A friend and fellow aquarist who's opinion I value told me he does'nt use carbon in his filters, so I did a huge water change on my slightly overstocked 150 gallon tank. During the water change I also cleaned 1 of 2 of the filters and didn't add carbon back into it. Since then I've noticed my Datnoids breathing rapidly, I have two seperate air pumps with airstones going in the tank so I'm sure its not lack of oxygen. Today when I fed them I also noticed my Orbignyi Ray didn't gobble down the food like normally. Last time this happened I lost a Ray because lack of knowledge of nitrates. So I tested my water and my ammonia levels was low, Nitrite was low, PH was 8.8, and my Nitrate was 40 PPM. I'm doing a 25 % water change now to bring down the nitrates but is there something I'm missing?? I really don't want to lose a fish..... How can I lower my PH, is that possibly the problem??
Carbon In Filter??
- Thread starter Chris360
- Start date
Sometimes when u do filter clean, it kills a lot of the beneficial bacteria!
I have to 2 eheims on my 120g and i only clean 1 filter each time and when i do clean it, i use old aquarium to clean my filter
U prob have like a mini cycle now
Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app
I have to 2 eheims on my 120g and i only clean 1 filter each time and when i do clean it, i use old aquarium to clean my filter
U prob have like a mini cycle now
Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app
+1
Also, agree with your friend, no need for carbon unless using for a defined reason, eg, removing medications after treatment of sick fish, etc.
I have two Eheims on this tank too, a 2217 and a 2260. I only clean one filter at a time as well. I just added 3 new fish and I think they're not used to each other and maybe the stress levels have went up....
How can I lower my PH, is that possibly the problem??[/QUOTE]
Driftwood should lower you ph level
Driftwood should lower you ph level
That sounds like the carbon wasn't washed well enough and it dusted the tank. Could have been irritating to the gills
I always keep carbon in all my tanks because I am a relentless DIY tinkerer and I'm always putting in things with epoxies, spray paint and resins that are dry and hard but I just dont have the patience to wait 30 days for a full cure time. When it's dry to touch I throw it in.
Lol I threw in a fake coral I made in my 3 gallon guppy tank on saturday and within hours I noticed the water smelled like polyester resin. I had a Dixie cup's worth of carbon in the filter and I didn't loose any fish.
Carbon is good like that. Even having some in there in case someone sprays the room down with air freshener or you have soap or chem remnants on your hands. I see carbon as more of protection against us humans inadvertently throwing a proverbial wrench in there.
Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app
I always keep carbon in all my tanks because I am a relentless DIY tinkerer and I'm always putting in things with epoxies, spray paint and resins that are dry and hard but I just dont have the patience to wait 30 days for a full cure time. When it's dry to touch I throw it in.
Lol I threw in a fake coral I made in my 3 gallon guppy tank on saturday and within hours I noticed the water smelled like polyester resin. I had a Dixie cup's worth of carbon in the filter and I didn't loose any fish.
Carbon is good like that. Even having some in there in case someone sprays the room down with air freshener or you have soap or chem remnants on your hands. I see carbon as more of protection against us humans inadvertently throwing a proverbial wrench in there.
Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app
IME, carbon exhaust too fast to be using on a regular and once saturated and not removed it leeches those contents back into the water column.
I would only suggest using carbon if you need to remove remnants of meds or the like.
As for the heavy breathing, I would be careful with the water source, Some places have altered their water supply treatments and that could be problematic, also if it rained recently that would effect it as well. Heavy breathing and loss of appetite after a water change/filter clean I would think the culprit is the water source.
Look into using a carbon bottle for water changes in your area fiddles with the water supply often or treats with heavy chemicals.
I would only suggest using carbon if you need to remove remnants of meds or the like.
As for the heavy breathing, I would be careful with the water source, Some places have altered their water supply treatments and that could be problematic, also if it rained recently that would effect it as well. Heavy breathing and loss of appetite after a water change/filter clean I would think the culprit is the water source.
Look into using a carbon bottle for water changes in your area fiddles with the water supply often or treats with heavy chemicals.
That's really good to know, I was always under the impression that carbon was to help keep the water clear. Thanks alot for the info!!!
I have heard that before, I really need to keep this in mind when doing future water changes.Thanks Q