Carbon in planted tanks?

[Willyleigh]

Is it alright to put carbon in a planted tanks filter, I just got my Fluval 205 and set it running but alarm bells are ringing about me putting carbon in the filter, thanks for any answers!

[Lady Hobbs]

I use carbon in no tanks once a cycle has finished. I only use it to remove toxins in starter tanks.

[wijnands]

My tank is relatively fresh so there's still a carbon spunge in there. In a month or two I may take it out and see what happens. In my previous tank which, at the end, held mainly guppies it was a necessity because that tank was constantly on the edge of overcrowding.

In my very unscientific experience a well established tank with relatively few fish/liter carbon is not needed.

If you ever use any medication in the tank I'd really recommend putting carbon in after you finished medicating.

[Willyleigh]

Thanks for the replies, I guess thatI'll use the carbon and eventually replace it with ceramic cylinders like the other 2 compartments.

Its not useful but I take it that it won't do any harm.

[Lady Hobbs]

Carbon is only useful for a couple weeks. After that time, all you're really getting is the filter. Using the same filter all the time and then thinking it will remove any meds won't work as the carbon is no longer effective. I also suggest using it only to remove meds and toxins and then getting rid of it.

[xoolooxunny]

Carbon removes trace elements that plants need to thrive. Proper water changes will do the trick to replace these lost elements needed for healthy plants. I went no carbon about a month ago, and have seen greener leaves on my plants. With carbon, you're liable to get slow-growing leaves witch are prone algae growth.

[Incredulous_Ed]

I agree with xoolooxunny, after I removed the carbon, the cryptocorynes have been growing like crazy!! And after a while, the carbon will leach out the stuff it absorbed if you don't change it.

[jeffs99dime]

you do not want to use carbon in any tank, especially a planted one. that's my take on it anyway

[Willyleigh]

I guess that I'll be taking it out and swapping it with sponges or ceramic cylinders.

Which would you reccomend, I already have 2 compartments with ceramic cylinders

[Chrona]

I'd go with the sponge if you already have some ceramic rings. I prefer more mechanical filtration, and the sponge will host bacteria too. Plus, it's a planted tank, so the bacteria on the plant leaves already pick up a lot of the slack.

[xoolooxunny]

I guess that I'll be taking it out and swapping it with sponges or ceramic cylinders.

Which would you reccomend, I already have 2 compartments with ceramic cylinders

I would say use sponges in the first compartment, to keep the ceramic rings clean of any waste, so you dont have to clean them out. that way you can just clean out the sponge in the old water of a water changes, and leave the rings in.

[A340]

Interesting, I've never heard the theory of taking out the carbon in an established tank. I always thought it was something good to have, removing chemicals and such.

There are many things you could add to a filter, such as ammonia remover, nitrate remover, nitrite remover or peat pellets.

Question is, what do you want or need to put in there.

[xoolooxunny]

You usually want something in there that can host a very large bacteria colony, and that, in turn, will remove the nitrites and ammonia. Yes the carbon does remove chemicals, which makes it useful when you are medicating a tank and need to clean the water up after you are done. You can use things such as filter fiber for mechanical filtration and ceramic rings for biological filtration.