Undergravel filter carbon refills. Will bb build up on them?

[doubledragon]

If you have undergravel filters, and don't change the carbon cartridges, the carbon is obviously no good anymore. But, will the carbon grow bb on it, or are they worthless?

 

[Bderick67]

Yes BB will grow on the carbon.

 

[doubledragon]

Yes BB will grow on the carbon.

It's not my tank, but I was debating weather or not just to pull the carbon and get a better flow rate(cause they were kinda clogged). I put all the pressure to each one (one by one) till they all flowed and then adjusted till they all flowed evenly.
Pull them or not pull them???

 

[mgk]

carbon is supposed to leech out the stuff it absorbed, when it gets old
edit: i heard that somewhere, i dont remember the source

 

[Dan F]

I think the decrease in flow would outweigh the small amount of surface area in the carbon.

 

[CHOMPERS]

 

[doubledragon]

I think the decrease in flow would outweigh the small amount of surface area in the carbon.

So they should be pulled right???
I'm leaning towards pulling them cause the gravel does 99 percent of the work. And if the old carbon slows the flow, it hurts the system as a whole.
That's what you said right? Sorry time for bed, don't feel like thinking. LOL.

 

[KaiserSousay]

For the extremely small amount of bacteria you could have in there, toss the junk and increase the flow for the HUGE amount of bacteria in the gravel.

 

[Dan F]

So they should be pulled right???
I'm leaning towards pulling them cause the gravel does 99 percent of the work. And if the old carbon slows the flow, it hurts the system as a whole.
That's what you said right? Sorry time for bed, don't feel like thinking. LOL.

Exactly!

 

[doubledragon]

Cool thank's guys.