Charcoal in filters?

Hi Guys

Here we go Charcoal in filters..... Yes? or No? ( Please say why )

 

Yes , after using medicine use it to remove it again...

 

As a general rule - No, it's for chemical filtration, only add it when you need to remove specific chemicals. It becomes ineffective within a week, so thereafter adds little if anything. When used for chemical filtration you need to replace/remove it within a week. If you use charcoal use activated charcoal.

 

To remove chemicals like medicine is mos chemical filtration , what other impurities would one remove other than meds? Yes it forms part of chemical filtration , I would say just use it for that purpose , maybe even remove tannis yes...unlike purigen that does a bit more...but ya , I am no expert

 

@neltf, yep, you're spot on in using it to remove meds, tannins are actually beneficial, so I wouldn't remove those. Nitrates etc you need to treat the underlying cause, e.g. over stocking, over feeding.

 

Activated carbon also polishes the water. And the good brands lasts longer than a week. Like seachem carbon. If im not mistaken they claim it lasts 3 months.

 

I would rather go Purigen...more cost effective in the long run

 

+1neltf

 

True. But even a tank with good filtration dont even need purigen

 

Agree , even perhaps better with a sump...but hard , I have a Dophin C2400 & Resun 2000L/H internal filter in my 340L tank...and my water is not as polished as it should be...I have two big bogs of driftwood in , had alot of tannis past two weeks...Purigen is exhausted , has to be regenerated

 

Hmmm.... on their labeling Seachem claims "several months" in a library article they recommend "changing it once a month or sooner" but you're right, activated carbon has a longer effective life than normal carbon. We also know Seachem are excellent marketers

 

no , i belive you can fill the filter with alot more better things( ec more media) it takes up ulot of space and quickly deteriorate making it in my opinion a bad add to the tank

 

Filter media like seachem matrix and ada bio rio are excellent products. There is a youtube vid about adding a course sponge then a little finer sponge and then a really fine sponge. After that you add your bio media. But stuff like ceramic rings and plastic bio balls are a waiste of time. Rather add good quality bio media. Thats all you need. Getting rid of tannins I would just rather do waterchanges

 

Interesting responses guys and very helpful. The reason I asked is I don't run charcoal in my filter and my water never seems to be as clear as a friend who has charcoal in. I am turning my tank at around 4-5 times an hour. My fish are happy and eating well even thou I cant get my water as clear as I would want it.

 

Let's talk more about your filter and how you have your media arranged.. @Ortaega was also having an issue with cloudy water, and just by rearranging the media in his canister, it improved drastically..

 

+1

 

Are your water parameters OK? also check how much you feed.

 

Purigen is fantastic for removing the dark colour caused by Tannis.

 

there she is, The parameters are good. Just a tad milky

 

It's not bad...