why should i use carbon in my tank, what are the benefits?

Question

In addition, would it be well recomeded to get one?

Answer 1

If you change your water frequently, use the proper conditioners, then your water will be clear and it won't smell.

I use carbon only for removing meds. The reason being is when I started researching info on Oscars ... especially at http://www.oscarfish.com/ it was strongly recommended to remove the carbon from the filter to not get this disease seen here:
http://www.worldcichlids.com/diseases/Adamhith.html

It is not proven exactly, but I am not willing to take the risk. Now this is more common in tropicals, especially cichlids and even bettas ... goldfish I haven't heard of it, but I am not sure.

I would rather play safe not sorry. I don't spray chemicals near my tank or air pumps (the air pumps have filters on the valves as well), I change my water regulary, clean up the uneaten food and poo, and I don't have problems with needing a chemical to polish my water. You can remove the carbon from one of your filter elements when it is used up, cut the blue pad, empty the carbon, and just rinse that off and you still get the mechanical and polishing filtration of the blue pad without the risk. Saves money too, since you only buy new carbon when after you use up the stuff you had from removing medicines, and hopefully, you won't ever need to do that!

Answer 2

To have really clear, clean water carbon or one of the more modern,long lasting adsorbent compounds is necessary.It's true that water changes are the most important factor in clean water, however, there are things that partial water changes won't get. Adsorbents(chemicals that remove impurities on a molecular level,by collecting them on their outside surfaces) will remove many of these dissolved compounds,as mentioned in the previous answers. If I were going to use Carbon(activated charcoal) I would try to add it to the system when the water is in as good a condition as could be achieved by water changes. That is, right after the last of three or four weekly water changes. This would lighten the work load on the Carbon and allow a slightly longer working life. Be sure and use a highly activated brand of Carbon,and remove it after 30 days,because Charcoal will release phosphates(both organic and in-organic) after becoming saturated. Adsorbents will lead to a nice clear aquarium,but they require a little extra organization to really be beneficial. Hope this helps,good luck.----PeeTee

Answer 3

I use carbon in my tank.... it helps with the odurs in the tank is another benifit that was not mentioned above. Personally I change the carbon in my filter once every month - when i change the carbon i rinse off the filter in aquarium water that im removing from the tank while doing the partial water change. Some people say it is really good to use some people say it just isnt necessary - I use it because as far as i know there is not bad side to using it - unless your trying to medicate fish then u have to remove it.

Answer 4

Carbon in a filter in a fresh water aquarium has two main benefits in that it absorbs a lot of the poisonous materials that can be found in water like ammonia or copper and it act as a home for nitrifying bacteria. Carbon is used in some gas mask filters because it does absorb impurites.

Answer 5

The biggest downside to activated carbon is it doesn't stay active all that long. Some will say a day. More practical people will say a week. Most agree that 2 weeks is about the absolute maximum.
Great stuff. More work (like everything else in fish keeping) than most would expect.

Answer 6

In addition to the poisonous materials as mentioned above, carbon also removes disolved organic compounds such as proteins and fats from the tank. It also removes traces of impurites from airborn contamination such as cooking residue or cleaning sprays as well as removing left over medications.

MM