Charcoal, or no charcoal

[Rotaripsnoc]

My 60 gal is fully cycled, and is keeping pace with the new additions better than I expected, I've added a 2" or smaller fish every couple of weeks, and will be fully stocked when the 3 fish that occupy it are full grown. I removed the charcoal a couple of weeks ago, and have some sitting in reserve in the event I have to medicate the tank, and need to use it to soak up any remaining chemicals.

I've never been a fan of keeping charcoal in my filters once the take is stable, especially since it needs to be replaced frequently or it can become toxic. There seems to be a decent debate for and against this on the internet, any personal experiences here that justify or invalidate it ?

 

[OrangeCones]

I've never been a fan of keeping charcoal in my filters once the take is stable

I agree 100%. Normally no need for it.

especially since it needs to be replaced frequently or it can become toxic.

It is a myth that activated carbon will release what it has adsorbed once it is 'full'. It can be done, but it takes conditions that are not possible in an aquarium (extreme heat and highly acidic environment). It will no longer be effective to take in chemicals but can still be used for bacteria to use the spent carbon as a surface to grow on.

 

[FreshyFresh]

I've never had any negative effects from using it (and possibly neglecting it) in my tanks, but from what I've read, it's not at all necessary. As I'm sure you know, all it really does when it's new/fresh is absorb odors and do some water clarification.

Like you say, it's main negative is absorbing tank medications, but most meds tell you in their instructions to remove any carbon prior to medicating.

I no longer use carbon unless I have no choice. One example of 'no choice' is with the filter cartridges for my little pengiun bio-wheel filter on my 10g. I guess I could extract the carbon by cutting open the media if I wanted though.

The cartridges for my cheap TopTin 30 HOB can be opened to dump out the carbon.

I used the carbon bag that came with my SunSun 302 canister, but it will be discarded on it's first media change.

 

[Thyra]

Here is some interesting reading on the subject - be sure to read both pages of comments and then you can form your own opinions.
Carbon -- to use or not to use?

My filters contain carbon and I use them that way. I don't change the filters every month, but more like every two months. So far (3 years) I have never had an ammonia reading over Zero, although I doubt that has anything to do with the carbon.

 

[Rotaripsnoc]

I've read elsewhere that Activated Carbon does not touch Ammonia \ Nitrites \ Nitrates, so it would only affect trace elements in your water, and odors. More info here Activated Carbon in the Aquarium

 

[FreshyFresh]

Pretty sure I'm just further confused and frustrated on the yes/no to using carbon topic. As is it's custom.

 

[OrangeCones]

Except to remove medication from two quarantine tanks (adopted sick fish and had to use medication to treat a severe case of freshwater and another for marine ich), I've never used carbon.

 

[FreshyFresh]

The posts from the woman with the "marine biologist" husband seem pretty convincing, but wouldn't you think you can accomplish the same things with regular water changes?

I get the use of carbon for quick & thorough medicine removal. Jury still seems out for regular steady usage.

 

[Thyra]

Somewhere early on I read that the BB colonizes best on porous materials and charcoal was one of them. I had access to a lot of porous lava from Mt. St. Helens, but have never tested it or put any into my tanks because of possible negative mineral content. Seeing as how my cartridges already have charcoal in them I am not about to cut it out. I only medicated a small tank once and I simply pulled the cartridge for a couple of days like the directions said.

 

[KcMopar]

Carbon is good to remove meds and odors but its still not all that good at the later part of its ability. It boils down to your money. Either you have it to spend or you dont or you realize its just not needed on a day to day basis. It looks as you have removed it and there has not been any disasters. I would take this observation and run with it.