carbon question?

[andyjs]

So, I run carbon in my tanks (penguin 200's), how do you replace the carbon with something else? Do you use an old carbon pad, take out the carbon from the plastic, then what? Attach pot scrubbies or something? I would love to not have to not buy carbon anymore......

I just cut the cartridges down to the plastic side. I just use it as a barrier for the media and fill the rest of the filter behind it with filter floss and bio media

 

[Dr Joe]

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!

Yes it does.

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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.

Or positive effects.

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Paulz01 your LFS is accurate in their answer, for a low stocked tank.

If you don't have problem water, just use it to remove chemicals.

Dr Joe

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[paulz01]

wow lots of answers =DD

anyways, my tank is pretty overstocked and i always get that yellowish water and that odor, thats why i use carbon..

but i used to keep my carbon in my filters for over 3 weeks and now i know i should change it every 3 weeks or so.

my question now is: i have 2 xp3 and i usually buy the top end carbon, fluval brands and just stick em in my canisters, what can i replace carbon with as a mean to filter the inpurities out of the water?

 

[Dr Joe]

Which/what impurities?

Tank or tap water?

 

[paulz01]

Which/what impurities?

Tank or tap water?

such as the yellowish water i keep getting =(

 

[Dr Joe]

Need to figure what is causing the "yellow" water.

Over-stocking/Over-feeding?

Tannins (driftwood?).

What is the W/C schedule?

Dr Joe

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[cassharper]

AC will leach back once it gets maximized, then reach a point of "equilibrium" (so to speak) where it will stop. After that it will be a glorified bio media.

Zeolite should only be used in emergencies. Think about it, all your ammonia is getting absorbed by this resin, what do your bacteria have to feed on? Then your zeolite gets saturated and starts leaching ammonia back into the tank, along with the ammonia your fish create.



uh oh.

I use AC on my tanks occasionaly. I find it does make the water a little bit clearer, but in my planted I like the "real" water look instead of completely clear. I try to make my tanks resemble nature, and water rarely looks like that in nature. The only time I use it is when I know I'm going to be showing it off.

 

[geeimatree]

i just stuck carbon in and now i just dont take it out... lol
btw i heard the exact same thing that the lfs guy told u too

i do know that carbon does reach a capacity in which it cant hold anymore but if it releases toxins... idk

 

[oneyedfish]

Never heard of carbon releasing toxins back into the aquarium...Hmm might have to look into that...

 

[jphillips2020]

So I have a Fluval 405 top 2 trays are biomax, bottom 2 are carbon. Should I remove the carbon and put pre-filter instead.