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	Charcoal as a substrate?
fish patty Fish Addict Posts: 539 Kudos: 223 Votes: 255 Registered: 04-Oct-2006	Someone asked me if they could just use charcoal instead of black gravel on the bottom of their tank. I told them I didn't think it would be a good idea but don't know why I said that? I know they could never put medicine in their tank & have it work properly........ but other than that why is not a good idea to use charcoal rather than black gravel? Was just curious after I got to thinking about it myself.
Posted 18-Oct-2006 20:00
MoFish Hobbyist Posts: 148 Kudos: 40 Registered: 15-Mar-2006	Wouldn't the charcoal float even after soaking? ~Morgan~
Posted 18-Oct-2006 23:14
fish patty Fish Addict Posts: 539 Kudos: 223 Votes: 255 Registered: 04-Oct-2006	Hubby just said he thought it would float too. How about that! I don't have loose charcoal laying around, just in my premade filter, so have never seen it put into water. Hmmmmm that's interesting. I guess maybe cause it's so porous , that is why it would float, if you two are right. Thanks MoFish.
Posted 18-Oct-2006 23:30
FRANK Moderator Posts: 5108 Kudos: 5263 Votes: 1690 Registered: 28-Dec-2002	Edited by FRANK Hi, You would not believe the mess you would create by dumping a few bags of charcoal into a tank! I know, I did (by accident). It took FOREVER to clean the charcoal dust out of the water and off the sides of the tank and tubes, and ornaments! Nearly all of it did float. It is very porous and just floated atop the water. Believe me, it was a real mess. I'd advise not trying it. Frank -->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--
Posted 19-Oct-2006 00:49
fish patty Fish Addict Posts: 539 Kudos: 223 Votes: 255 Registered: 04-Oct-2006	Oh Frank........ we would at least have the sense to rinse off the charcoal before accidently spilling it into the tank! Well, it floated! Good goin" MoFish! Thanks for confirming that Frank!
Posted 19-Oct-2006 01:05
divertran Fish Addict Posts: 784 Kudos: 469 Votes: 165 Registered: 14-Nov-2004	Oh, man, what a mess. I've had a bag blow up on me trying to open the &^*% thing and man, that dust goes everywhere.
Posted 19-Oct-2006 07:15
keithgh Ultimate Fish Guru Posts: 6371 Kudos: 6918 Votes: 1542 Registered: 26-Apr-2003	I dont think any one has said yet a BIG BIG NO NO. Frank stated the reasons and very good ones at that. Charcoal has its purpose but certainly that is not one of them. *Have a look in [link=My Profile] http://www.fishprofiles.com/forums/member.aspx?id=1935[/link] for my tank info* Look here for my Betta 11Gal Desktop & Placidity 5ft Community Tank Photos Keith Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do. I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT? VOTE NOW VOTE NOW
Posted 19-Oct-2006 11:20
So_Very_Sneaky Ultimate Fish Guru Posts: 3238 Kudos: 2272 Votes: 201 Registered: 10-Mar-2004	Hi there, remember they are probably not talking about actual charcoal but probably mean Carbon. The black stuff that goes in your filter. I dont know if it would sink or float. Come Play Yahtzee With Me! http://games.atari.com Http://www.myleague.com/yahtgames
Posted 19-Oct-2006 19:15
fish patty Fish Addict Posts: 539 Kudos: 223 Votes: 255 Registered: 04-Oct-2006	Oh............ my mistake. Maybe I should have referred to it as cabon. But I think they knew what I was talking about......... the stuff that goes in the filter, carbon, as you are saying it is called. Yes, I think we are all talking about that stuff. Even if you did rinse it off good before putting it in the tank, apparently it floats, so wouldn't be good for a substrate.
Posted 19-Oct-2006 19:47
keithgh Ultimate Fish Guru Posts: 6371 Kudos: 6918 Votes: 1542 Registered: 26-Apr-2003	No I was actualy refering to "Charcoal" *Have a look in [link=My Profile] http://www.fishprofiles.com/forums/member.aspx?id=1935[/link] for my tank info* Look here for my Betta 11Gal Desktop & Placidity 5ft Community Tank Photos Keith Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do. I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT? VOTE NOW VOTE NOW
Posted 20-Oct-2006 10:02
fish patty Fish Addict Posts: 539 Kudos: 223 Votes: 255 Registered: 04-Oct-2006	Oh no Keith, we wouldn't try 'charcoal"....... the stuff you put in the bottom of a grill. Someone just thought that the carbon you have in filters looked pretty & they wondered if they could use it on the bottom of their tank, like black gravel. Even if you rinsed it off first, it floats, so that wouldn't work.
Posted 20-Oct-2006 17:08
Babelfish Administrator Small Fry with Ketchup Posts: 6833 Kudos: 8324 Votes: 1570 Registered: 17-Apr-2003	Wouldnt work for a few reasons. The floating is one of them. Another reason has to do with tank maintence. When doing a gravel vacyou wouldnt be able to get all the waste that settles down into the carbon layer since as soon as you insert the tube down into the layer it'd crush the carbon making a further mess! If you want a black substrate they make a few different ones, granted they're all a bit on the side. ^_^
Posted 21-Oct-2006 16:13
fish patty Fish Addict Posts: 539 Kudos: 223 Votes: 255 Registered: 04-Oct-2006	Ohhhhh carbon crushes.......... didn't know that. Thanks Babel. Well, he went & bought black gravel, so all is well.
Posted 21-Oct-2006 16:51


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