How long is Activated Carbon good for

[blackcloudmedia]

I know it depends upon the ammount of organics in the water but whats the average life/ reccomended life of activated carbon in your experience?

 

[Anonymous]

IME it's better to use small quantities of carbon which you change frequently, rather than large quantities changed infrequently. I use about 3 TBSP and change it out every two weeks, though I suspect it's generally kicked after a week or so.

 

[Anonymous]

I change mine once a month.

 

[MartinE]

I am a once a month change person as well.

 

[Ben1]

I change mine once a month too, I fill my phosreactor just under halfway.

 

[Anonymous]

IME it's better to use small quantities of carbon which you change frequently, rather than large quantities changed infrequently. I use about 3 TBSP and change it out every two weeks, though I suspect it's generally kicked after a week or so.

+1

 

[Anonymous]

You can get more mileage out of ion exchange resins/carbon combos like Rena Filstar BioChem Zorb, but normal carbon should be changed every week to two weeks. Impossible to say, really. If you are doing weekly waterchanges on a nano, for example, you might get away with longer. If you do monthly waterchanges, change it out halfway between. I like Marineland Black Diamond carbon and Kent Reef carbon. Depends on filter, the ML stuff requires a good bag, there are bags available with Velcro tape closures that make changing carbon a breeze for canisters. The Kent carbon is larger and rinses faster, you can pour it into hang on filters like the Emperor baskets without fear of crumbling and clogging impellers.

I love carbon.

 

[leftovers]

Carbon begins to lose its efficacy after 3 days due to bacteria growth on it. After a week+ its close to exhausted due to bacteria growth covering the granules.

So keeping it in longer is really not doing much good which is why active filtration with carbon is better than passive.