[abcemorse]

Do I need ot remove the carbon bags from my canister filter prior to adding ferts? Hadn't heard this before, but I'm going to start dosing new tank today, don't want to waste my efforts/$!!

 

[hoppycalif]

Activated carbon removes organic compounds, but I don't believe it removes the inorganic fertilizers we use. A few of the trace elements might be reduced a little, but that should be all. I wouldn't bother removing it. If it has been there longer than a couple of weeks the odds are it is saturated anyway and won't remove much of anything.

 

[jmontee]

I agree with hoppy but if it isn't doing anything I think it would be better to add some biological media, like the fluval ceramic cylinders for better bacterial growth. That is what I did in my canister filter. I have two of the baskets with bio medi. Maybe it doesn't make it a lot better but at least it's not just doing nothing. My 2 cents.

 

[MiSo]

if you want something to polish the water, try using purigen.
impact on trace minerals is minimal.

i use purigen, bio mediea, and filter pads in my canister.

 

[divy]

does carbon remove any organic elements that the plants use?

im just wondering because i bought some carbon for my filter and then some one told me not to use it cause it removes something that planst need

 

[jmontee]

divy, most people do not use carbon on planted tanks as it doesn't do much and may remove some of the trace elemnts that we dose in well planted tanks. It does remove organic compounds but if you are doing regular water changes and removing any dead material from your tank it is not necessary.

 

[hoppycalif]

I started this thread http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/...tilizing/52343-filter-carbon-fertilizers.html in the fertilizing forum, hoping that someone has done some simple testing to verify that carbon does or does not affect fertilizers. Some simple testing would give useful data.

 

[abcemorse]

I went ahead and took the carbon out and put in polishing pad, it's only been a day, really, but no noticeable changes, will keep posted. I'm not too worried about being without the carbon, I'm pretty anal about water changes. Really, though, this tank is so new (just BARELY cycled) it's hard to tell anything yet. I have both bioballs and ceramic rings so biologically it should be OK. I'll report any happenings.....