How often do you change carbon?

[engine312]

I know the manufactures recommend you change your carbon once a month. How often to you change yours? I realize it probably also depends on the fish load on the tank. I do a 25% water change a week on all of my tanks except my grow outs which I do 50% twice a week.

Also posted on NECA site.

[DJRansome]

I don't use carbon at all unless I want to remove medication from the tank.

[engine312]

I don't use carbon at all unless I want to remove medication from the tank.

If you do not use carbon what do you use?

[twisted fisher]

I don't use carbon at all unless I want to remove medication from the tank.

Same here :beerchug:

[emartin]

If you do not use carbon what do you use?

I never use carbon except to get rid of medication.

I use nothing... All that is in my filters are bio media, sponge and/or filter foam/floss.

Carbon is never necessary except to remove contaminants (medication) from the water.

When you add it when you don't need it to remove medication, you're really just wasting the carbon and your money.

All you need to keep the fish alive is something for the bacteria to grow on with a water current flowing through it.

[Pete]

If you do not use carbon what do you use?

Water changes.
Cheaper and better.

[Flareside]

One thing that wasnt mentioned, is that carbon is helpful in removing a musty water smell and also aids in removing tannins that stain your water when using driftwood. It can give your water a very polished look yielding incredible clarity.

I havent been using carbon for years. If I had only two or three tanks, I probably would use it again.
Is it necessary? No. But it does have benefits for sure

[UNCLERUCKUS]

I never use carbon except to get rid of medication.

I use nothing... All that is in my filters are bio media, sponge and/or filter foam/floss.

Carbon is never necessary except to remove contaminants (medication) from the water.

When you add it when you don't need it to remove medication, you're really just wasting the carbon and your money.

All you need to keep the fish alive is something for the bacteria to grow on with a water current flowing through it.

WELL SAID :beerchug:

[mack74]

I use purigen. I works just like carbon and it can be recharged over and over again. I got a quart about 5 years ago and It was enough to do all my tanks. I have 20 tanks. It was only 30 bucks and u never have to buy it again.

[Buckcich]

I use purigen. I works just like carbon and it can be recharged over and over again. I got a quart about 5 years ago and It was enough to do all my tanks. I have 20 tanks. It was only 30 bucks and u never have to buy it again.

Mike how do you recharge the purigen? Thanks for the reply

[joe_jaskot]

Mike how do you recharge the purigen? Thanks for the reply

http://www.seachem.com/Products/product_pages/Purigen.html

[TOMMYN3D]

One thing that wasnt mentioned, is that carbon is helpful in removing a musty water smell and also aids in removing tannins that stain your water when using driftwood. It can give your water a very polished look yielding incredible clarity.

I havent been using carbon for years. If I had only two or three tanks, I probably would use it again.
Is it necessary? No. But it does have benefits for sure

Very true. I just stopped using carbon about 2 years ago. I noticed in my tanks with driftwood when doing water changes into a white bucket it is really noticeable, that the water is yellowish tinted.
I was told when i fist started (about 16 years ago) to always keep carbon in your filters. Learning from more experienced fish keepers that it is not needed.So i experimented with one of my tanks of guppies 2 years ago by not keeping carbon in it for 3 months and follow water changes as usuall.
They keeped breeding and eating and looked fine too me.
No more buying carbon.

quote.: emartin:Carbon is never necessary except to remove contaminants (medication) from the water.
thats it!:beerchug:

[BlondeFishGal]

With planted tanks, it makes no sense to add carbon to filters b/c we are always adding plant additives to the water. Carbon will just strip it out. Why dose to strip out? LOL

Having said that, I ALWAYS keep carbon handy for three reasons:

1. When I want a show tank to REALLY shine. Like when I am having company over, and I want GOBS of ooohs and aaahs from my guests. I will use it for 2 ahead of time. Water SPARKLES.

2. Like everyone, to strip out medication.

3. Because stuff happens. My tanks are big (90 - 225 gallons). One hot summer summer day, I was sunbathing out at my pool in my backyard. Had suntan lotion on me as well as chlorine on my skin from the pool. I came inside to get something to drink and I saw one of my juvie discus kinda smushed behind an internal filter, sorta crumpled up. I keep aquatic gloves in my garage but I had a brain freeze and just grabbed a net and started plunging it into the tank to free up the fish. It only had seconds before it was a goner. Like instantly, a heavy oil slick appeared on the water, and the other fish started swimming pretty oddly. So yeah, of course a massive water change, but like I said, my tanks are big and it takes time to get the python, empty out/ change a lot of water, etc. I did all that, but I first ripped open two boxes of carbon and threw them into my Aquaclear filters, to help strip out the crud with which I had just contaminated my water.

[mack74]

Joe posted the link. soak in bleach for 12 hours then in some decorlonater and its as good as new