Carbon: replacing or recharging?

[DocBob]

I typically run my tanks without activated carbon so I was just wondering:
How often should activated carbon be replaced? I would assume it depends on bioload, etc...
And can it be "recharged"? If so how is this done?
This may be a good thread for the FreshWater Beginner forum... if the moderator would like to move it there, please feel free.

 

[dattack]

Activated carbon usually loses it's absorptive quality after only a few days. You shouldn't buy those carbon that is sold in bit pieces but rather the more powdery one which has more surface area for removing unwanted chemicals/nasties.

You can recharge it by probably baking at a few thousand degree in a furnace.

 

[SoulFish]

carbon generally isnt needed, i usually run my filters without carbon and just have a few lying around for removing chemicals, cloudiness or if sand gets stirred up

 

[DocBob]

Thanks dattack, That's pretty much what I thought, but I heard someone mention boiling the carbon to release the absorbed toxins so it could be reused. I figured I'd check the validity of that comment.

Soulfish, that is exactly what I have the carbon lying around for. I never use it routinely. I depend on my water changes to keep my water quality up. I use the extra space in my filters for additional filter media. It's worked well for me for years and I can't see any reason to change that at this point.

 

[gudel]

it's cheaper to just get a new carbon than doing all that work and not knowing whether or not you get 100% recovery of that carbon. it keeps my water clear.