Should activated filter carbon be used in shrimp tank?

[J_shrimp]

Hi Bros and sis,

Need some advice on the usage of activated filter carbon in shrimp tank?
Anyone uses activated filter carbon in their tanks and does it has any side effect to the shrimps?

Went to a LFS and saw them selling this activated filter carbon. It stated that it is super in removing chlorine, ammonia, odor, color, dyes and insecticide. It also stated that it is non-bleached type, does not use chemical during production (pharmaceutical grade) and phospohate free.

Please advice....Thanks.

[sootz]

From my own experience...I bought this Gex slim filter few months back and it came with 1 activated carbon filter + 3? (i suspect is filter with carbon too...a lot of Japanese words, only can guess 50%...). From googling, I gather that you need to replace the activated carbon filter once a month or it may/will leak harmful stuff back to the water. <- I don't know how true.

Anyway used them for 1 month, tried to find replacements for the filter pad (but without carbon), couldn't find. Ended up throwing all the filter pads away and replacing with biohome plus. This way I don't need to keep buying filter pads. That was 1 month back, water still very clear to me, Me and my shrimps are very happy :P

At the start (when starting the tank), there were some shrimp deaths, but those may be due to other things. I don't think activated carbon will kill shrimps. I know though if you are going to dose plant fertilizers, you can't have activated carbon filter around.

[David]

Active carbon, like Zeolite are good at soaking up nasty stuff like what you have mentioned. However, in my opinion, it's not a long solution in acquiring the skill of balancing the tank as a closed ecosystem.

It gives a false sense of security that everything is alright till it's exhausted. While it does not leech back what it absorbs, like wise it cannot absorb anymore. This means that there will be spikes and before you realize it, it's usually too late.

Carbon and Zeolite are good as a temporary measure should you need to go on vacation and there is no one home to change water for weeks up to a month.

That is how I see it.

[J_shrimp]

Hi Guys,

Thanks for the feedback and advice. Yes, it stated that the filter carbon need to be replaced every 3 to 4 weeks at least.

So far, I only put 1 shrimp into the tank to test it...will continue monitor it. But I guess you are right....probably I will only use activated filter carbon when I am going for vacation....

[David]

and its also good after medication to soak up the excess med from the water column.....

If your tank is going through its cycle, than its is not a good idea to have active carbon. If it soaks up all the ammonia, then how is the cycle ever going to start?

[J_shrimp]

Noted...

FYI, my tank is already cycled but yet to introduce any shrimps except 1 malayan shrimp for testing....initially though of using this activated filter carbon to tackle any ammonia build up when I started introducing the shrimps...... Will be targetting sakura shrimps for a start....

[Dscyth]

Some activated carbon buffers the pH. I used the Gex brand and pH stays around 7. Not good if you are keeping CRS.

[David]

Bro...I don't think it works this way...beneficial bacteria increases proportionally to the supply of ammonia. It is also determined by the amount of surface area these bacteria can be housed.

Should you place the carbon in to absorb ammonia, then how does the beneficial bacteria multiply?

I could be wrong though....

[J_shrimp]

OIC....my bad. Looks like I better remove the activated filter carbon tonight when I reach home then. Definitely I need these beneficial bacteria for the good of my future shrimps.

Thanks Bro, almost make a big mistake........

[J_shrimp]

Some activated carbon buffers the pH. I used the Gex brand and pH stays around 7. Not good if you are keeping CRS.

Hi Dscyth, Thanks for the feedback. Currently I only plan for the hardy shrimps like sukura or cherry....not into CRS keeping cos not installing chiller in anytime sooner...

[David]

The trick to it is not to put too many shrimps at one time. By doing so gives just enough for the bacteria to multiply without going through the water cycle process again. Monitoring is still advisable.

[J_shrimp]

Yeah....will probably keep ~4 shrimps only....at least for a start...only when there is no death within 1 to 2 months..then I will probably introduce another 4 shrimps or so.....will do this slowly...