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Carbon
Oct 18, 2016 7:39:32 GMT -5
Post by herefishyfishy on Oct 18, 2016 7:39:32 GMT -5
Hey guys,
My water has gotten increasingly yellowed so I put some carbon in when I cleaned my filter (I am running a canister). The next day, I lost 4 fish. I took the carbon out and the rest of them seem to be ok, or at least have bounced back. I am hesitant to put more in. Any thoughts?
I will do some water changes etc, but it seems strange that putting carbon in would cause that much of a problem? Is it possible that I put in too much? Maybe putting it in the canister was too much too fast? I am contemplating putting some in a media bag and floating it?
Whatcha think?
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Carbon
Oct 18, 2016 8:12:00 GMT -5
Post by ryansweatt2004 on Oct 18, 2016 8:12:00 GMT -5
A good quality activated Carbon shouldn't cause any immediate issues. There are suggestions that long term use of activated carbon can cause hole in the head disease but there's little hard evidence to support those claims. Is there any chance you stirred anything up in the tank or could have contaminated the tank with any chemicals "hand soaps, hand lotions etc" while working in or around your tank? Also what brand of carbon did you use? Some like KENT and even the petco brand are widely known to have had heavy metal contamination issues in the past.
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Post by Vijay Glenburn on Oct 18, 2016 8:17:16 GMT -5
I'm assuming you have a fish only tank. Do you have any live rock? Usually carbon does not cause such dramatic changes but in your case it did. They remove dissolved organic compounds (DOC) and this may, a big may, have had something to do with it.
Do you have any pre/ post parameters like pH, temp, ammonia?
In any case water change is a good idea in case the carbon dumped something toxic into your tank. What kind of activated carbon did you use?
Vijay
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Post by Vijay Glenburn on Oct 18, 2016 8:18:30 GMT -5
Just saw Ryan's post. +1 on that.
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Carbon
Oct 18, 2016 11:01:34 GMT -5
Post by herefishyfishy on Oct 18, 2016 11:01:34 GMT -5
I do have a fish only tank. It is possible that something got into the cannister while I was cleaning it. I think I got the Petco brand. I put in quite a bit, so it may have shocked my poor guys.. (they are used to the filth that has become my tank....EVERYTIME I try to clean things up for them or fix something I lose fish.... if I leave them alone and do a water change every once in a blue moon, they are happy as can be) Unfortunately, the yellowish water isn't not very attractive and I would like it to be somewhat more aesthetically pleasing. I also have some aptasia that I need to erradicate, but one of the fish that died was a relatively new filefish. To be completely honest.. I am nervous to even touch it because I manage to screw things up everytime. I can successfully do water changes and clean the canister (most of the time) and I don't do it nearly enough because I am scared of messing things up. I have mostly damsels (I know, people hate them, I love them because they add color and personality), a lawnmower blenny, scooter blenny, watchman goby, blue gudgeon goby, a tomato clown that has lost all his white, a spotted cardinal and a blue/green chromis. So they are mostly hardy fish. I took the carbon out and it took them a few hours but they are all back to being happy and appear healthy. tank is still yellow, but fish are happy ... I have a bunch of live rock (although I wonder how "LIVE" it is, I don't see anything in there) I have 4-5 turbo snails. A bunch of black snails that I got thinking they were trochus snails and a few actual trochus snails. 1 or 2 crabs and 1 curlyque anenmone and a bunch of aptaisia (some of them are actually pretty cool) I have a 100gal tank. The only other thing that I can think of is that I took out a couple of old sponges and replaced them with new sponges. I rinsed them before I put them in, but that MIGHT have had something to do with it. I could probably use some new lights, mine are about a year old but don't think that woudl make it horribly yellow? Its CLEAR, it just yellow. Like I said, I am in kind of a vicious cycle... it needs attention but every time I give it attention I break it... so it doesn't get attention. : ) I know that sumps, ro systems and protein skimmers some of that other stuff is the way to go, but I am not feeling like that is an option right now, so I have what I have and need to make due. I am not looking for pristine and picture perfect like you guys have (i am SO envious but don't have the knowledge, time or money to make it happen) just a few little changes woudl make me happy.... hell... one change, less yellow; I can even live with the aptasia.  |
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Carbon
Oct 19, 2016 16:50:10 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by jasonbowdoin on Oct 19, 2016 16:50:10 GMT -5
Can you add a pic of you tank and space where the canister is ? And what size tank do you have?
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Carbon
Oct 19, 2016 21:40:58 GMT -5
Post by spotfin on Oct 19, 2016 21:40:58 GMT -5
How much water did you change, and what is your regular water change schedule?
Really consider a quality skimmer.
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Carbon
Oct 20, 2016 10:22:45 GMT -5
Post by herefishyfishy on Oct 20, 2016 10:22:45 GMT -5
I just ordered an inexpensive in tank protein skimmer. HOPEFULLY that will help (I know, it isn't ideal quality, but its a good starting place). I usually do 15-20 gallons at a time (I have a 90gal)
Over the summer, it was only about once a month, with a weekly top off for evaporation.
The canister is under the tank, it is a fluval 305. I have thought about taking all of the pads and things out of it, because it really does just collect gunk, but then thought if it is collecting gunk, then that must be better than having it in the tank.
I don't want to put a pic up.. you guys will laugh at me... I've seen some of the set ups on here.. I am a baby playing in the big leagues. (most of you would probably tell me I shouldn't even have a saltwater tank)
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Carbon
Oct 20, 2016 13:09:13 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by jasonbowdoin on Oct 20, 2016 13:09:13 GMT -5
I was in the same boat 2 years ago... I ask for a pic of the set up because some of us have cheap extra parts kicking around... now that we know you have a 90 gallon tank we now now a 40$ 40 gallon breader from pet co for a sump would be huge and easy to make yourself. If you was to sell you canister filter and buy a pump with that money it would make a world of a difference
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Carbon
Oct 20, 2016 13:49:06 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by jasonbowdoin on Oct 20, 2016 13:49:06 GMT -5
I was in the same boat 2 years ago... I ask for a pic of the set up because some of us have cheap extra parts kicking around... now that we know you have a 90 gallon tank we now now a 40$ 40 gallon breader from pet co for a sump would be huge and easy to make yourself. If you was to sell you canister filter and buy a pump with that money it would make a world of a difference
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Carbon
Oct 29, 2016 21:52:05 GMT -5
Post by industry on Oct 29, 2016 21:52:05 GMT -5
Did you rinse the carbon first?
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Carbon
Nov 1, 2016 8:23:19 GMT -5
Post by herefishyfishy on Nov 1, 2016 8:23:19 GMT -5
I did rinse it. I also rinsed the majority of the stuff in the canister, I think that threw things off. I have been cleaning the goop off in water that I pulled out to do a water change, I did it differently this time (stupid moment). Someday I will learn!?!
I got an internal protein skimmer that should come in the mail today. nothing fancy, but maybe enough to pull some more stuff out of the water.
Gonna be on the look out for an already made sump. Hesitant to make the switch cause I don't know enough about it, but if I find someone getting out of the hobby and can get the whole kit and caboodle without spending all outdoors, I may make the jump.
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