Using Peat with Carbon?

[xaznkewlguyx]

I'm thinking about adding some Fluval Peat Granules to my FX5 to help with the pH but I don't want to take the carbon out.

What are your thoughts about using the two together. Will Carbon cancel out the Peat?

 

[brianp]

I'm thinking about adding some Fluval Peat Granules to my FX5 to help with the pH but I don't want to take the carbon out.

What are your thoughts about using the two together. Will Carbon cancel out the Peat?

Well, sort of. Actually, I prefer to view it as a situation in which you can add enough peat to overwhelm the carbon's adsorptive capacity, but the carbon will then not be adsorbing the organic contaminants that you intended for it to adsorb and will also be prematurely exhausted. In other words, the presence of peat will defeat the role of the carbon and increase its frequency of replacement($$$). Personally, I would eliminate the carbon because this will serve two useful purposes:
1. All organic contaminants are now available for your biofilter bacteria to use in their metabolism as a carbon source. Believe me, they like this stuff.
2. You will not be adsorbing any of the tannins, etc., that the peat is discharging.

But, you know what's best for your tank.

 

[xaznkewlguyx]

sweet! So it should be safe to remove my carbon. I will do that next time i do a water change on the tank.

Thanks!

 

[Ullopincrate]

Of course if the peat leaches tanins and you don't like the look of it you can occasionally use some carbon to clean it up.

 

[xaznkewlguyx]

Of course if the peat leaches tanins and you don't like the look of it you can occasionally use some carbon to clean it up.

i'm fine with the look. All of my tanks actually have that tea looking water due to so much wood in my tanks but then the black background makes it not-so-noticeable.

I am just afraid of my water stinking cause the carbon does remove odors right?

 

[srikamaraja]

It removes some odors, but I tend to enjoy the 'streamside' or 'coastal' smell of properly functioning bacteria.

One of my earliest memories is walking into an aquarium shop and being overwhelmed by that extremely 'natural' smell.