who uses carbon??? advantages vs disadvantages

[brianjh]

who uses caron in there setups? The only time I use carbon is if I use medication, I add a bag of carbon to my ac110's after meds for about 7-10 days then I remove.
Please give your input/and or exoperiences.

 

[brianjh]

sorry mods just saw I posted in the wrong place!! can a mod please move this to setup and filteration?

Thanks

 

[Kitiara]

I use carbon as I have driftwood and it helps remove the tannins. I will eventually change to purigen when I am a: feeling rich and b: have used up my stash of carbon

 

[Neervana]

yeah i use it too - when i've finished treating and because of the big piece of bogwood in my tank

 

[rallysman]

Only use it if I need to.

Water changes are my preferred method of keeping the water clear. I have 13 tanks going. Not a single filter has carbon in it. My cabinets do though. It lasts longer in them

 

[Lupin]

I use carbon as I have driftwood and it helps remove the tannins. I will eventually change to purigen when I am a: feeling rich and b: have used up my stash of carbon

What's the problem with tannins? Most fish appreciate it therefore you do not need the carbon at all. It will take several years before the woods stop leaching tannins. Mine have been in use for 7 years yet they still leach plenty of tannins.

I don't use carbon and I'm certainly not using it for reasons other than removing medicines and other chemicals used.

 

[johnptc]

carbon has its uses depending on your tank setup

carbon removes chlorine from tap water and some people use it just for that. or to remove meds after use but water changing also does this

carbon also removes doc's ( dissolved organic compounds ) which accumulate in your tank. if you do alot of water changes carbon is is usually not needed as the build up of doc's are keep in check by the large water changes.

i use carbon because i am running a nitrate filter on the large tank which removes the need to change water based on nitrate levels. hence the doc's would build up if they were not being removed by the carbon.

it seems that carbon discussions are often very emotional based on what people do or dont do...... there are good reasons to use carbon and there are many tanks that would not really benefit from its use......and so it goes

 

[Neervana]

if i am adding fish vitamins to the water and i put carbon in the juwel filter will this remove the vitamins?

 

[jjdsplace]

i use carbon all the time (unless medicating) due to the wife loving air freshners and deorderent sprays stops the poisoning of the water

 

[johnptc]

if i am adding fish vitamins to the water and i put carbon in the juwel filter will this remove the vitamins?

i put the liquid vitamins on the food.....