Leaving Carbon in Tank for Too long

[phixman]

Are there any negative affects of leaving carbon in tank for too long? I last changed it 5 months ago and been too busy to remove it. Will it do anything or have any negative affects over time ?

 

[Mike from TN]

I’ve always run carbon full time but I would think after 5 months, it’s lost it’s effectivness.

 

[phixman]

Say I just leave it in there for a few years would it have any negative affects other than not doing its job?

 

[homer1475]

Don't think it will. I know in a reactor once it gets plugged up with biofilm, the water just channels around it.

It is possible that it could leach whatever it absorbed back into the water, but not sure if that actually happens with GAC.

 

[Redfoxtang]

Just wondering but why a few years? Or were you just curious?

 

[Big E]

It won't hurt anything.........you probably have a nice biofilter going though as the bacteria has colonized it by this time.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

It will just end up like other media with bacteria coating it.

Some of what it bound may have come off, with more strongly binding things replacing them.