carbon in a 29g biocube?

How long would you suggest keeping it in the tank?

 

There's activated carbon in the stock BioCube filter media. Are you talking about adding extra somewhere?

 

I like the idea that it's better to keep less carbon and change it more often, but I'm still running a bigger bag so I don't have to change it as much :. This really depends on the tanks size, how much carbon you are using, and how you feel about carbon's leaching abilities. If your one of the people that believe that carbon will leach back out of left for too long your going to change it quicker, but if you think carbon will soak everything up and just become inert than you might leave it in until it's fully used up. I feel why tank the chances and it's better to change it more often. Maybe every 2-3 weeks if it's a smaller amount

 

You got good advice from M-Ocean man on your other thread go with it.

 

I didnt get that. I am trying to get it today maybe..But i have a wrestling match to go to later.

 

Here is some advice... you will go far in this hobby if you start early and do your home work and not rely on other peoples "opinion". That includes mine.

Every tank is different and and no blanket statement is going to work for every one. If you google activated carbon this is what you will find:

Carbon has been used to clean water for a very long time. Mountain ranges of data are available for what carbon does and what "kind" of carbon does what. There are three main types that are made from three different things. They all have different pore structures and all remove different things.

What carbon removes is heavy metals, dissolved organic compounds and large molecules of "anything". These include perfumes, poisons, and other harmful things to salt water tanks. Also, it removes "gelstoph" (spelling???) that is a yellowing compound released by algae. If you have algae or macro algae in your fuge over time your water will look yellow. Carbon cleaned water is crystal clear.

Contrary to popular myth... it does not remove trace elements.

Plenty of data shows that carbon does not "leach" anything back into the water that wasn't already in it to begin with. So if you leave it too long it is not harmful. Plenty of other data shows that carbon does not release what it has captured at all. However... if it does... again... it was already in your tank to begin with.

Other data shows carbons absorbtion rate is much higher when first placed and then taper after the first 48 hours.... Also, if you leave anything in your tank that is very porous, then bacteria will grow on it and become "biological". Then when you remove that from your tank you remove some of it's biological filter. So for these reason it has been found best to run carbon for short periods.... 3-4 day... a week at most...2 weeks max(probably not removing anything anymore and turning biological)... let go a week do it again.


In my OPINION, everyone should run carbon for the above reasons. Way too many benefits with very few negatives and it does things nothing else in your filter system does. However, that is based on the above. When you look into it your self, you may come to a different conclusion.

I'm only trying to help. The most important word in my life has been WHY. Don't just ask WHAT you need to do.... understand WHY you need to do it. You will be much further along in the end.

 

Some very good advice!

 

Thanks for the tip.

Ill probably pick some up soon. I need that stock filter cartridge tho for it.

 

No sweat. Try to see if you can find any info on the carbon in your filter. That is a pretty common thing and done for convenience. If you have been running those floss/carbon pads you have been running carbon. If you can get pads without carbon and you want to run your own or something better that's cool. If you do both it will just cost more.

After you constantly shell out money for special things... trust me you will start trying to find the more cost effective solutions. Special, small quantity, and convenience things always cost more. But don't fret... you have a nice setup and you can have a healthy tank and it does not have to cost an arm and a leg.

 

Thanks!

I might go later today and see if i can find anything.