Is chemical filtration really necessary

[Arowana718]

I know the importance of mechanical and biological filtration but what do you guys think about chemical such as carbon?

I dont like to use carbon bc it makes my aro get some blisters on his head.

 

[JK47]

I don't believe in it unless for a utility purpose like removing medications etc.. If a tank is having an issue chemical filtration often treats the symptoms but I would rather know the issue is fixed. A quality drip system leaves most with little need for anything chemical IMO.

 

[ProAquarist]

I don't run chemical filtration in any of my systems. If I had to treat with a medication I would run carbon for a few days after the medication is done, but that's it. The main things carbon removes is odor and discoloration, which shouldn't be a problem if you are doing adequate water changes (I do 50-90% weekly on freshwater, 10% weekly on saltwater). Carbon takes out good and bad things, so it is better to skip it and remove the bad stuff via water changes.

 

[skjl47]

Hello; A limitation of the use of activated carbon is reported to be brief time it is able to adsorb chemicals, perhaps only hours or a few days. Also once it is loaded with all it can adsorb it has been reported that most of us do not have the capacity to recharge the carbon.

 

[jaws7777]

Only chemical filtration i use long term is purigen.

 

[Yuki Rihwa]

I don't use Carbon but I won't throw it away if carbon come along in the filter package. I just use it and even after it no longer absorb anything I just either replace carbon with purigen or just keep it there and let it act like another extra bio media bag. Also, purigen not necessary require in any system if you keep up your water change schedule.

 

[jaws7777]

I like the added assistance of purigen but yes wc's should be the main form of removing nitrates

 

[duanes]

I prefer foam fractionation (protein skimming) as a chemical type filtration, removes unwanted substances like medications, nitrate precursors, and proteins (including algae and some pathogens) with the use of agitation at the air/water interface alone.
Hardest part is tweeking the flow to reach the perfect fractionation balance.
Easy in salt water because of the density, a little more difficult in fresh, but not that hard.

 

[jsodwi]

I haven't used chemical filtration since I was an inexperienced teen and didn't know better. Tons of biological and mechanical for me that's it

 

[skjl47]

or just keep it there and let it act like another extra bio media bag.

Hello; I use to do this as well. I would bake the carbon in my home oven at the highest temp in the now apparently wrong notion that it would recharge. It did however bake away much of the organic material in the pores. This did make it useful as a bio filter material so not all was lost.