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Carbon
Jun 11, 2006 8:29:29 GMT
Post by kelly on Jun 11, 2006 8:29:29 GMT
Is it ok leave carbon out of my filter?
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Carbon
Jun 11, 2006 9:45:38 GMT
Post by anthony on Jun 11, 2006 9:45:38 GMT
Depends where you live. I live in Ireland and our water is fairly clean so I don`t worry about Carbon. I still use it in my filthers but I don`t have a minkey fit so to speak. i f I don`t have carbon in my filther. IME it is essential to keep a carbon a Carbon filther handy just in case of emergencies. On Saturday morning I came down to see my son had emptied a bottle of factor 6 into my tank. i did a massive water change and added a carbon filther which I will remove and replace today. Carbon filthers acn be dangerous if you don`t change them becaue once they are exasted they will leak all the toxins that they removed back into the water.
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Carbon
Jun 12, 2006 17:59:01 GMT
Post by kelly on Jun 12, 2006 17:59:01 GMT
oh right its just i removed it when i was treating for whitspot, so how often should i change the carbon?
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Carbon
Jun 12, 2006 19:14:06 GMT
Post by catfish on Jun 12, 2006 19:14:06 GMT
carbon should be changed every month. not more than 2 month at most.
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Carbon
Jun 12, 2006 22:36:15 GMT
Post by anthony on Jun 12, 2006 22:36:15 GMT
Unless you have used medicine I would leave it about 2 months, if you have used meds I would add the carbon after medication is finished and change it again a day or 2 later.
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Carbon
Jun 14, 2006 8:36:00 GMT
Post by kelly on Jun 14, 2006 8:36:00 GMT
ok thats great thanks
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Sam
New Member
Posts: 16
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Carbon
Jun 21, 2006 16:02:35 GMT
Post by Sam on Jun 21, 2006 16:02:35 GMT
Carbon is only used as an extra in a filter. Ideally, you should never have to use carbon, as it only used to remove dissolved ions in the water (i.e. tannins from bogwood, medicines etc.)
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Carbon
Jun 21, 2006 23:22:52 GMT
Post by fantasticaqua on Jun 21, 2006 23:22:52 GMT
Carbon is great for breaking down ammonia (AKA fish pee) and keeping the water phrom turning yellow. No not phrom that but phrom wood and the stuff Sam mentioned.
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Carbon
Jun 22, 2006 1:21:19 GMT
Post by anthony on Jun 22, 2006 1:21:19 GMT
Carbon is only used as an extra in a filter. Ideally, you should never have to use carbon, as it only used to remove dissolved ions in the water (i.e. tannins from bogwood, medicines etc.) Carbon does not break down Tannins. But it does store medicines.
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Carbon
Jun 22, 2006 1:23:09 GMT
Post by anthony on Jun 22, 2006 1:23:09 GMT
Carbon is great for breaking down ammonia (AKA fish pee) and keeping the water phrom turning yellow. No not phrom that but phrom wood and the stuff Sam mentioned. Carbon does not break down Ammonia. The breakdown of Ammonia during the Nitrogen cycle requires oxygen to break it down to nitrate.
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Carbon
Jun 22, 2006 2:07:54 GMT
Post by melonhead on Jun 22, 2006 2:07:54 GMT
As you can see...there are a ton of opinions out there. Choose one carefully.
A couple of my opinions....
Carbon loses most of its power pretty quickly.
It does have some advantages
I keep Discus, some of the most sensitive fish available, without any because it can be detrimental to their slime coat.
So...useful in some cases? Sure it is. Necessary? Nah.
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Sam
New Member
Posts: 16
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Carbon
Jun 22, 2006 7:06:50 GMT
Post by Sam on Jun 22, 2006 7:06:50 GMT
Carbon does not break down Tannins. But it does store medicines. Carbon does not break down Ammonia. Anthony, Carbon doesn't break down anything. It abosrbs ions from the water. This include Tannins. It has nothing at all to do with ammonia. The reason carbon only lasts a short time is beacause it absorbs things, and like a songe, it eventually cannot absorb anymore.
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Carbon
Jun 22, 2006 17:16:43 GMT
Post by janette on Jun 22, 2006 17:16:43 GMT
Sam if you read the thread from the beginning, Anthony was quoting what Fantasticaqua said, he never said anything about it breaking anything down :leg:
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Carbon
Jun 25, 2006 12:33:13 GMT
Post by anthony on Jun 25, 2006 12:33:13 GMT
Thanks Jan.
There is a lot of opinon on wether Carbon causes HLLE in discus. From what i have found and what I have learned from experts I know personally, here is the reason that why carbon should not be used with discus. Personall I see know reason why you should not se carbon.
Some people who kept discus were having the odd problem with HLLE/HITD, both are the same.HLLE more accurate description. As we all know discus require water alot cleaner that most fish.We all know what cleaner means so not going in to details. Trying to keep this as short and sweet as possible. Carbon stores chemicals and certain toxins. It has a nutrifying effect on your water. When carbon becomes exhausted(wasted) it can no longer do its job and so starts leaking the original toxins and impurities back in to the water and so the tank water becomes poluted an the discus were becoming stressed and becoming ill. I know its a debate wether HLLE is caused by poor nutrician/bad diet or is actually parasite releated. IME its a bit of both but mainly diet caused. I have never had it in any discus that I ever kept because of the excellent food I gave them.
HLLE=Hole and Lateral Line Erosionn. HITD=Hole In The head
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Carbon
Jun 25, 2006 12:34:20 GMT
Post by anthony on Jun 25, 2006 12:34:20 GMT
Fogot to mention I never used Carbon when keeping Discus either mate. Only for removing meds.
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