great information thank you. i used carbon in my tank for over 10 years and realized it was never necessary!

Carbon changed on a monthly basis also helps with that fishy smell . I use 2 filters 1 with a sponge and bio media only. I have 2 Large koi and water has no odors .

Depends what activated carbon brand you use as well in my experience, its kept my turtle tank crystal clear.

A lot of organic/inorganic chemistry involved... AC has a certain pore size that allows certain molecules to pass/be absorbed, and its molecular structure will only react with molecules that are able to react with it. It is held together by weak bonds which im guessing allow for some other molecules to "fuse"/react with it. This is what we'd consider its absorbing ability.

Plants are the best to use as you know, I have a lot of floating plants which take up a lot of waste and junk from the water I don’t use carbon at all

i have to use activated carbon, i use the good stuff. Pro-Carb and i use it a lot because i have a turtle and it works amazing. I also use zeolite as well (i have a fx6 filter) then mechanical filtration and the bio balls.

Your tanks look great, I have a cichlid tank and would like to add some plants, where?

Thanks for explaining! Is your name pronounced, Hits you? You're hitting with the info!

@DanHiteshew-oneandonly

4 жыл бұрын

It's actually just like it's spelled (Hite Shew or height shoe)

@AquaLady153

4 жыл бұрын

@@DanHiteshew-oneandonly I know. I'm just messing around.

Each to their own i guess,i use polycarb pads in my fluval u2 but i dont use the branded ones wich are 5/6 pounds for two,i buy non branded wich are exactly the same for 10.99 for 12 pads,they do cut down on odour,when i dont have them i just use poly pads wich i cut to size

I don’t use carbon. I just do water changes often. Twice a week.

I've also heard differing opinions as to whether or not carbon removes nutrients that plants need.

@naturallyalone8628

4 жыл бұрын

It will remove nutrients plants need from the water column, but not out of the substrate, so it all depends on what types of plants you have. If you have java ferns and anubias or other plants that absorb nutrients from the water column, they may suffer to flourish if using activated carbon on a regular basis.

I ordered Boyd's Chemo Pure Elite. Just wanted to try it. I use carbon in my filter.

@Hvy347

4 жыл бұрын

Do you have plants???

im pretty sure that carbon absorbs things that's why it removes somethings and not others.

I use carbon when / if my tanks get a case of the smelly water.. wife hates the fishy water smell. Carbon helps a lot

@legalawareness3048

3 жыл бұрын

My aqaurium water bcum red…why?

@aynasizkovboy3927

Жыл бұрын

@@legalawareness3048 tanins

I think same

Activated carbon was the original a chlorine remover, though it wasn't very effective in a short amount of time.

@WA-ir3fw

3 жыл бұрын

in fact activated carbon will remove chlorine and Chloramines,, the end reaction is gaseous chorine which evaporates quickly and if i recall it will also bind with sodium to make salt in very low concentrations. Talked to a chemist about this, like most things on U tube,,, anecdotal evidence at best.. Go to a local college and talk to a chemist about these things...Most times they will be more than happy to demonstrate these properties. Chemist love demonstrating chemistry.

I would only use it to remove meds or contaminants.

Thanks for that information. I am going to make my own bio filter and keep active carbon when tank medicated..how is that for a better life for our fish? Any thoughts?

@DanHiteshew-oneandonly

3 жыл бұрын

If you use carbon, it will remove the medication. Run carbon after you're finished to remove the left over meds, but not during the treatment.

@jaysilva5872

3 жыл бұрын

@@DanHiteshew-oneandonly yes I knew that after my amber school of 30 died...stupid pet shop didn't told me that carbon killing meds...I was shocked and looking for help everywhere and found after 5 of Amber's left but even it was too late ... money wasn't the thing I really sad for 30 life's that lost which entertained me lot when I am trestout...I learned my lesson...thanks mate...

can leave old activated carbon in my fish tank and mix it with the substrate?

@DanHiteshew-oneandonly

4 жыл бұрын

I wouldn't. It's probably fine, but I wouldn't just in case.

I prefer Purigen over charcoal. Allegedly it doesn't remove fertilizers like carbon does.

@DanHiteshew-oneandonly

4 жыл бұрын

Purigen is an ion exchange medium. It works very differently that carbon.

I’m trying to lower my PH in my tank from 8.2 to somewhere around 7 to 7.5. I’m wondering if carbon would help achieve that.

@DanHiteshew-oneandonly

2 жыл бұрын

No, not at all. Carbon won't impact your pH at all.

@mithe2011

2 жыл бұрын

@@DanHiteshew-oneandonly I disagree with this statement. Activated Carbon has an impact on water hardness, which is directly related to pH. AC will remove organics from the water, including tannins and will work against peat applications, which will drive harder water conditions. Harder water results in higher pH typically.

ive never used carbon in 22 years.lods floating plants.water change 9" of water weekly.

