activated carbon...

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
12 Volt Man;3175422; said:
I cant think of a single reason to turn it off.

they want to you not use UV so that it may take longer to cure the ich with their meds, requiring you to buy more of their meds...
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I can. UV kills organisms because it is sufficiently energetic to "fry" their DNA. What do you think it is likely to do to various medications? This is not some conspiracy on the part of Jungle Labs to trick you into spending more money.
 
Carbon adsorption

http://www.lenntech.com/adsorption.htm

And I pulled this paragraph

Timely cartridge replacement is very important, because filter carbon has different capacity for different contaminants. Many people rely on chlorine removal tests to determine when filter carbon should be renewed. This works only if chlorine removal is all you expect from the filter. Most carbon filters will begin to “leak” other chemicals long before they begin to allow chlorine to pass. For example, the MatriKX 1+ extruded carbon block used in most PWP RO units and carbon filtration units has an amazing 20,000 gallon chlorine removal capacity (when operated at .75 gallons per minute), but the same filter loses its effectiveness at trihalomethane removal at about 750 gallons. It should, therefore, be replaced annually although it will still have lots of chlorine removal capacity left.

from this link

http://www.waterpollutionfilters.com/carbon-water-filters.htm

to demonstrate that possibly the concept of carbon leaching materials back into the water is something confused with carbon's inability to continue to filter out certain chemicals while continuing to filter out such chemicals as chlorine.
 
cchhcc;3210397; said:
The only connection I can make is when inexperienced aquarists let their tanks go to crap, their carbon gets loaded with all kinds of solid waste (after having long since absorbing all it can) creating a nitrate dump, and the water in the tanks stays filthy........... all of which creates stress and poor conditions that lead to HITH.

It's not the carbon, it's the poor husbandry.
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I agree with this statement.
 
young_rico;3211877; said:
so is it best to just use dechlorinator?
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I think the best answer here is going to be,

It depends on your setup, fish, and what you want.

For example, TC enjoys crystal clear water and has Fish without many live plants. Activated carbon may be a good fit for him.

I run a planted tank with heavy fertilizer dosings. Carbon is not the best choice for me because it will mess with my fert regime and my plants do more in the way of water polishing by sucking the garbage out of the water column and consuming it. Activated carbon is not a good fit for me.
 
"...but it will last a long while. Contrary to popular opinion, carbon does not lose its efficiency after a few hours in the aquarium. Quite to the contrary, it improves vastly with age! Well aged carbon is completely safe to use, for it is neutralised by its constant use. It can be used over and over again, even for years if it is not contaminated with oils or dangerous chemicals..."

"...You'll have to wash it when it gets dirty and dry it in the sun every now and then..."

Where do the contaminants go? Just washing the carbon and letting it dry in the sun doesn't seem likely... am I missing something?
 
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