Re: [GSAS-Member] Carbon?

[Shango Los <shango@shangolos.com>]

Thanks so much for this in-depth analysis, Shamus.  This was very valuable
to me.

Shango


On 10/17/08 12:45 PM, "Shamus Young" <machismo@eskimo.com> wrote:

> Hello Phil:
> 
> I think some of the reasons have been touched on by other members, but
> here's my take:
> 
> 1) at best, it's not needed on a dialy basis. I think Macker said "if the
> tank is properly planted", but that's not a prerequisite to dropping
> carbon. It's more like "if you stay on top of water changes."  I had a
> plant-free tank (thanks to a severum) for 10 years with no carbon.
> Lauren's point about the medications is correct, though I don't tend to
> medicate a whole tank.  I usually just cull the infected fish or use a
> hospital tank.
> 
> Carbon is useful in spot applications-- removing meds, if you get an
> anerobic spot in the substrate or UGF and are giving a thorough cleaning,
> and I always run carbon for a week on tank start-up, in case there's crap
> in the substrate, decorations, whatever.
> 
> 2) If you have plants, carbon works against you. a good rule of thumb is
> that activated carbon adsorbs organic molecules well and doesn't tend to
> adsorb ions. Though there are exceptions-- e.g., carbon is supposed to
> adsorb chlorine.  Carbon won't mess with your hardness.  I'm pretty sure
> it won't alter the NPK levels.  But if you're putting something like
> Flourish in the tank, then all those biotin and vitamins you're paying out
> the pooper for are being sucked up by the carbon. Same with something like
> blackwater extract, or if you're using peat.
> 
> ---
> 
> So I've got the carbon cannister for my Magnum HOT filter.  Generally, the
> HOT does daily mechanical duty on the 40gal, but if I need chemical
> filtration on a tank, I'll just borrow the HOT for a week or so.  Since I
> want plants in the eclipse, I'll run the HOT with carbon for a week after
> I set up the tank, stop carbon, then add my plants, the sponge filter
> that's been soaking in my old tank, and first fish.
> 
> Shamus
> 
> 
> On Fri, 17 Oct 2008, Phil Lacefield Jr. wrote:
> 
>>>> I don't
>> want to get a new cartridge because I don't want to use carbon.
>> 
>> Just curious, as it looks like you're not the only one: why not use carbon?
>> Is there a certain reason why you don't want it in your tank?
>> 
>> Phil
>> 
>> 
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-- 

Shango Los
Fourthfold Visions, LLC

www.ShangoLos.com
www.OutdoorLovemap.com



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