Are you using carbon in your filtering system? Is carbon really causing HITH?

so much had been written and said about carbon, activated carbon core, and carbon plate in relation to aquarium filtering system. some people says that prolong use of carbon causes HITH. although there is no scientifically proven data, i believe it is true. why???? basically because prolong use of such materials can accumulate so much impurities in it, that may leach back to the tank. the same impurities that are supposed to be remove stays in the system for too long.

i used to construct, install and operates filtration system using such materials (carbon). what i find lacking in the use of carbon in the aquarium system is the information about the "effective life span" of carbon itself. in drinking water filtration system using activated carbon core, there is a required life span depending on the quality of water source being filtered. once the effective life span had been consummated, you have to replace the carbon core, otherwise the system will not work as expected. i believe this is the missing point where the problem starts in the aquarium field. no one ever check or ask what is the life span of the carbon in the aquarium filtering system. if the one using it have the knowledge about the effective life span, no HITH would ever occur in his/her tank.

the point is, in using carbon, one should know what is the effective life span of it, say 1,000,000 gal or liters filtered water (depending on the # of fish in your tank), then replace it.

just want to share my knowledge about carbon. take note, i do not have any carbon in my tank either. no need.

great info paul ........i have never and will never use carbon for any reason !!!!

Never used it and never will. i don't like the stuff.

This is my thinking. i have only ever had a minor case of HITH,This came after I used carbon for about a month. before this I had my Oscars for 4yrs with NO sign of HITH (no carbon used). 1 month of using carbon I got minor signs. i removed it and No HITH. it cleared after a month. and has not returned. I used the best carbon on the market and washed it before use. I no longer use it and have no problems. i also think carbon removes minerals needed by fish. lastly i think with the large scale water changes we do carbon isn't going to work cos it cant keep up with the amount of heavy metals etc that it should remove. carbon takes a some time to absorb things and wkly water changes means it cant keep up. most members that are not suffering any problems at all and have perfectly good aquariums are not using carbon.thats all I need to know. why pay for something if it works fine without.

well said marcus. i personally dont use carbon in my systems unless i am trying to remove medication from a tank. i have been keeping oscars and other large south/central american cichlids for a while now and (knock on wood) have yet to have any problems with hith disease.
as for if carbon does cause hith it has yet to be scientificly proven however imho there is to much that points at the connection to risk it.

just my 2 cents

Very interesting guys - and got my alarm bells ringing!!!!
ive always had carbon in my filters - are you guys saying that this could do my fish more harm than good?
never realised that it may contribute towards HITH
I feel like removing it straight away

I would remove it mate.
basically, if it aint cleaned regular then its pointless using it.
when using carbon, you have to open up your filter alot more often and clean the carbon.
in my eyes, its worthless.

well said guys and gals, why use it when we can live without it.
as i have said, carbon really works on its effective life
but becomes burden later on for holding those impuriteis in
the system for too long that may leach back to the tank. carbon
is essential after medication and may no longer needed after that.

my only concern is that people producing such product may get mad on
us.....

PAUL wrote:



bring em on :angry: :angry: LOL LOL

For people that do need to use carbon, for removing medication etc i would recommend that you hang the bag of carbon in the tank next to the out flow from your filter. As Paul states carbon doesn't last much longer than a month and needs to be removed at this time or before. stripping down the filter is time consuming and may end in damage to the bio media. A bag hanging in the back of your tank don't look great but is easy to get to so you are more likely to remove it on time and not forget it letting the absorbed wast to leach back into circulation.

that's a good input marcus. if one needed to used carbon,
say after medication, he/she doesn't need to dismantle and
install one. all he/she need to have is a bag and done.
thanks.

if your not in the habit of cleaning your filter on a monthly basis marcus's idea for the carbon will work fine. i my case i always do a filter cleaning once a month(just to check it out. guess im kinda ocd that way) so putting the carbon in the filter is really no biggie for me. i just remove it when i clean the filter.