Carbon aquarium filters and Salt?

Question

I am treating my tropical fish for ick with salt and higher temperatures. Is it safe, and will the salt continue to be effective if I put my carbon filter back in?

Answer 1

Yes, that treatment method is completely safe for the vast majority of fish. There are a few types that are sensitive to salt in the water, but most will tolerate the 1% solution needed to treat ich.

Carbon will not in any way have any effect ion the salt levels in a tank so it's fine to leave the carbon in your filter.

Be sure you get the temperature up high enough, it needs to be 88F or better to be really effective.

MM

Answer 2

Unless your water supply has unusally high levels of: Chlorine, Chlorimine, dissolved heavy metals, or unusual color or odor, (or you also added alkali-based medicine) I am not wholly convinced that activated carbon as an "everyday" filter media is even a good idea in the first place. It removes 0 of ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and worse, if left in a filter too long, could actually be detrimental. After a short period of time impurities attached to the carbon will be realeased as the carbon becomes saturated. Also not the best idea for planted tanks as it bonds the trace you are feeding your plants. I would only add a carbon pad in my filter to remove medicines after a treatment. Even then for a relatively short period.

All this said, the same type of carbon pads used in freshwater tanks get used in saltwater tanks. Stands to reason that the must not strip the salt from the water. Else it would saturate quite quickly and be rendered ineffective.

Since chlorine and chlorimine are real issues to deal with in most muni water supplies, I'd suggest adding the reccomended dose of dechlorinator with your routine water changes, if you do not already do so. I wish you much success in beating the ick in your tank.

Answer 3

Carbon takes all the chemicals out of the water. It should be fine with the salt and higher water temperatures though.