Newb question about transfering carbon media

[zennzzo]

I guess my point is what exactly do people think that carbon will release back into their tank? What exactly,besides meds,do they think it is removing? Using carbon,or not using carbon is up to the individual.I personally think it is a waste of money,and do not use it.
But you adivised the OP that it will relaese the crud it absorbs back into the water.What crud is it removing? And what and when will it relaese it back into the tank?

Yes I have read that piece.Why do you think there is any other time it would release the crud?

I think we all know, or should know that Carbon removes odors, meds, tannins etc...

And, of course it is up to the individual what to use and what not to use.

Personal testing my own tank and trying to figure out where the Ammonia spikes and subsequent NitrIte spikes came from when the stock and feeding was the same, is how I know it will...
As soon as I read somewhere here at MFK, about the Carbon releasing crap back into the system, (I think it was one of OddBalls' threads) I quit using Carbon 24/7 and went with 2 stage Mechanical and my Bio filtration, No chemical filtration at all, I haven't seen another spike like those...


This is exactly the million dollar question...WHEN?
I don't know at what saturation or WHEN it will release back into the water, only at some point it WILL....


That is why I only use it for specific tasks, then as I posted earlier I remove it and dump it out...

 

[fishbum]

I guess I had the opposite results from using it.

The only time I ever used it on a regular basis was in some 5 gallon Eclipse tanks with Bettas and snails in them.I know Marineland reccomends changing the carbon cartridges every 4 weeks or so.I know I would go 8 to 12 weeks,if not longer,before changing them,and never noticed any smells coming from the tanks,or ammonia or nitrite spikes.

To suggest that you were getting ammonia and nitrite spikes form not changing it suggest that it will remove these things,and then release them back.But it has always been my understanding that carbon does not actually remove these from the water,but provides a larger surface area for the bacteria to colonize on.So by not changing it,did it somehow kill the bacteria,causing the spikes in your tank?

Now that I think about it,I have also used it,still do from time to time in tanks with larger cichlids in them,and have had the same results as with the Betta tanks.No matter how long I keep it in the filter,I have never had a ammonia or nitrite spike. JME with it.

 

[zennzzo]

Bettas and snails??!?? 5 gallon eclispe tanks??? you did water parameter testing on that??

I am talking about enough water to house fish that create a bioload.

5 gallons of water a few snails and a Betta is barely a bio-load...weekly waterchanges and maybe a baby airstone will work for that...
You really tested a 5 gallon Betta tank for Ammonia/NitrIte/NitrAte?? really?

I'm talking about a $50.00 sack of Carbon, 6-7 liters or so?

I never knew Carbon was sold/used as a Bio filtration media.
I used it in the past as a chemical filter, along the same lines as Ammo-chips. It function was to absorb the Ammonia and the Carbons' was to polish the water, using it's massive surface area, not to work like a bio filter utilizing the nitrogen cycle...
I have never used it for Biological filtration...

Hey I'm glad it works for you, keep on with it if you are happy with what it can do for you...
I will still advise of what it CAN and WILL do eventually, and how it works for me...
Then people can take it or leave it...