what point to change carbon

[csababubbles]

when do you guys change your carbon in relation to your water-changes? Do you change it right after you do the water change? Or do you replace it halfway between the water-changes?

 

[gotfish]

Sometimes before, sometimes after and every once in a while I get really crazy and do it the day before I change the water.

 

[tri_pod_rod]

holy crap you change your carbon everytime you do a water change so thats new carbon every 7 days or am i wrong?

 

[DonW]

Any more than about a week it just turns into a biological filter creating N. I change it after a water change.

Don

 

[csababubbles]

donw is that your boston?

 

[DonW]

Yes that is my Boston.

Don

 

[csababubbles]

i got two of them, hands down the best dogs ever

 

[DonW]

i got two of them, hands down the best dogs ever

Agreed. Mine is still youg and full of energy. Right now Ive got him jumping 5ft the little guy is pretty amazing sometimes.

Don

 

[dailydriven911]

I personally change mine every two weeks and never had any problems...

 

[DonW]

Its really only good for a day or two. In some tanks only a few hours.

Don

 

[dailydriven911]

It probably takes a day for my total water vol to go through my reactor so why only a few hrs to a day or two. Does carbon lose it's effiecency that fast?

 

[DonW]

Carbon doesn't hold much. Sort of like a sponge it strips the water real fast but when its full its full.

Don

 

[dailydriven911]

Carbon doesn't hold much. Sort of like a sponge it strips the water real fast but when its full its full.

Don

Well I guess I'll be changing my carbon out every week...thanks for the tips!

 

[Scooterman]

yup it doesn't take long in a dirty tank to use it up.

 

[Darthv247]

once a month is fine. you just have to rinse it off in cold water every now and again. to say that carbon is no good after 1 week is not always the case.

p.s. dont buy cheap carbon. make sure it says that it will not release phosphates and that it is intended for aquarium use.

 

[dailydriven911]

I only buy quality carbon I prefer elos and seachem myself.

 

[Darthv247]

ESV thats my choice.

 

[DonW]

once a month is fine. you just have to rinse it off in cold water every now and again. to say that carbon is no good after 1 week is not always the case.

p.s. dont buy cheap carbon. make sure it says that it will not release phosphates and that it is intended for aquarium use.

What exactly does rinsing in cold water do besides removing the surface detritus? Once its full its full unless of course you happen to own a steam regeration plant. If there is alot of chemical action going on in your tank as with softies carbon fills very quick. With a nice clean sps tank its only a matter of days. Beyond that its a biological filter.

Don

 

[Darthv247]

well it should last 2-4 weeks. if you really want to determine the length it will last in your system use about 4 ounces per 50 gallons of aquarium water and take samples of water every week or so. have it in a clear glass and examine the color of the water in sunlight with white paper or something behind it. when the water is yellow or more yellow its no longer working and should be replaced.

Donw. yes rinsing it only removes surface detritus, but that suface detritus will make the carbon seem to be less effective because water can no longer move through or over each side of it as effectively.

 

[DonW]

well it should last 2-4 weeks. if you really want to determine the length it will last in your system use about 4 ounces per 50 gallons of aquarium water and take samples of water every week or so. have it in a clear glass and examine the color of the water in sunlight with white paper or something behind it. when the water is yellow or more yellow its no longer working and should be replaced.

Donw. yes rinsing it only removes surface detritus, but that suface detritus will make the carbon seem to be less effective because water can no longer move through or over each side of it as effectively.

That will not tell you a thing other than the water is a different color. To test carbon use it for three days. Put 1 gallon of tap water in a bucket then measure chloramines. Toss in the carbon and mix it for awhile then retest chloramines. It will in most cases be identical to the origonal test showing that the carbon is full. My tank is 3 days max but in most cases 2. Most people dont have yellow water even without the use of carbon. Skimmers remove most of the color detectable by the human eye. If not its time to rethink the set up.


Don