Carbon In Filter

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
i never use it anymore, i just never saw any real benefit when i did. maybe there's something i'm missing but its been a year and i haven't had any problems yet.
 
never used them. they are only good anyways for a few days after that they become bacteria habitat.
 
The May 06 issue of Tropical Fish Hobbist page 64 has artical on carbon. The long and short of it is it is up the individual fish kepper. Some do some do not. I do not because I read years ago that there may be a link with carbon and hole in the head , they mentioned Oscars being effected. I have not read anything since. I do not use carbon I use the space for a bio- media. I control problems with 90% water changes weekly on both my 180's , and clean filters ( not cleaning bio- media ) . good luck
 
CichlidKid, I have something to tell you....

i've been in love with you for years....I'm really attracted to your big, beautiful...fish
 
I don't use carbon in any of my filters. I just use sponges, floss, and pot scrubbers.
 
johno27 said:
The main problem with carbon is that it will leech out whatever it takes out of the water if not removed when it's "shelf Life" has expired
Click to expand...

This is a myth that has been going around for years. It is simply not true. Carbon picks up compounds via chemical attraction. To release these compounds an opposing chemical reaction needs to effected to make the carbon realease what it has collected. In this case, being subjected to an extreme of pH, i.e. 3.0 or less or 10.0 or greater.

So yeah, carbon can release what it has collected but if it does you have bigger problems than carbon if your pH hits these extremes!!

With that said, I do like to run carbon every couple of months for a few days. Even with frequent water changes certain DO's (dissolved organics) will build up faster than what the water changes remove. Think about it. If you perform a 50% water change, 50% of the water left contains DO's. Over time these do build up regardless of maintenance practices. A bi-monthly scrubbing helps.

And carbon does not cause LLE. It has been surmised that carbon removes certain trace elements and/or minerals from the water that help prevent LLE. There is NO scientific basis to these claims. Think about it. What type of water do oscars come from? Soft, acidic water of the Amazon. Water that is very low in minerals and trace elements. Why would water of the same type be harmful to oscars in captivity? Most LLE is due to poor water conditions or poor diet. A regimen of daily or every other day water changes for a month in a tank with fish that exhibit LLE will usually stop the progression and in many cases clear it right up.

Here's another thought... ever notice which types of fish are most susceptible to LLE? Almost always fish that come from very soft waters. Ever seen an African Cichlid with LLE? In 30+ years of being in the hobby I haven't. Ever seen a CA with LLE? Very, very few and these were typically in horrendous conditions. Amazon fish are highly susceptible because they come from water that is so pure. Even a slightly elevated level of DO's can adversely affect Amazon fish. And not to put to blunt a point on it but most Oscars are kept in less than ideal conditions. Tanks that are too small or overcrowded. Overfeeding (Oscars are fun to feed! :grinyes: ). Too infrequent water changes for the given conditions. Etc. Not sayng that everyone that experiences LLE is a poor hobbyist just that it doesn't take much to push these fish over the edge.

Carbon may or may not be used but let's at least get the facts straight.
 
from what I read, it seems that carbon can mask small problems until its too late
 
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