Carbon activated pads for cannisters

[jarrodaden]

I nearly failed chemistry in college....

What exactly does activated carbon do for my tank? I am thinking about adding the pre-cut activated carbon pads into my eheim 2217.

[Darbex]

Carbon helps remove harmful chemicals from the water such as chlorine, chloramine, and etc. If you put it in the canister it has its advantages and disadvantages. One advantage is that is will continously remove toxic chemicals produced by the fish. Disadvantages is that it will be exhausted quite quickly and become nothing more than a bio filter. I prefer to run my new water through a carbon filter as this will last much longer.

[myjohnson]

My LFS said I don't need it.

[mark razmandi]

My LFS said I don't need it.

[wesleydnunder]

Carbon helps remove harmful chemicals from the water such as chlorine, chloramine, and etc. If you put it in the canister it has its advantages and disadvantages. One advantage is that is will continously remove toxic chemicals produced by the fish. Disadvantages is that it will be exhausted quite quickly and become nothing more than a bio filter. I prefer to run my new water through a carbon filter as this will last much longer.

My LFS said I don't need it.

Both are correct. Carbon has benefit but is quickly exhausted when water is filtered through it continuously. It is an unnecessary expense IMO for that use.

Periodic use of a large carbon bed for removal of chlorine and chloramine yields a much longer carbon life. Some carbon beds used for this have been known to last for years.

Mark

[jarrodaden]

My LFS said I don't need it.

ouch!

[myjohnson]

lol, well come'on.

You know you were asking for it right?

[myjohnson]

I nearly failed chemistry in college....

What exactly does activated carbon do for my tank? I am thinking about adding the pre-cut activated carbon pads into my eheim 2217.

http://www.home-water-purifiers-and-filters.com/carbon-water-filter.php

read that....

I wouldn't get pre-cut pads for the 2217. I would buy carbon by the pound and put it in net bags then put that in your 2217.

I use carbon on my tanks but to only polish the water. Carbon makes it look really clear.

I also use carbon for my carbon bottle but that's another story.

[76dragon]

Depending on how often you are changing the water, you really don't need carbon. I am filtering 600 gallons with 1 wet dry. Can you believe that. Water is crystal clear. I do have carbon bags , but that is just to polish the water.

I do about 2-300 gallon water changes every other day though.

[jarrodaden]

If it polishes the water, I am definitely going to give it a try. I like MJ's suggestion to use a baggie with activated carbon instead of the pads.

[myjohnson]

Look into seachem purigen. It's like carbon but better because you can "recharge" it. Polishes the water real good and removes a lot of bad stuff too. No real way of describing it other than it works the same way magic beans do.

[Darbex]

I bought a big batch of Purigen to test it out MJ. Since you swear by it. This better work or your doomed

[myjohnson]

make sure you use the right size bag. Those grains are small!

Also when you "recharge" with bleach make sure you either take it out the bag or change the bag b/c that bleach eats the frabic up real bad and you might bust your bag. )

[Darbex]

Will do