how long do you run activated carbon before changing it?

[lubeck]

Is there a specific time frame where it doesn’t do it’s job anymore?

 

[tinyfellows]

I change mine out every two weeks

 

[Spare time]

I keep mine for a month, but after 2 weeks I rinse/soak it in tap water to remove debris and bacteria that may be clogging it up. I believe it lasts longer, as it still removes chlorine far after a month when I test it, but its cheap and I don't do water changes so I swap it monthly just in case.

 

[tinyfellows]

I keep mine for a month, but after 2 weeks I rinse/soak it in tap water to remove debris and bacteria that may be clogging it up. I believe it lasts longer, as it still removes chlorine far after a month when I test it, but its cheap and I don't do water changes so I swap it monthly just in case.

Id my tank wasn’t a 20 gallon I’d do the same but since I don’t use a whole lot of carbon I just toss it

 

[X-37B]

Once a month for me.

 

[lubeck]

Thanks everyone. I only used to keep it a week but I did rinse it the WC water today to keep it another week. I just wasn’t sure how long it stays “active” and does it’s job.

 

[Wasabiroot]

Around 2-3 weeks, or however many days my laziness dictates, whichever is greater. Lol.

I usually change it when I think "I should change my carbon".

 

[DeniseAndy]

Depends on the need. Once a month is probably good. Unfortunately I do it whenever I remember.

 

[Auquanut]

I change mine once a month. I'm sure it isn't doing any good by then, but I figure once a month works for me, and I don't want to empty it after a week or 2 and then replenish later. I just let it run for a month, and then change it out. Oh, by the way, I'm running it through a BRS reactor.

 

[Dan_P]

Is there a specific time frame where it doesn’t do it’s job anymore?

Activated carbon might last months in seawater because of bacteria growth on the carbon digesting what the carbon adsorbs.

I have seen plots of total organic carbon in public aquaria drop with the addition of activated carbon and stay low for months. My own recent experience seems to support this notion. After about 4 months of use, I thought that since carbon needs to be changed every couple weeks because it becomes inactive and I didn’t but my water was colorless anyway, I might as well remove the carbon. Within two weeks my aquarium water acquired a yellow tinge. I recharged the reactor and the aquarium water went back to colorless. I am currently at 90 days and the water is still colorless.

At least for color removal, activated carbon seems to stay active a long time.

 

[Tbg299]

Is there a specific time frame where it doesn’t do it’s job anymore?

Until it's visibly dirty or the flow coming from the output is slower which for me is about every month.

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

I use a dual reactor of it in an anenome system due to chemical warfare. 6 weeks seems just fine. Could probably go longer

 

[mrtian97]

About 90 days for me

 

[Sean Clark]

I'll change it when the output looks visibly restricted. Sometimes this is a month sometimes two because I forget to look.

 

[MrGisonni]

About a month

 

[lubeck]

This is great everyone thanks. I don’t use a reactor. I basically throw it in the first chamber of my Biocube. I know this isn’t efficient so I’m assuming if I clean it every week I can keep it in there for a month.

 

[Solga]

All of this is information is awesome ! If I could ask though ... How much carbon are you all using and changing at a time ?
An ounce ? A pound ? About a fist sized amount ? About a cup ?

 

[homer1475]

According to the side of my ROX carbon 1Tbs per 10 gallons, so thats what I use.

I change mine out every other week. Seems about right as that is when the flow is almost 0 in the reactor.

 

[Koh23]

I tought about this, as i have carbon in reactor,.main problem is that sponges gets dirty kinda fast, and restrict flow trough carbon...

So i figured rinsing sponges/carbon once a week, to keep flow optimal, and also not to waste good carbon if not necessary.... I use cheap one, but still, why throw it in garbage if it still has its function...

Like i see here, this is ok to do....

 

[DeniseAndy]

So I measure like I do when I cook. Dump in the reactor till about looks good. I run it on a 260g system. Clean when it slows flow a lot or I remember.