I have a ten gallon planted tank with fish. I've read on one of the stickies that carbon in the filter is not good for the plants. Is this true and if so what will be the effect on the fish if I run a filter with no carbon for the chemical filtration or will the plants take care of that?
Carbon and Plants
- Thread starter R.A.C.K
- Start date
I am not really sure if carbon affects plants. I don't really use carbon in my filters anymore. You only really need carbon "as needed". In other words, you add carbon if you want to remove medications or smells/colors from the tank. It does nothing to actually keep carbon in a tank all the time. It is a waste of money. I only keep mechanical filtration (spongy materials), and bio filtration ( ceramic rings, bio wheels etc).
Alot of fish keepers don't use carbon, unless it is needed. I have been without it for like over a year and never had a problem.
Alot of fish keepers don't use carbon, unless it is needed. I have been without it for like over a year and never had a problem.
You do not need to use carbon in planted tanks. The carbon will remove ammonia and it will also remove any ferts and trace elements you put into you tank. Plants need food and you do not want to remove it from the water. Let the plants do it for you. If your tank is cycles well established and not over stocked then you should not need to use carbon.
bigbadfish711;4908615; said:
Prove it !!!!
Having Carbon in a planted tank does not hurt nor help.
The answer is a definitive - maybe. Or - occasionally. Or - as needed.
While the question seems simple, an answer depends on too many variables. On the whole, carbon isn't needed in the filter of a healthy planted tank.
As to carbon striping fertilizer from the water, I've challenged people to provide something other than anecdotal tales, and gotten no citations of any research supporting the theory. I work in a university research library. I have access to subject librarians. The university happens to have a fish lab and we happen to have more fish related literature and journal access than most.
There is a lot of data on what carbon or charcoal will do to or for water in tanks. There is lots of data about what happens to carbon over time, in tank filters. The important take away from those studies is that carbon stops being useful after some period of time. A time period that varies depending on the type of carbon and what it is derived from.
If you want a personal take, I use an AmmoCarb mix in new tank setups if I'm going to put fish in before I'm sure the tank has fully cycled. For example, I have a fresh tank setup with filter squeezings from a mature filter and a used sponge in the AquaClear filter. I'll be moving mature air driven sponge filters in there as well.
Tomorrow, I'll be putting a couple of dozen CPDs in that tank. A bag of AmmoCarb in the filter basket and a few drops of Prime each day will help ensure the health of the fish. There will also be a piece of Poly Bio Marine Poly-Filter® in there so I can visually monitor the water quality.
After a couple of weeks, I'll pull the bag of AmmoCarb.
While the question seems simple, an answer depends on too many variables. On the whole, carbon isn't needed in the filter of a healthy planted tank.
As to carbon striping fertilizer from the water, I've challenged people to provide something other than anecdotal tales, and gotten no citations of any research supporting the theory. I work in a university research library. I have access to subject librarians. The university happens to have a fish lab and we happen to have more fish related literature and journal access than most.
There is a lot of data on what carbon or charcoal will do to or for water in tanks. There is lots of data about what happens to carbon over time, in tank filters. The important take away from those studies is that carbon stops being useful after some period of time. A time period that varies depending on the type of carbon and what it is derived from.
If you want a personal take, I use an AmmoCarb mix in new tank setups if I'm going to put fish in before I'm sure the tank has fully cycled. For example, I have a fresh tank setup with filter squeezings from a mature filter and a used sponge in the AquaClear filter. I'll be moving mature air driven sponge filters in there as well.
Tomorrow, I'll be putting a couple of dozen CPDs in that tank. A bag of AmmoCarb in the filter basket and a few drops of Prime each day will help ensure the health of the fish. There will also be a piece of Poly Bio Marine Poly-Filter® in there so I can visually monitor the water quality.
After a couple of weeks, I'll pull the bag of AmmoCarb.
JasonG75;4909104; said:
Well since you " I work in a university research library. I have access to subject librarians. The university happens to have a fish lab and we happen to have more fish related literature and journal access than most."
Then why do you not "PROVE IT"
If you have the ability to do the research and are so adamant as you say you are ("I've challenged people to provide something other than anecdotal tales") then why do not prove every one wrong? You obviously have a great believe in carbon and what it can and can not do. So give it a whirl and Prove what you believe.
Activated carbon will remove just about everything in the water
that is why they used it back in the day
that is why they do not use it anymoar
if you are in need of a product like this
purigen or zeolite are better but not to be run 100% of the time
you do not need it
that is why they used it back in the day
that is why they do not use it anymoar
if you are in need of a product like this
purigen or zeolite are better but not to be run 100% of the time
you do not need it
bigbadfish711;4909351; said:
Ahh maybe I should have put QUOTES up. This wasnt from me but from a user on the AC forums when this same question arose. Can you tell the difference in the sentence structure?
"Activated carbon will remove just about everything in the water" for a limited amount of TIME. At that point it does not remove anything, because it is no longer "ACTIVATED"
I would recommend using carbon when ESTABLISHING an aquarium, after it is established it wouldn't hurt to remove it.
Back to my original statement It doesn't HURT nor does it HELP.
JasonG75;4909509; said:
OK I see you posted what some one else wrote on another form as your own. I understand now. Good fish keeping to you.
