carbon question?

[paulz01]

I went to my LFS today and asked how long should i change my carbons, and they said every 4 weeks.

Also, they said that once the carbon is worn out it releases all the toxic it absorbed in the water...


Is this true?

 

[mercury904]

what i have is just a mechanical, bio filtration and regular partial waterchange will do the rest

 

[Miguel]

what they told you is true.

 

[Knowdafish]

Carbon does NOT release all that it has absorbed back into the water! It just reaches a point where it won't absorb any more!

 

[mercury904]

Carbon does NOT release all that it has absorbed back into the water! It just reaches a point where it won't absorb any more!

maybe thats why miguel agreed to replace it every 4 months

 

[Miguel]

Now I am not a chemist...but I have lived for years on end on the assumption that carbon releases some of the absorbed matter back into the water. I've read it, I've heard it from experienced people.

 

[benzjamin13]

Dang...I've left carbon in my tank for over a couple of year and it doesn't seem to have a negative affect on anyone.

 

[Miguel]

I change mine every 3 to 4 weeks.

If it does not release the stuff back ( Dr. JOE where are you?? ) it should be neutral and, therefore, do nothing bad or good.

But that is not my recollection.

 

[cichlid2006]

carbon is a waste of money IMO. you dont need it except in extreme cases of disease where you may need it to get rid of strong and prolonged doses meds faster than water changes can to get the water as clean as possible.
plus if you have cichlids then you should note that i read an article about how they suspect carbon is a contributing factor of HITH disease. although no conclusive proof was given they were looking at it and a series of HITH cases and how carbon was used in the filters.
it can also be detrimental to plants.

but should you choose to use it then 2-4 weeks is about right depending on its use. i changed it, when i used to use it, after 1 week when removing meds, twice a week if removing a prolonged/strong dose. if removing tannins then every 4 weeks or when the tea colour comes back will be fine.

 

[Frankenstonii]

Agreed Cichlid06. Carbon can only hold as much as it can adsorb and it will leech minimal amounts of impurities or trapped organic matter back into the water if not changed regularly (every one to two weeks, or as often as needed depending on the use of chemicals in the tank) Water changes seem to always be the best solution on combatting pollutants, odors, and discoloration. If your filter allows, why not spend your money on some bio-media?