Are carbon filters really necessary?

[Bsalem05]

could I add the sponge cartridge along with the current filter cartridge I have and then eventually take the carbon filter out and leave the sponge??

[Bsalem05]

I think I'm just complicating things! lol
On my next water change i'll cut out the media inside out of the cartridge..

[Phaydra]

You can just take the carbon out of the filter and keep the floss. If you want to you can even cut sponge to fit back in the area the carbon was.

[Bsalem05]

Originally Posted by Phaydra

You can just take the carbon out of the filter and keep the floss. If you want to you can even cut sponge to fit back in the area the carbon was.

awesome! I have some extra sponge I can use to do that. =)

Thanks!

[callistra]

I always run carbon on new tanks, just to be safe. There's really no downside to carbon, except for cost upkeep.. they need to be replaced every 1-4 weeks, depending on what the manufacturer states. It's not just a cosmetic things. It will remove any chemicals or nasties in the tank water that may have somehow accidentally gotten in there. Think of the brita water filter so many use.. how doe sit work? Carbon. The carbon cleans your fishes water. That said, it's not necessary when good conditions are present, but I always figure better safe than sorry. I would at the very least always keep some handy in case of an emergency, and I would suggest running it at least a week or two on any new tank.

[finnfinnfriend]

How would carbon help a new tank? Would it remove chemical residue from
manufacturing on new equipment? Is that how it would help in a new tank?

[Kithy]

While we are on this topic of carbon filters.. I have two carbon filters and have yet to replace the actual filter in months. I didn't know that I would need to actually remove the carbon but this is good to know.

What are some good sponges or other filter media that could keep up with 3 goldfish and a pleco?

[n3wport]

Im watching this thread because I have been on the fence about using my carbon filters, or cutting filter media and putting it in my filter... (or maybe a combo of both?)

[Phaydra]

Sponges act as a mechanical and bio filter. Chemical is not needed as often as the other two.

Most of the cartridges you just make a small cut in the top. I have larger filters that have their pull out own container for carbon and you just pull the top off. My overhead has a bag the carbon goes in.

Yeah finnfinn I run it just for that reason for the first month. You never know what is on the new stuff you get. If it's an empty used tank you just bought you don't really know what's been in it either. I figure better to be safe then sorry.

[finnfinnfriend]

Originally Posted by Phaydra

Sponges act as a mechanical and bio filter. Chemical is not needed as often as the other two.

Yeah finnfinn I run it just for that reason for the first month. You never know what is on the new stuff you get. If it's an empty used tank you just bought you don't really know what's been in it either. I figure better to be safe then sorry.

Gotcha that makes sense