wagonman Posted August 27, 2007 Report Share Posted August 27, 2007 to anyone who has a planted tank, do you use activated carbon? the reason i am asking is it seems to be getting costly having to change it all the time, at the end of the day do i need activated carbon or should i just chuck in sum more noodles. also i have noticed my noodles are getting a dirty sludge covering them, do i need to clean them or is it all good to just forget about them. thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dimebag Posted August 27, 2007 Report Share Posted August 27, 2007 no, haven't used carbon for years. definitely not necessary. probably good to give your noodles a rinse in tank water, though i must admit i clean my filter not very often at all, and when i do theres plenty of sludge :oops: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted August 27, 2007 Report Share Posted August 27, 2007 Never bothered with it myself and I have a heavily planted tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicolette Posted August 27, 2007 Report Share Posted August 27, 2007 I only use carbon when I need to remove meds. Otherwise I dont bother. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted August 27, 2007 Report Share Posted August 27, 2007 Carbon is great on the barbi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IHBR Posted September 9, 2007 Report Share Posted September 9, 2007 using it I think depends if you want clear water (eg to get rid of tanin from the water caused by wood). Carbon can also take out some of the nutrients you have put in with feritilizer. You could use seachems purigen, costs a bit more but can last up to bout 6 months, and leaves nutrients alone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anthony law Posted September 12, 2007 Report Share Posted September 12, 2007 also carbon helps keep algae at bay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidb Posted September 12, 2007 Report Share Posted September 12, 2007 how? It would only stop green water I would think... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evilknieval69 Posted September 12, 2007 Report Share Posted September 12, 2007 Carbon doesn't help algae, green water or driftwood tannins...... From my experience anywho I dont use it. Only to remove Meds as stated but i havent medicated a tank in ages...... Wait, i did the other night. Ohk, i have but before that not in years Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidb Posted September 12, 2007 Report Share Posted September 12, 2007 ?in SW tanks it is used to enhance water clarity Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anthony law Posted September 13, 2007 Report Share Posted September 13, 2007 carbon takes some off the exrese nutrients from the water that algae feed on .so it helps by staveing the algae. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpidersWeb Posted September 13, 2007 Report Share Posted September 13, 2007 Yep, and your plants could use that nutrient too, often fertiliser etc just ends up in the carbon. Waste of time in my opinion. If you're after crystal clear water, look towards the Seachem range of products rather than carbon. I pull it out of my filters when new. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warren Posted September 14, 2007 Report Share Posted September 14, 2007 I use Seachem's Purigen. It doesn't seem to strip the fertiliser nutrients but does grab colours (tannins etc) and seems to grab oils and proteins well also. It's not cheap to buy but can be regenerated. I've had mine for over 10 years regenerating it every month for about $0.25 each time. I use budget bleach (about 1/4 of a bottle) and 2 teaspoons of sodium thiosulphate to kill the bleach during the regen process. It makes the water very clear and sparkly. It works better than activated carbon and lasts longer for the same volume. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted September 15, 2007 Report Share Posted September 15, 2007 Warren---where did you get your sodium thiosulphate? I tried to get some from our local chemist but it would have cost me an arm and a leg. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warren Posted September 15, 2007 Report Share Posted September 15, 2007 Mine cost me an arm and a leg... I got 25kg over 10 years ago for about $75.00 I've been slowly using it ever since but still have most of it. I only got so much because I also use it to make the filter pleated cartridge filters safe as well. I use 15 micron on the inlet water to my trickle filter. It also makes the water look perfectly clear. You want some? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted September 15, 2007 Report Share Posted September 15, 2007 I wanted some to neutralize chlorine from decapsulated brine shrimp cysts. All the info from Mrs Google said to neutralize with vinegar but I couldn't figure how the chemistry of that worked. The chemist could only get solution and it was a ridiculous price (probably analytical grade). Do you know where I could get some solid without selling the family farm? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warren Posted September 15, 2007 Report Share Posted September 15, 2007 We have a wholesale chemist here but they only sell in bulk - usually 25kg minimum. I could send you a kilo or two from my stock as I expect the 20kg+ I have left is still going to last me another 40 years... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted September 15, 2007 Report Share Posted September 15, 2007 That would be great, I have sent a PM. Many thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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