Big Ben
Aquarium Advice Freak
I just took the carbon out of my filter after I read somewhere that it removes certain elements plants need to grow. Is this true?
carbon filtration
- Thread starter Big Ben
- Start date
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Hoovercat
Aquarium Advice Freak
I read somewhere that it removes certain elements plants need to grow. Is this true?
No one's proven that rumor AFAIK. That said, there's not really any good reason to run carbon on a planted tank if you're not removing medication or such.
No one's proven that rumor AFAIK. That said, there's not really any good reason to run carbon on a planted tank if you're not removing medication or such.
Glenc
Aquarium Advice Addict
As Hoovercat mentioned, carbon is usually used to remove meds or to remove the brownish tannins you sometimes get when first putting in driftwood. Whatever beneficial effects carbon may have will be exhausted in a couple of weeks as the carbon becomes saturated. I have removed all the carbon from my filters as well with no ill effects. 
newfound77951
Aquarium Advice Addict
Same here, I have never used carbon in my planted 55. I always keep some on hand in case I need it, though.
Carbon will remove some nutrients, as well as organic matter. How much, I don't know, it would make a nice experiment! It definitely would change as the carbon ages which would make dosing nutrients tough as you'd have another variable to deal with.
Carbon will remove some nutrients, as well as organic matter. How much, I don't know, it would make a nice experiment! It definitely would change as the carbon ages which would make dosing nutrients tough as you'd have another variable to deal with.
