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	Med Question
ericm Fish Addict Posts: 573 Kudos: 448 Votes: 47 Registered: 21-Aug-2004	I was just wondering how long carbon should be run after using meds.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:52
sirbooks Moderator Sociopath Posts: 3875 Kudos: 5164 Votes: 932 Registered: 26-Jul-2004	I'm pretty sure that carbon absorbs most of any medication that gets added. You should take carbon out while treating, then you can add it again after you're done treating the tank. I'm pretty sure that's how it goes, someone correct me if I'm wrong. And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:52
ericm Fish Addict Posts: 573 Kudos: 448 Votes: 47 Registered: 21-Aug-2004	You are right on that, and I knew that. I don't even run carbon normally. I was just wondering after medication how long carbon will take to absorb all the med.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:52
solublefish Fish Addict Posts: 562 Kudos: 850 Votes: 40 Registered: 27-Feb-2004	Since activated carbon only really works for about 2-4 weeks, I think you could just leave it in for that 2-4 weeks. I don't use carbon either, but the last time I had to treat with meds, I bought new carbon and let it run for a month. My reasoning was that it can't hurt your tank, and I went out and bought it, why not use it when it still works.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:52
ericm Fish Addict Posts: 573 Kudos: 448 Votes: 47 Registered: 21-Aug-2004	I thought the carbon only stayed activated for a week then in turned into simply mechanical filtration.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:52
sirbooks Moderator Sociopath Posts: 3875 Kudos: 5164 Votes: 932 Registered: 26-Jul-2004	No, carbon usually lasts longer than that. If a tank is brand new though, or really dirty, the carbon will wear out sooner, but it normally only needs to be changed once a month or so. Of course, this can depend on many factors, but the average is once a month. And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:52
ericm Fish Addict Posts: 573 Kudos: 448 Votes: 47 Registered: 21-Aug-2004	So I should run it for about 2 weeks or so to fully remove the med? I have peat in the filter which I would like to run when I get cardinals so I don't want to run carbon for too long.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:52
Bignose Hobbyist Posts: 110 Kudos: 81 Registered: 28-Jun-2004	So long as you match the pH, temp, and hardness of the tank water, a large water change is just about the quickest way to get the medications out of the water. Combined with fresh carbon, you can probably get everything out of your water in a matter of days.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:52
garyroland ---Prime Fish--- Posts: 7878 Kudos: 4010 Votes: 103 Registered: 31-Dec-2001	Side note... Carbon will, after its activated life diminishes, become populated with good bacteria. There comes a point where the carbon turns mushy and should be replaced. If used to remove meds the carbon should be discarded for new after a two week period. --garyroland.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:52


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