activated Carbon by the jar

[Gobrian44]

Hello all was at petco picking up some activated carbon bags for my tank and was wondering wouldnt just buying a jar of the stuff for cheaper be better and easier? but i was wondering and have been searching the web as to how to use it in the filter. I have an AC70 and an Xp3 are there bags i can buy to put the carbon in or what?

Thanks!

 

[juneblood3]

you do not really need carbon in your tank. Your parameters will be fine without it.

 

[baseballer19]

Although if you insist on having carbon, on the filter isle at Petsmart they sell some filter bags. I find them very useful in many ways. And plus they're only like $.89 a piece.

 

[Gobrian44]

Oh you really dont need carbon in your tank?

 

[davezxtc]

it is good to remove odors, it also removes chemicals and other things, thats why you are supposed to remove it when dosing a tank with medicine. you can also re-use your old carbon bag by carefully cutting a hole in the top of it and replacing the old carbon as needed. You can refasten the top with a paperclip or staples.

 

[flipstylex]

^ i do these with my emperor 400. u dont need carbon neighter.

 

[squint]

If you need to remove something from the water, do water changes. It's a lot more effective and probably cheaper too. I suspect that the small amounts of carbon used in aquariums is quickly exhausted by the myriad of organic compounds in the average (filthy) aquarium.

 

[DMD123]

I have just made the switch over from carbon to Purigen in my filters. It seems to work fine as a replacement. I also agree on the water changes being the best method of pollution/chemical removal.

 

[cchhcc]

Although if you insist on having carbon, on the filter isle at Petsmart they sell some filter bags. I find them very useful in many ways. And plus they're only like $.89 a piece.

Those always bug me because they're exposed to air and could be sucking in anything: smoke, fumes, and all sorts of stuff.

I don't use HOB's any more, but when I did I made my own out of Emperor media containers and batting from the fabric store. Add a couple of rubber bands and you're done!