aquarium carbon?

Question

I have three tanks and I am finding carbon to be expensive. I am wondering if I need carbon at all when I change one third of the water every seven days.

Answer 1

No need for carbon unless your removing meds. Just keep up with your water changes and smell your water every week. I run about 700g of FW, so it could get real expensive for me also. I stopped a few years back. The only time I run carbon now, is due to replacing ratty filter cartriges for my Penguin filters, or changing media in box filters. I never run it in canisters, as its to much work too change it when needed. If you do run carbon, you cannot leave it in there too long, as it will leach stuff back into tank. Just as a note I do 50% a week in all my tanks.

Answer 2

While you could get away without carbon, it would take even larger and more frequent water changes to achieve the same results. I wouldn't suggest doing without the carbon as it removes many things no other filtration material can. Try purchasing your carbon in bulk via mail order. For the size it's fairly light weight and shipping for ground delivery isn't too expensive.

Personally, I'm not a major fan of anthracite coal as a carbon. As Sunday P points out, it does last much longer in a tank, but that's mainly because it doesn't absorb as much stuff as quickly. Being that anthracite coal is much harder and smoother than activated carbon it does make a very nice bacterial bed though. Antharacite can be baked (not in a home oven, commercially) and "cracked". At this point it becomes on of the sources of activated carbon sold for aquarium use. It's not bad stuff, don't get me wrong, just not my personal preference.

MM

Answer 3

I have heard you only need it for removing meds or if you suspect something toxic got into the tank, like windex or air freshener. I keep anthrocite carbon in my tank, if you can find it in small quantities you can keep the same carbon in it all the time. It only needs a good rinsing. Just to be safe once a year I bake it at very high temperatures for an hour. ANthrocite is the carbon they use for water treatment for the water that comes to your house, so the city does not have to replace it very often. Regular carbon is porous and the molecules of contaminants get trapped on the inside. Anthrocite is more dence and is not porous, everything sticks to the outside. If you want it go to www.dandyorandas.com and email that guy. I bought it from Jo Anne Burke who sold Dandy Orandas to that dude, so he might be able to tell you where you can get it in less quantities than a ton. I don't think the pet stores want to stock a carbon that does not need replacing. I've had the same carbon in my tank for 6 years now. If it didn't work, I'm sure it would have killed the fish by now.
I would like to know (I'm no chemist) what Magic Man has to say about anthrocite carbon, if he's heard of it or anything about it. Take his advice about carbon too, he's good.

Answer 4

only change 1/4 every month or when needed. And your filter cartage sould have carbon in it. Also you don't need the most expensive carbon and buy in bulk. HBH uses the second best type of carbon and marine land uses the best but the price difference is $8 for 1.72 liters with HBH and $22 for 1.72 liters with marine land if your using extra carbon with your filter it's just a supplement not an entirely different filter. I use HBH and my tank is clean and clear. HBH aqua pure uses bituminous coal with is very porous and sucks up bad stuff quickly marine land uses anractice carbon that sucks it up slowly. IHave no idea if I spelled marine land's carbon right. Sorry

Answer 5

Yes as simply replacing the water will not eliminate all the wastes, unless you are removing the fish and scrubbing the gravel and the tank.