Do I really need carbon in my filter bag?

Answer 1

You go G.

No your tank does't need the carbon. As G mentioned, carbon is good for removing certain inorganic and organics from the water, however it also removes many other trace minerals and salts. Carbon cannot distinguise between the good stuff and the bad stuff. If you are using a quality dechlor/water conditioner and take care of your tank, it really isn't needed. The larger benefit of the FILTER is actually the pad that will catch the food particles to help keep the tank cleaner longer. this is why different manufacturers of carbon filters tell you different things as to when to change the filter. Knowing the carbon filter will more than likely become saturated within a week to two weeks, the purpose of the filter is to clean the excess food and debris from the water. Many people just rinse out the pad and replace in the filter.

However nothing that a routine maintenance schedule could not also clear up.

To corectly use carbon, you would have to assess the amount of waste produced, chemicals (which few over the counter fresh water kits test for) water flow for each tank and determine if your carbon is saturated within two days or 8 days. This is another one of those myths which makes it easier for novice fish keepers to follow when starting out and manufacturers to sell product. Have you ever noticed your entire filter pad is not full of carbon? While it is sitting upright, only 1/4 of the water flow actually comes in contact with the carbon. Generally, because it doesn't really matter.

Salt water tanks do not use carbon due to the fact after one run of the aquarium, the carbon would be useless and so saturated with minerals and salt it would be totally useless.

P.S. Brita does remove the chlories from the water.

Answer 2

No you don't need carbon. I don't use it in any of my filters. In some situations it causes more hassle being that you have to remove the carbon from your filter if you are trying to treat it. Basically I took it out when I was treating my tanks, but never put it back in.

Answer 3

I don't use it, I haven't used it in twenty years, and I doubt I will use it in the future. Most of the more experienced fish keepers I know have abandoned its use.

Most of the things it's meant to deal with are not in the water in the first place. In addition, carbon removes dissolved elements from the water. It can't tell the good from the bad and in the end removes both. And anyone who doesn't change their carbon once every two weeks or so may as well not be using it anyway.

It's good for clearing up discolored water, or taking meds out, but except for specific uses such of these or if you have really lousy quality tap water, it is a waste of money. Just try it for a while with, and then try it without. I'll bet you and the fish don't notice a thing.

Answer 4

Your going to get a lot of opinions on carbon use. Everyone seems to use it differantly if at all. It seems that the majority of people with aquariums run carbon at some point or another. Personally, I run carbon for a few days each month in my both my saltwater and freshwater tanks as do the majority of the people in the aquarium clubs I am in.

Most people are not to concerned with the loss of trace elements. Fish typically get their trace elements from the foods they eat anyways. Trace elements are more of a concern when you are growing corals.

Carbon has been used in aquarium filtration for many, many many years.

If you don't do a lot of water changes or have a really good filter system I would recommend running it every so often but not 24/7.

Answer 5

NO - you don't need it. The most practical use for carbon is the removal of medications or coloration from leaching driftwood. It can also come in handy if a small amount of a toxin is released into the tank (some fish will release toxins when stressed), PCBs in tapwater, plus chemicals that's shouldn't be used around a tank. But these would be emergency situations.

The packaging will tell you that it will remove colors, odors, and all kinds of stuff from the water. But if someone is having problems with odor, cloudiness, or other problems like these, they need to find and address the cause - usually overfeeding, not enough water changes, uncycled tank, or overcrowding. Carbon won't be of much help in these conditions anyway.

Answer 6

listen. you CANT get it everywhere! the in simple terms way YOULL EVER SEE CARBON back is via A MICROSCOPE! WHY, YOU ASK?! properly, you be conscious, it really is through mole infestation contained in the more advantageous massive apple region. Will someone supply that guy a cough drop? heavily....he's demanding me. besides, what am i able to'm getting you for dinner? ok, that'll be $15.ninety 5 hi i do not make the costs. end with the soup kitchen! back faraway from the alarm gadget, the sound aspect can dehydrate a small version of Donkey Kong from Donkey Kong sixty 4 P.S. a deliver crashed 5 miles from my domicile. I heard it say something, it looked like "tofu"

Answer 7

You don't need carbon at all, but it is trickier to balance without it. Carbon does NOT impact chlorine at all, otherwise your brita would take chlorine out of tap water and it does not.

Activated carbon bonds with organic compounds only. In an aquarium this is odours, colours, SOME waste products....

The biological filter is MUCH more important, this is what removes the ammonia and compounds of the Nitrogen Cycle, which are NOT organic compounds. The physical barrier removes debris.

Many experts do not use carbon at all once the tank is established. Personally I like carbon in my tank whereas my partner doesn't use it at all. Both our tanks thrive. We both have multiple tanks and we both breed certain fish.

Answer 8

Carbon is recommended, but only for short periods of time. Leave it in for 2 weeks, then out for 2 months.

There's 3 types of filtration: mechanical, biological, and chemical. Carbon takes care of the chemical part.

Answer 9

Carbon is what does the filtering so if you want it to filter you need carbon (or another similar filtering agent). The bag itself will not sufficiently filter.

Answer 10

Carbon filters are most effective at removing chlorine, sediment, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from water.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_filtering