Anyone know anything about the length of life of carbon once its in the water? I have heard people say 2 days and others say a month. So what is the truth? Does the amount you put in matter? How long does it stay potent?
So, how long does carbon really last??
- Thread starter swervo513
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The lifespan of carbon is determined by its binding capacity (i.e. the amount of carbon you have and it's usable surface area) and the organic and inorganic load in your tank that will be bound by the carbon.
Carbon can last a few days in a poorly filtered and poorly maintained aquarium, or it can last months in a well filtered and well maintained aquarium.
Many people don't even use carbon. They feel that if you have a well maintained aquarium, then there is no need for carbon, and that space in the filter could be used for more mechanical, biological, or some other filtration. I agree with this, but I personally have much excessive biological and mechanical filtration as it is, so I use a SeaChem Matrix Carbon and SeaChem Purigen combination in one of my canister filters to make my water that much more crystal clear. I replace the carbon every 6 months during my biannual filter cleaning.
If you are looking for carbon, I'd suggest SeaChem Matrix Carbon. This is the best carbon out there.
Carbon can last a few days in a poorly filtered and poorly maintained aquarium, or it can last months in a well filtered and well maintained aquarium.
Many people don't even use carbon. They feel that if you have a well maintained aquarium, then there is no need for carbon, and that space in the filter could be used for more mechanical, biological, or some other filtration. I agree with this, but I personally have much excessive biological and mechanical filtration as it is, so I use a SeaChem Matrix Carbon and SeaChem Purigen combination in one of my canister filters to make my water that much more crystal clear. I replace the carbon every 6 months during my biannual filter cleaning.
If you are looking for carbon, I'd suggest SeaChem Matrix Carbon. This is the best carbon out there.
From what I understand about carbon is it only really makes a remarkable difference for 2-7 days of typical use in a typical aquarium(filtration matching tanks size, proper bio-load, not overstocked, and regular water changes etc.) Then after that first week the potency becomes almost irrelevant. With the impact after 30 days being indecipherable.
Now what calioutlaw1a says is exactly true. This is why people put carbon as the last portion of their sump filter so that most of the harmful waste chemicals and what not can be removed in biological filtration. So in theory the carbon is supposed to just be supplementary.
Some one once said to me that the only thing carbon really does is help offset infrequent water changes because unlike some forms of biological filtration it has no bi product that needs be removed by a water change. Basically suggesting that the way carbon is prescribed to the novice aquarist is to offset the neglect their fish will experience anyway.
I would say that carbon could probably be circumvented with regular water changes.
I don't treat water since I'm changing hundreds of gallons at a time. I just try to swap in new carbon prior to doing my major monthly water change of 40 percent so that it can remove chemicals in my incoming water supply.
Carbon is a helpful tool but in no way a requirement of good filtration, nor is it a true substitute for good animal husbandry.
I plan on removing carbon from my regular filtration when I plumb all my tanks onto one super sump after I move. Perhaps putting a carbon filter on the water supply for the water changes.
To put is simply carbons effect degrades exponentially.
Now what calioutlaw1a says is exactly true. This is why people put carbon as the last portion of their sump filter so that most of the harmful waste chemicals and what not can be removed in biological filtration. So in theory the carbon is supposed to just be supplementary.
Some one once said to me that the only thing carbon really does is help offset infrequent water changes because unlike some forms of biological filtration it has no bi product that needs be removed by a water change. Basically suggesting that the way carbon is prescribed to the novice aquarist is to offset the neglect their fish will experience anyway.
I would say that carbon could probably be circumvented with regular water changes.
I don't treat water since I'm changing hundreds of gallons at a time. I just try to swap in new carbon prior to doing my major monthly water change of 40 percent so that it can remove chemicals in my incoming water supply.
Carbon is a helpful tool but in no way a requirement of good filtration, nor is it a true substitute for good animal husbandry.
I plan on removing carbon from my regular filtration when I plumb all my tanks onto one super sump after I move. Perhaps putting a carbon filter on the water supply for the water changes.
To put is simply carbons effect degrades exponentially.
Most of the points above are very true. Carbon can last a few days in a poorly maintained aquarium or weeks to a month in a well maintained one.
Carbon removes things from the water that regular filtration can't. Handsoap, lotions, aerosols, meds, tannins, ink from your 6 year old daughters hands lol, etc. It continues to be a part of your filtration after it is exhausted as well. It works as a great biofilter once it's adsorption properties are used up. It's surface area will become colonized by bb...
Carbon is a great safety net to an already well established mech and bio filter. I find it better to use the minimum amount and change frequently as opposed to using larger amounts and changing less often.
Carbon removes things from the water that regular filtration can't. Handsoap, lotions, aerosols, meds, tannins, ink from your 6 year old daughters hands lol, etc. It continues to be a part of your filtration after it is exhausted as well. It works as a great biofilter once it's adsorption properties are used up. It's surface area will become colonized by bb...
Carbon is a great safety net to an already well established mech and bio filter. I find it better to use the minimum amount and change frequently as opposed to using larger amounts and changing less often.
