Function of Charcoal?

[hirowen]

I know that charcoal helps in the chemical filtration, but what is the main function of using charcoal? Is it alright to use charcoal in planted aquarium? I read that Amano uses bamboo charcoal in his filter media, but somewhere heard that charcoal is not reccomended in planted.

[Justikanz]

Charcoal and activated carbon acts to adsorb (not absorb) chemicals and some heavy metals onto the surface. Thus, they are used as chemical filtration. Do note that charcoal and activated carbon must be removed and not left in the filter as upon saturation, the adsorbed substances will be released back into the water.

They can also be used to remove colour stains caused by tannic acids and make the water look crystal clear... Probably why Amano uses them... Especially before a photo shoot...

As such, most people do not recommend them for planted tanks as they also remove the fertilizers we purposely add to the tanks...

Then it be waste $$ lor...

[hirowen]

Haha! Oic! Sometimes i am wondering why Mr Amano likes to do things that we usually will not be doing. For example, using a really high wattage of lighting in a small aquarium and etc.. Maybe this really make him a very special aquascaper!

[stormhawk]

Maybe this really make him a very special aquascaper!

He's either special or just plain eccentric.

[hirowen]

He's either special or just plain eccentric.

Haha!
But he is really a great Nature Aquascaper. However, his tank are so high maintenance! Did he hires any maid or worker just to maintain them?

[Justikanz]

He has a whole company to look after his tanks... Read about the ADA HQ! Makes you wanna go there at least once in your lifetime... Like a pilgrimage for planted tank keepers!...

[stormhawk]

Did he hires any maid or worker just to maintain them?

Michael, he definitely must have hired some workers to help out. If not how to maintain the beauty of the his tanks. Impossible for him alone to do all the jobs.

[benetay]

Will like to check with you people, from my understanding i know that charcoal needs to remove once its job is done but what about the bamboo charcoal from ADA do we need to remove them? I've them for like so so long and i realise that it's inside when i wash the filter...

Will there be any problems due to the charcoal not removed?

[PeterGwee]

Will like to check with you people, from my understanding i know that charcoal needs to remove once its job is done but what about the bamboo charcoal from ADA do we need to remove them? I've them for like so so long and i realise that it's inside when i wash the filter...

Will there be any problems due to the charcoal not removed?

They become bio-medias after a while.

Regards
Peter Gwee

[benetay]

So does that mean i don't have to throw away since it' has converted itself into bio-media?

Hmm in that case i'll add one bagful into the filter.

[Justikanz]

I have a bag of zeolite (works similar to carbon) that had been in use for like, 7 years or something like dat... I use them as bio-media now...

But I must say there will be a stage when the adsorbed chemicals are released back into the water and then the carbon becomes inactive to adsorb stuff... That is the stage when it is most dangerous for the tank fauna... But if water chanegs are constantly being made and religiously being done, it should not be a problem...

But carbon tends to breakdown after several years...

[stormhawk]

The problem with charcoal is that they tend to absorb the impurities in the water, and after awhile, once they are saturated with the impurities and we forget to take them out, they will leech these impurities back into the water.

I would recommend the use of carbon ONLY when necessary. They may perform a function as a bio-media but that is only minor compared to the abilities of the bio-media like Ehfisubstrat and lava rock.

Carbon will definitely break down over a long period of time, so if you do not wish to have a crumbling bunch of carbon bits, save yourself the hassle and don't put it into your filter unless necessary.

[hirowen]

Hey hey! So you guys using it for ur planted tank? Wont it affect the fertilising regime? Imagine it absorb those iron in the water.

[Justikanz]

I dun use carbon. Use it only to remove medication, which I seldom, if not never, use now...

[hirowen]

Oic!! Haha! So i got it now!

[stormhawk]

Well if you don't mind the carbon sucking up all the nutrients from the water, then by all means use it. Otherwise, steer clear of it.

Its only useful for removing medication from the water, but then again, a simple water change can already take out most of the medication from the water.