Carbon and Oscars

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
milkman407;495754; said:
Im not a carbon fan it just helps me with my water smelling i do 2 20-30% water changes a week and put prime in my tank cuz my filter broke so i have to use tap water and my tnaks crystal clear now so idk. :)

But the carbon will be comming out very very soone
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I dont think you need carbon to make your tank not smell....none of my tanks smell, and none of them have carbon in the filters.
Your water stench may be due to the broken filter
 
dmopar74;496829; said:
im gathering that its not ness. for any of my tanks, right?
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Correct, assuming you dont want to remove color or meds from your tank.
 
Ive stopped usig it over a year ago,no problems.
Ive read repeatedly in different forums It can cause or aggravate hith disease in oscars.
 
Ive stopped usig it over a year ago,no problems.
Ive read repeatedly in different forums It can cause or aggravate hith disease in oscars.

Not sure but I'd say thats a distinct possibility. Carbon has it's good points for limited usage. Unfortunately the 'down' side of carbon use as a problem solver often creates more problems than it solves. By design 'activated' carbon removes organic & toxic pollutants through adsorbtion. (yes odors are removed also) If you're removing meds or tannins ect., you pop it in for a 2/3 days along w/ a couple of W/C's & you're done, take it out - toss it. If you're trying to constantly filter w/ it, note that it has a very short effective lifespan. Once exhausted all that it has done slowly comes undown. It loses it's ability to hold on to the toxins & begins to breakdown & release them. This in turn has an adverse effect on the fish causing stress which causes a weakened immune system leaving the fish vulnerable to any & all disease. Don't get me wrong. If one intends to filter with carbon & change it out often (very often), no worries.
In the case of the 'fishy smell' it's not really solving the problem. It's like a bandaid that's constantly being replaced to hide the cut. The cut can't heal. Increased 'bio' either by larger or additional filtration combined w/ increased maintainance (w/c, gravel cleaning ect.) & or reduction of 'bio-load' (overstocking, we've all done it) is a better, more efficient long term solution. JMHO Good Luck
 
If you use a filter with seperate carbon packs (like an aquaclear) you can just toss the carbon pack in the cabinet for use in an emergency situation.
 
Hang on the back filter carterages come with carbon, anyone know where to get some without?

:cool: Not sure. The mfgrs. of those type of HOB's designed them to keep you buying replacement cartridges. (mo' money, mo'money!!) The A/C HOB has better media flexibility than most. You can use their 'stock' media or make up your own. Maybe someone who runs one of the 'cartridge type' HOB's can tell you if they have 'carbonless' cartridges or if they can be modified to run w/out. Good Luck
 
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