> to buy lots of it to effectively use it.

I use it in my Top Fin HOB filter. The media refills come with the sponge
thing and a carbon packet. I change those things about every 4 weeks. Do
you think it would be a good idea to stop using the carbon and save it
until I need it for disease control, cycling other tanks, etc? Or, should
I just use it because it's there? What you have said has made me rethink
always putting it in my filter.

[Dan J. S.]

Donny wrote:
>> Charles wrote:
>>
>> And after 3-4 weeks it releases all the things it caught... i dont
>> use it. Manufacturers love it because its a high margin item and you
>> have to buy lots of it to effectively use it.
>
> I use it in my Top Fin HOB filter. The media refills come with the
> sponge thing and a carbon packet. I change those things about every
> 4 weeks. Do you think it would be a good idea to stop using the
> carbon and save it until I need it for disease control, cycling other
> tanks, etc? Or, should I just use it because it's there? What you
> have said has made me rethink always putting it in my filter.

Carbon can do more bad than good. Its great to put in when you have sick
fish, for example, after you used medication and you no longer need the meds
in the tank (dont use it during medication). I have not used carbon for over
12 years, and my tank is always crystal clear and healthy. Carbon has its
advantages, for example, a big fish dies and you dont notice it for a while.
A nice water change and a carbon run for a week is perfect for that. Also
new aquarium users, that may overfeed. As long as they change the carbon
inserts every three weeks, thats fine too. Carbon is the only way Aqua
manufacturers make re-accuring revenue.