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Is charcoal bad for a planted tank?

No.

There is a concern that charcoal may eliminate fertilizers that you use in the tank, but it is not bad.



__________
"To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research."
researched from Steven Wright

Hi,
Charcoal, or "activated charcoal" as it is occasionally
called, is designed to "absorb" organics such as fish
urea, and other chemicals from the water. It is now
pretty much a part of the "standard" filter media that
accompanies every new aquarium filter. Many simply
replace it regularly, and others throw it away and replace
the void with a sponge.

Most do not use charcoal with planted tanks because it
will absorb some of the fertilizers that are added.
The thing is, the stuff only works for a week or two
depending upon the bio-load of the tank. After that the
charcoal is saturated and cannot absorb any more. At that
point it simply becomes a "mechanical" filter instead of
a "chemical" filter, and "catches" the larger pieces of
detritus that is sucked into the filter intake.

The charcoals' ability to bind the organics and other
chemicals is so good that there are warnings attached
to nearly every medication, to remove the charcoal during
the treatment period.

About the only time one "might" or "should" use charcoal
is after treatment for a disease, and if you have fresh
driftwood leeching tannins into the tank. The charcoal
will bind the medications. Also, the tannins will
help clear the yellow/brown color out of the water.
Other than those instances, you might as well leave it
out of the filter system.

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

Ok, thanks for the replies.

Ok, then what happens if I have a Marineland power filter? As the carbon catridge comes attached to the sponge.

Hi,
First, I am not familiar with that specific filter.

Some folks will simply take the filter out, swish it
around in some old tank water and replace it continuing
to use the same piece over and over again.
Others will remove the carbon by cutting open the
sponge bag tossing the carbon, and reinsert the sponge.
Others will find some sponge, remove the package,
and replace it with a piece of sponge cut to fill the
void.

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

Basically, my sponge encases the carbon, and they are not made to be able to be seperated. So, you said that after 2 weeks, the carbon loses its chemical filtration. Does that mean that it will also stop absorbing fertilizer after 2 weeks?

Hi,
Yes, after a period of time, the charcoal becomes unable
to be a chemical filter and is, in essence, just another
part of the mechanical filtration (blocks larger
particles.)

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

Of course, after a period of time, the charcoal gives up the nasties that adhere to it. Think of the charcoal becoming less "sticky". You are better off doing it yourself as far as sponge and filter material with the frame. Then you can forget the charcoal and avoid the cost of a replacement filter every 2 to 3 weeks.



__________
"To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research."
researched from Steven Wright

This is very interesting. I to have a filter containing 2 charcol filter pads that have been in the filter for a couple months. So if I read this right they are not doing me any good except for catching particals and could be doing harm if they are leaching nastys back into the tank. So what type of media is recomended? I belive that my Aqua-Tech Wal Mart filter is the same as a Pengiun 330 as I have read that the bio wheel from the Pengiun will fit. The filter I have has 2 charcol blue filter pads and 2 white course bads that are supost to be a bio filter.

Thanks

I'm glad I found this thread. I just bought an Eheim 2217 and read that the Charcoal filter had to be replaced after a couple of weeks.

So ... I can just take it out and not replace it? Or replace it with another sponge filter media?

---

Those who say they cant, Never will !!!

Hi,
Many of us simply throw the charcoal away after the first
use, and do not bother to replace it. To fill the space
the charcoal took up we use sponge.

I have a container of charcoal, unopened, should I ever
have to dose the tanks with medication, or if I ever get
the urge to put some driftwood in the tank again.

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

I have an Eheim Thermofilter as well as an AquaClear. I like both and, of course, never use charcoal. As much as I like the Eheim, I absolutely hate to clean it. The thought of opening it every two weeks to replace a carbon pad gives me a rash.

Never use the charcoal pad, I just add an additional fine pad... that I cut myself... from generic pad materials... because I refuse to pay Eheim that much money for a pad! Oh... I never replace the efimech or efisynth, I just rinse it with waste water from the aquarium.

You can also be frugal with other filters such as MuddyDogs. Use the old filter's plastic frame to hold sponge material and fine filter material in place. Do NOT use any sponge material from your local grocery or hardware store as it is frequently manufactured with additives!



__________
"To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research."
researched from Steven Wright

I feel like a right twit now cause I have been diligently replacing the charcoal with fresh stuff every 3 weeks.

Just recently I took out the charcoal in one tank to put some Melafix in for a day or two when I added new fish.
It is now 2 weeks later and I have done 2 WC in that time and forgot to put in any charcoal in the filter. Now I find out I don't have to anyway.