Pros and Cons of Activated Carbon in Aquarium Filter:
Activated carbon is one of the
most selling filter media. As new types of bio media are available in new
filters, hobbyists are wondering if activated carbon is still useful. Some of
them recommend a regular use of activated carbon in filters. Others suggest
using it in time of need, & still, others do not recommend the use of
activated carbon at all.
The benefits of activated carbon
as filter media surpasses its cons, however, we recommended using activated carbon
in case of emergency as it has a short life span.
Pros of Activated Carbon in Aquarium Filter:
Activated carbon is created from
carbonaceous material, which is heat-treated at extremely high temperature to
make numerous little holes, highly enhancing its surface area. These little
pores & vast surface area let the activated carbon collect heaps of toxins,
making it helpful for wiping out pollutants from both water & air.
Activated carbon is used for
absorbing toxic chemicals including chlorine & chloramine, tannins, &
phenols (that cause bad smells). It will save fish tank water from changing its
colour to yellow.
Activated carbon will wipe out
many medicines used for treating ill fish. Hence, before curing ill fish with
medicine, it is important to remove all carbon from the aquarium filter. When
treatment is completely finished, it is safe to put carbon back in the filter.
The leftover medicine will be absorbed by the activated carbon.
Cons of Activated Carbon in Aquarium Filter:
Activated carbon loses its
capacity of absorbing contaminants when used in filters, & need replacement
after a certain period. Otherwise, it will offer a little benefit.
It is crucial to note that activated
carbon cannot remove several crucial toxins. It can’t wipe out ammonia, nitrite
& nitrate. Hence, it does not help in removing toxic chemicals during the
initial fish tank setup. For removal of ammonia, nitrite & nitrate, water
changes or bio media should be used.
Activated carbon cannot remove
heavy metals including lead or copper. If the source of water contains heavy
metals, it is recommended to treat water before adding it to the fish tank.
Over time the efficiency of activated
carbon will be reduced quickly if it is exposed to heaps of dirt from the fish
tank. Hence, it is important to add activated carbon after the mechanical
filter media in the filter. It is important to note that if your aquarium water
is dirty, & detritus builds up inside the filter, the effectiveness of
carbon will be reduced.
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