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	Activated Carbon?
Longhairhippy789 Small Fry Posts: 4 Kudos: 3 Votes: 0 Registered: 03-Nov-2004	Does activated carbon still have an effect on medication even if it has been in use for a long time, and has probably become deactivated?
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:58
tanker Hobbyist Posts: 99 Kudos: 113 Votes: 4 Registered: 04-May-2005	Once carbon has become saturated and is no longer active it ceases to be chemical filtration and is only a mechanical filter at that point. So to answer your question, once carbon becomes innert it will no longer remove meds from the water, only particulate matter.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:58
LITTLE_FISH *** Little Fish *** Master of Something Posts: 7303 Kudos: 1997 Votes: 670 Registered: 20-May-2005	Longhairhippy789, Why would you keep your “De-Activated Carbon” in your filter anyway? If you would like to have additional filtration I would suggest that you use a second sponge instead. The Carbon is much harder to clean as particles can enter your bag deeply and get stuck between the individual carbon grains. At least that’s my opinion Ingo Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:58
tanker Hobbyist Posts: 99 Kudos: 113 Votes: 4 Registered: 04-May-2005	Another thing to consider with using carbon beyond its effective life is that it can under the right circumstances begin to leach polutants (medicines, tanins, particulate matter) back into the water. If you plan to use carbon, plan to replace it periodically to avoid this. Depleted carbon can be a form of mystery illness in your tank if allowed to begin leaching chemicals into the water.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:58


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