Fishkeepa Posted May 13, 2006 Report Share Posted May 13, 2006 I've had a look around some soures tell me 2-3 months the LFS 1 and a half months. I'm not too sure. It is for a shark internal filter. I think im over due im at about 2- 3 months now. Thanks for all help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suphew Posted May 14, 2006 Report Share Posted May 14, 2006 why are you using carbon?? unless you have been medicating or are trying to get the water clear you dont really need it. the reason the answer to your question changes so much is because carbon is like a sponge and fills up only as fast as there is something to fill it. It you have low amounts of chemicals in your tank it could last for months, or if you were say trying to remove medication you migt change it every day or two. Also be aware with leaving it in to long, once it gets full of a chemical it will start to leach out again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted May 14, 2006 Report Share Posted May 14, 2006 I would remove the carbon for the reasons mentioned by suphew. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fishkeepa Posted May 14, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 14, 2006 Sorry i got it wrong it is a sicce filter cartridge. one of these I had a replacement and there was grey/black stuff comming out of it which i thought was carbon (unless it is) So this could change things a bit. I got the carbon idea because it said carbon cartridge on the animates product barcode. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiden Posted May 14, 2006 Report Share Posted May 14, 2006 as long as you rinse them good and shake them clean in your tank water when doing a water change they will last along time. When I used these filters I only got a new one after I cleaned it and then would shake it to see if the media inside still moved, if it didn't make a sound I would buy a new one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richms Posted May 14, 2006 Report Share Posted May 14, 2006 you can pop the top off those and then pry the grill out and replace the carbon rather then getting a new cartridge. Buying those is a very expensive way to get carbon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeeTee Posted May 15, 2006 Report Share Posted May 15, 2006 So do most of you not run carbon in your filters? Now would be a good time to learn the right thing to do as I received my new filter today,rinsed it all and put it back together. Please let me know so I can take the carbon out,it will be cycling a fresh tank if that makes amy difference. Should I not have it in my tank that has been established for 10 months? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted May 16, 2006 Report Share Posted May 16, 2006 Carbon is an added unneccesary expense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wok Posted May 16, 2006 Report Share Posted May 16, 2006 I've taken all the carbon out of all my filters. I only use it if I ever use any meds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fishkeepa Posted May 16, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 16, 2006 Ok ill will take out the carbon but the filter sponges are quite coarse so is there anything i could put in the cartridge to remove the finer dirt? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted May 16, 2006 Report Share Posted May 16, 2006 dacron (the stuff they fill duvets with) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fishkeepa Posted May 16, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 16, 2006 will the local wool shop probably have this (otherwise does anyone know where in Wgtn) and are all varieties ok to use in the aquarium? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zev Posted May 16, 2006 Report Share Posted May 16, 2006 You can buy it at your LFS, it's called Filter Wool, comes in a few different size bags. It's just a sheet of stuff like you would use for Quilting, or the stuff the cats rip out of the middle of our cushions! Which you can get at a sewing shop like Spotlight or Arthur Toye. There is also a compressed version at the LFS, like it's been ironed flat - don't know how this would go, seems to be less surface area, and possibly would clog quicker. I don't know which is the cheaper option, furniture stuffing, or the stuff at the LFS. Perhaps its what is handy at the time, and whether you want to drive around and look for other stuff. Do they put mould inhibitors in the furniture and cushion stuff? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted May 16, 2006 Report Share Posted May 16, 2006 The filter wool in LFS is way more expensive though. I have always used dacron and mine is very old now. I know newer stuff often had fire retardant in it which isn't good but I have not heard of anyone having trouble with it. A wool shop might have it but so would any sewing shops or any places selling material. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghostface Posted May 17, 2006 Report Share Posted May 17, 2006 your shark filter will have heaps more throughput if you leave out the carbon, i have one years ago on FW tank, and the carbon section clogged up every few weeks, almost stopping the flow. you can get media bags for carbon, just place one if these in an area with a bit of flow if you decide that you want to run it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fishkeepa Posted May 19, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 19, 2006 what i really dont understand is why the water pretty much does a boycott of the sponge. see image (red is the water flow) S is sponge and C is Carbon cartridge Also if i take out the carbon im guessing that alot of bacteria live in there would that mean more water changes untill it settles again? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freakyfish Posted May 20, 2006 Report Share Posted May 20, 2006 I agree Carbon is an added expense not required all the time I use it only whgen removing meds and when cycling a new tank as it si good at keeping ammonia levels low Also be aware with leaving it in to long, once it gets full of a chemical it will start to leach out again This has proven to be incorrect as carbon will not release anything unless it is refired at an extremely hot temp causing it to be Reactivated one bad thing with carbon though it is a really good breeding ground for Bacteria and is linked to some very dangerous diseases in humans also 90% of carbons usefullness it used up in the first 48 hours so it does need to replaced very often to keep it at its most productive Brad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freakyfish Posted May 20, 2006 Report Share Posted May 20, 2006 I think that the water should be forced to go through the sponge I have slighty adjusted your last diagram how i would think it should be Brad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fishkeepa Posted May 20, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 20, 2006 thats what i think it should be like but it definitely does what i showed in the first pic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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