Does it make any different with or without carbon (charcoal) in the filter medium?

[tudiapaktam]

I'm using power filter with top filter container (refer picture). Is there any different in the filteration if I don't put carbon in my filter medium? Please advise.

It will be great if someone can give any suggestion for this kind of filter to operate efficiently.

 

[turbid]

hi. the main function for carbon is to handle colouring in the water and to remove traces of medicine, otherwise there is no real importance to have carbon in your filters IMO. depends what your requirements are.

all these filters need to work efficently is changing of the filter wool every four days other wise it will overflow. on the pump return i have fitted a rain bar along the lenght of the filter to distribute water evenly and have a more even filtration and to try to avoid, as much as i can, bypass.

 

[Dr Joe]

Activated carbon also helps remove organic acids, hormones (making it easier to keep more fish in one tank w/o as much aggression), antibiotic compounds, organic pollutants (tints water yellowish), proteins, organic compounds, and hormones as well as a variety of chemicals, medications, metals (including heavy metals), and some minerals.

If your not having any of these problems then it's not necessary to run carbon all the time, but do keep a fresh sealed supply on hand for emergencies.

Remove the carbon when you administer medications, then replace carbon to remove excess med.s.

Dr Joe

.

 

[tudiapaktam]

Thanks for the info.

How long can carbon last once I have use them?

 

[kwantz]

you should try seachem purigen. Its reuseable

 

[turbid]

normal activated carbon lasts about 2-3mts then it will leach back all the pollutants it removed in the tank

 

[Jkoziatek]

well it will leach contaminants as much as it will absorb... ( it wont eb able to remove anymore) so the rest stay

 

[tudiapaktam]

Thank you for the advice guys.

 

[Potts050]

Thanks for the info.

How long can carbon last once I have use them?

The effective life of carbons in filtration depends on the quality and quantity of material used. It works by trapping volatile organic compounds and other pollutants that have similar electro-chemical properties, within the millions of micropores on the surface of the granules.

The amount of material trapped is finite and with continuous flow, half of the total amount it can absorb will be captured in the first week, 1/4 in the second week, 1/8 in the second week etc.

In my experience it is better to use small amounts of carbon and change it frequently, to ensure consistant water chemistry. Carbon is not a substitute for water changes but is excellant at removing medications and unwanted dyes as Dr Joe pointed out.

 

[tunerX]

You want bituminous charcoal. That is the most pure and porous. 2-3 months depending on type and load. Different people will say different things. I recommend 1 tablespoon for every 10 gallons replaced every 2-3 months.