Activated carbon is very similar to charcoal, which is used on ERs for poisonings they give you ground up charcoal in a drink to absorb toxic materials like heavy metals, medications, and poisonous substances that are ingested.

Hii.. Pls help ,I just bought bio media and activated carbon for my 2ft top flliter tank.The water gets dirty after i placed them. Why? I can barely see my fish.

@presshan1714

3 жыл бұрын

Should i do water change?

@DanHiteshew-oneandonly

3 жыл бұрын

You should rinse the carbon very well before using it. It's just microscopic carbon in the water. It'll go away as you do water changes.

@presshan1714

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you

I used carbon since day one as I heard it is a good thing to have in your tank. I recently heard nit really to use carbon in a planted tank as it reduces te efficiency of the Fertilizer added. Waht os your suggestion. I'm starting to think rather to replace carbon now with ceramic but rings. I just want good quality crystal clear water. What is your suggestion?

@DanHiteshew-oneandonly

2 жыл бұрын

I don't use it. I don't see any point in it.

@louiegroenewald

2 жыл бұрын

@@DanHiteshew-oneandonly Thanks for the reply. I'm almost a year in the hobby and still learning what to do and not. Have 12 tanks of which two is used as quarantine/hospital tanks. I'm going to slowly replace carbon with ceramic rings and see what happens. Just scared I will have more tannins in water due to wood in all tanks. No tannins currently but wood has been in tank for more than 6 months and do weekly water changes which also helps. I do not like the idea that carbon might reduce the efficiency of the fertilizer for the plants.

@76frampton

Жыл бұрын

Use polyfil instead to help keep water clear.

Ill defer to your working knowledge of carbon use. Being new to the hobby, here is my working knowledge of carbon...they look like small black rocks. But hey I havent lost a fish yet, albeit its only been 3 months that my tank has been up. I just have red eye tetras, panda corys and 1 bristlenose pleco i just got yesterday because i saw some small brown spots on the glass. After a detailed investigation I determined that was indeed NOT melted chocolate from my finger tips in the outside of my glass. Whew was I relieved...what a waste of chocolate. Anyway the pet store lady said it was diatom bacteria and suggested the bristlenose. I think hes cute and glad he wont get too big.

@DanHiteshew-oneandonly

Жыл бұрын

Diatoms are common in new set-ups. They often clear up over time. Nerite snails help too.

@fishkeepingfreak

Жыл бұрын

@@DanHiteshew-oneandonly thank you...i considered a nerite but no one could guarantee me a male and i just couldnt deal with all those eggs if i got a female. Just overnight my bristlenose got rid of the brown spots and cleaned all that film, i guess bio film, off the glass so i think hes gonna work out fine. I was worried he might harrass the pandas but they literally swim right on top of him and around him and he just lays there

will it increase PH or decrease ?

@DanHiteshew-oneandonly

3 жыл бұрын

It shouldn't affect it at all.

You're comments on AC is very fair but some fish keepers go over board when you mention AC in your filter and start accusing you of killing your fish which in turn l think that is unfair with African cichlids AC tens to give you high p h which is not a bad thing but with s/a cichlids it probably is not good to use because your wanting the reverse low pH enjoyed your video

Would it harm you to use in drinking water

@DanHiteshew-oneandonly

3 жыл бұрын

I don't see how it would. I think most water purifiers use it, don't they?

Would you recommend polly filter Instead dan ??

@DanHiteshew-oneandonly

3 жыл бұрын

I use the polyester batting. It's easier to deal with than the loose fiber fill.

@Fightssss

3 жыл бұрын

@@DanHiteshew-oneandonly thanks I'll look in to that

Can I use barbecue charcoal or regular charcoal?

@DanHiteshew-oneandonly

3 жыл бұрын

I honestly don't know. I can say you should be sure not to get the pre-soaked stuff that already has lighter fluid in it.

@gastcast2959

3 жыл бұрын

No. You need activated charcoal. Not only are there horrible chemicals in bbq charcoal but the porosity of the charcoal is much less so it won't filter much of anything.

