Can regular charcoal be ground up and used the same as activated charcoal? Or are they different?

Question

For odor filtration control?

Answer 1

The main difference is the temperature to which the material is heated in manufacture. Also there are purity issues. For aquaria only laboratory grade activated charcoal has the required quality. Also charcoal should be removed from the filter every 30 days,or it becomes saturated and begins leaching impurities (namely organo-phosphates) back into the water.

Answer 2

Same theory but very different. You should never try this, charcoal has many additives (specially the match-light that has the accelerant in it) that would be toxic to the fish. I'm sure it would also cloud up your water very badly.

Answer 3

i don't BBQ, it is guy's artwork! lol I make the potato salad although! :) My husband makes use of gas. yet i'll could agree, i like a good BBQ! not something tastes greater suitable than sluggish cooked with charcoal.

Answer 4

Your should clean the sides of the tank with some paper towels and water, protein builds up and gets crusty, thats what should be smelly..if not, then the tank is dirty, change the water.

Also, charcoal is not needed in your filter. It is used to absorb any medications you put in the tank, thats all it serves for. Companies just want you to use it to make money, so again, its unnecessary.

Answer 5

Different.