activated carbon for tannins?

[dirtbikerider]

I know activated carbon is pretty useless most of the time, unless you are removing meds from the tank but will it help remove tannins leached into the water by driftwood?

I have been doing regular water changes (every 2 days) but it still isnt clearing up as much as I would like it to so basically will activated carbon help at all? I have some laying around that I could throw in the sump if it will do anything at all

and yes I did soak the wood before putting into the tank and pour boiling water over it while it was soaking (too big to boil and lived in an apartment at the time so couldnt put in a huge barrel to boil either), but apparently there was still plenty of tannins left lol

 

[Chromobotia]

I'm not sure if carbon will help with the tea like color of the water created by the tannins. The only thing that I know you can do is keep up with your water changes. Eventually the wood will stop staining the water. It may take a long time to achieve it.

 

[jcardona1]

Yeah not sure about it removing tannins. When I added 4 large pieces of fresh driftwood to my 210g tank, it took 4-5 months for the tannins to finally stop leeching into the water.

 

[ricomambo]

it took me 6 months after i put in 2 driftwoods in my tank before my water became clear... but i was only doing weekly water change... never tried carbon so i am not completely sure if it will work... be patient and keep the water change to 2x a week and maybe in 3 months your water will be clear...

 

[viewofthebay]

My friend told me activated carbon will remove the color but I still haven't tried it on my tank yet.

 

[aclockworkorange]

Yes it will definitely help, it's better to use smaller amounts and change frequently when it comes to using carbon.

BUT, I don't know why people have such a problem with tannins. Most fish are stoked about it.

 

[alexpie001]

carbon will definitely help, i use it for this purpose

 

[dirtbikerider]

Sounds good, thanks for the help everyone. Sounds like I just need to keep up with water changes and maybe throw some carbon in just to know I'm doing everything I can, thanks

 

[jcardona1]

I've also read about Purigen helping for tannins. And it can be recharged too

 

[soulpatch]

Yes it helps but you do have to keep up with the water changes as they make the largest difference.