I don't unless I'm removing medicine. I'm all about mechanical and biological

I have been using activated carbon since 2008 for various reasons. I just started fish keeping 8 months ago. My first use for activated carbon was filtering out exhaust from growing marijuana. It eliminated almost all of the smell to the point I was confident no one could smell it. Secondly, has anyone done a taste test on tap water vs brita filtered tap water? It’s much more smooth. Brita filters are activated carbon filters. I’ve used to use brita filters to turn cheap vodka into high quality tasting vodka. (Filter maybe 9 times and good to go, destroys filter though) Thirdly did some research on activated carbon and made my own one time and worked good... So brand doesn’t really matter as much as some people are suggesting. If I can make it, I’m sure these big company’s have it figured out. 4thly you can bake it on a cookie sheet for a while in the oven long enough to burn off the organic trapped in the pours and re use it. Similarly to soaking purigen in 8.25% bleach rest water mixture to de solve the organic a out of the polymers pours. From my understanding, activated carbon filters out mainly organics. (Anything that is or once was living). The reason it can’t filter resolved salts is because when salt is dissolved in water, it resolves into individual molecules where as organics can’t break down that small. I’m assuming medications are organic based. Watched survivor man ( Les Stroud ) on an episode saying if you ever get sick and your stuck in the wilderness, investing charcoal is the best bet. It’s not dangerous, and can absorb and pathogens, or microbes they you may have injected from bad water etc. As it applies to my fish keeping: I started fish keeping 8 months ago and have used it a couple times. Mainly when I had a bacterial bloom in the earlier stages. I noticed odors from not doing water changes (not supposed to change water in bacterial blooms). So I used activated carbon and it helped a lot with the smell, just like my weed endeavors. I have been trying to get my tank crystal clear, I’m so close and the activated carbon has brought it even closer. I also have purigen I have heard it is more effective and much longer lasting/ easy to reuse. My final opinion. Water changes, and regular cleaning cleaning of detritus is 90+% of having nice water. If you don’t care to have that extra 10% of 100% crystal clear and odorless water then don't use it. I personally want a pristine tank so I like to use it.

@rhondamadgirl

2 жыл бұрын

Interesting post! Made me laugh.😃 I’ve not been doing fish-keeping long, less than six months, but I quickly ditched my ten gallon for two 20’s and a 55 gallon. I’m hooked. But I have a hard time keeping detritus out and KEEPING my water clear. What’s the trick? I have white sand substrate. Wasted a lot of money on those expensive lava-based plant substrates and was a nightmare.

What happpens if i leave old activated carbon in my filter for like a year??

@DanHiteshew-oneandonly

Жыл бұрын

Probably not a lot.

@labae8728

Жыл бұрын

@@DanHiteshew-oneandonly will it damage the water quality or anything negative ?? Thanks

@DanHiteshew-oneandonly

Жыл бұрын

@@labae8728 probably not.

I ADDED CARBON ACTIVATED CHARCOL IN FILTER.....MY WATER IS RED DUE TO CHARCOL OR ANY OTHER REASON PLS TELL

@DanHiteshew-oneandonly

3 жыл бұрын

I wish I could help, but I have no idea. sorry.

@legalawareness3048

3 жыл бұрын

Everyday Fishkeeping is this due to i added tetracycline in it?

@DanHiteshew-oneandonly

3 жыл бұрын

@@legalawareness3048 I don't know what tetracycline is.

Can carbon remove chlorine and chloromaine

@DanHiteshew-oneandonly

3 жыл бұрын

Not to my knowledge.

@gastcast2959

3 жыл бұрын

Yes but... Don't use it for that. Always use the correct dose of tap water conditioner, better safe than very very sorry.

Always use a small amount of carbon along with bio media and sponges....to avoid hole in the head and many other illness Never feed Live.. I’ve been in the hobby for 30 years plus and always successful in it.

@DanHiteshew-oneandonly

4 жыл бұрын

Most people say carbon may cause HITH disease, not prevent it.

@MNC122703

4 жыл бұрын

@@DanHiteshew-oneandonly Tell that to my beautiful Koi.

@MNC122703

4 жыл бұрын

@@DanHiteshew-oneandonly But honesty to each there own..I just know what's worked for me for 30 years

@CatsCoupesAndHiphop

2 жыл бұрын

@@MNC122703 I know this is an old comment, but could you give me some advice? I got a fluval flex 15 gal for my single betta that came with the activated carbon and ceramic rings in the mesh baggies that fit into the foam filter (housing for lack of a better word) I would imagine I am supposed to use them both even though I have had some plants. I’m having a severe algae outbreak now though so I’m removing my plants and going to try to find better ones to use and more of them than the few I started with. So would that be wise to use it since it was provided? And do you ever need to replace the ceramic rings? I’m also going to add my 6” air stone bubble wand and hope that that makes a difference too. I just want a healthy happy fish…

@vishalnaik3423

8 ай бұрын

Can we feed bloodworms?

Dan looks like my favorite comedian "Tom segura" from your mom's house podcast and you don't really need carbon, but you can use amonia scrubbers if you have amonia spikes, but if you have good biological nitrifying bacteria your good, just do water tests once a week and you'll know when the tanks going to hell, carbon does not contribute to hole in the head that's from a certain parasite caused by access cichlid waste and bad water quality, the only way to know you're water quality is good even if it looks clear is to test it for Everything once a week that's how you really know when to do maintenance.

It works because carbon’s atomic structure bonds with many other chemicals.

Sounds like a water fall there

@DanHiteshew-oneandonly

4 жыл бұрын

I even put my mic on for that video, and the waterfall still was too loud. Lol

at the start i thought he was sitting on the loo

@DanHiteshew-oneandonly

3 жыл бұрын

Lol

You contradicted yourself .you want to know how carbon works, but than you're not interested knowing how it works 😂

Wow look at that hair!