Activated Carbon In Aquarium: Benefits & Using Guide 2022

Do you know the positive effects of activated carbon in an aquarium?

Is aquarium carbon harmful to fish?

If you want to find the answers to these questions, you are in the right place!

Here you could read everything you need to know about carbon for fish tanks and find many great benefits of using it.

Everything You Need To Know About Activated Carbon In Aquarium

1.What Does It Do?

One of the most well-known filtration metaphors is using carbon filter media. It is chemical filtration media, and many people use it. It will remove organic and inorganic materials from your tank. This is a great way to keep your aquarium clean and away from bacteria. It works by making the pollutants in contact with the carbon and thus remain trapped in it. Activated carbon will remove smudges from your aquarium as well as other harmful things. Also, if you are using laundry fish medications, the charcoal will remove them, so be careful if you put it on if your fish needs to receive certain medications. Activated carbon cannot be used for toxin removal. It cannot absorb nitrites, nitrates, and ammonia. other materials are used to make carbon. And so, you can notice the carbon from coal, coconuts, peat, bamboo, and wood. They are all used to produce activated carbon.

 2.Is It Harmful To Fish?

The question is often asked whether carbon is dangerous to fish and other aquarium inhabitants. But you don’t need to worry. Activated charcoal will not harm fish or other animals. But watch out for the notes in your aquarium. Charcoal removes various elements from the aquarium, including useful things that promote the development and growth of plants. Therefore, it is advised that people who have a lot of plants in the aquarium reduce their intake of activated carbon. Carbon can release pollutants, but this cannot happen in your aquarium as it would require a change in water. So you do not have to worry if your fish are completely safe. Two female betta fishes could live together in a healthy aquarium, so carbon is a great option. Even if the charcoal gets into the water when cleaning the aquarium, take it out, and do not worry because even then it won’t harm your fish.

3.Amount Of Carbon To Use

For a 55 gallon tank, it is common to use 2 cups of carbon. Of course, the amount will depend on the type of filter you have and whether you need to put more or less carbon in it. You also need to pay attention to the quality of the carbon you use. If the carbon is of lower quality, you will probably need to put it more. And don’t worry, too much carbon can’t kill your fish but it can affect the growth of plants in the aquarium. Too little carbon will not affect the water in the aquarium enough and more impurities will be created. For example, if you have two female bettas in a 10-gallon tank, you would not need much carbon. But, it would be very useful if you could use it.

4.How To Add The Carbon

Carbon is the easiest to put in the filter. Each filter has two to three slots where you can put carbon bags. Place a carbon bag behind the filter pad to make it last as long as possible. That way the grease would not collect on the carbon and it can last a couple of days longer. It is very important to clean the carbon and filter it before placing it in the aquarium. Clean them of dust and dirt to make them last longer. You can change the bagged carbon when it wears out, approximately every 3 to 4 weeks. 

5.Is Coconut-based Carbon A Good Option

There are many types of carbon, some of which are applicable to an aquarium. Coconut-based carbon is not good for an aquarium because it is very micro-porous carbon. It is used for water purification, purification of air and water, but does not have much benefit for the aquarium. Of course, you can use it and you will clean the dirt with it but not as with activated carbon.

6.Quality Of The Carbon

When buying carbon you need to pay attention to a few items. First, pay attention to the quality of the charcoal, choose the highest quality so that your aquarium stays clean and so that you do not pollute it further. When choosing activated carbon, check the ash content, iodine number, and molasses number. Carbon with a larger surface area is a better option because more parasites can be caught on it. Also, the surface may be too large so the pores will be smaller and contaminants will not be able to pass through it. Also, the pores may be large enough but bonding will not be possible. Therefore, you need to choose a mixture of large and small pores. The amount of ash should be kept to a minimum, and excess ash can be removed by soaking the carbon in water. This way you will also leach out the phosphate contained in it. 

7.Do You Need To Have Activated Carbon

The question is often asked whether an aquarium without activated carbon can function normally and whether you need it at all. Activated charcoal will make sure you have a clean and healthy aquarium, but you can do without it. Activated charcoal will help you, but it is not a necessary thing. It will create an additional cost for you because you have to change it every month. Of course, sometimes you will have to change more often depending on how fast your aquarium gets dirty. There are also substitutes for activated carbon, which you can also use. For example, try using burned toast as a substitute.

8.How Long Does Activated Carbon Last In Aquarium

Activated carbon can last between 2 to 4 weeks. This will initially depend on the type of aquarium you are using, how much carbon you have put in, and how dirty your aquarium is. Of course, different brands are different, and each of them requires a different aquarium temperature to make the carbon last longer. Remove excess dust, thus extending the life of activated carbon. Of course, it will last until the carbon is no longer able to absorb impurities. If the water in the aquarium is very dirty, you will need to change it every week. 

9.Can You Clean Activated Carbon?

There is an easy way you can clean activated charcoal. You need a tablespoon of liquid dishwashing detergent and two cups of warm water. Mix them together. You also need a white cloth and clean the stain with a sponge. You will easily clean it with this detergent mix. Then you have to bloat it to remove the residue. Repeat several times until the stains disappear. Then wash everything with a sponge in clean water, and then blot dry. You can recycle activated charcoal. Make sure you wash everything well when sapping so that no detergent parts remain. 

10.How To Reactivate Carbon Filter

You can reactivate Carbon, but you will need knowledge and skills. For starters, the carbon you need to heat up to 900 degrees Celsius. When you reactivate activated carbon, all the impurities that have remained in it relax when heated. Be careful, because, at higher temperatures, these impurities can easily become toxic. Activated carbon can be reused. The air filter can be completely reused because you have to bake it out. You can also wash the air filter, but you need to know the right way to avoid any dirt that would be released into the aquarium again by putting it in the water again. You can often hear how you can heat charcoal in your own oven, but you can’t reach such high temperatures there. Given this, it is easier and simpler for you to buy new charcoal in the store.

11.Cautions With Carbon

As you can see, using activated carbon has a lot of positive effects and will positively affect your aquarium. You have to be careful when changing it because that is how you remove all the dirt and bacteria from the aquarium. Carbon is not dangerous to fish, but it can damage plants in the aquarium. There is a possibility that powdered carbon will be released from the filter and thus damage the fish if it comes into direct contact with them. Therefore, you need to be careful when changing the carbon. It is not harmful to humans, it can only be dangerous when you go to reactivate it because it has extremely high temperatures. If you are not an expert, do not go to reactivate it of your own free will, also do not do it in your own home because it is a temperature above 900 degrees Celsius.