Hello, I was just wondering if anyone knew how long activated filter lasts in an fluval fx6 filter ? I bought the filter brand new a year ago and haven’t changed the carbon since I got it, wondering if it’s still doing anything or is it just useless and I need to replace?
How long does carbon last in an fluval fx6 filter?
- Thread starter anzo1993
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I don't know about a year but most will last a few months. Tbh I don't use activated carbon haven't for years. If it were me I would replace the activated carbon with biomedia or sponge pad.
from my understanding it comes down to how much flow is going through said carbon. inside of a canister its probably nearly impossible to know what the exact flow is in any given tray. you can make a pvc tube with cleanouts at each end. i use 2" abs and place poly fill on one end and fill with carbon. top with another pad of poly fill. hose barb on each end. thats how i run m drip system. its easier to do the math on the flow rates and lifespan of the carbon.
Even when the detoxifying capabilities of activated carbon are "depleted", the media is still useful for your biological filter. Anaerobic beneficial bacteria has most likely colonized the granular surfaces of the carbon en masse and become an integral part of your ecosystem, so removing it would only be detrimental to your tank imo.
I havent had the need to use chemical filtration in any of my tanks in a long time. I have about 25 lbs. of old carbon from many years and tanks ago that resides in my sump purely as bio media and functions well in that regard, but otherwise no use for the stuff.
I havent had the need to use chemical filtration in any of my tanks in a long time. I have about 25 lbs. of old carbon from many years and tanks ago that resides in my sump purely as bio media and functions well in that regard, but otherwise no use for the stuff.
I have carbon that is at least 12-15 years old that is still perfectly functional. It's still in the factory-sealed jar from the store. 
It was given to me that way by a friend; I haven't actually bought any since sometime in the 1980's.
Carbon definitely works as advertised, but it quickly gets saturated with whatever compounds it is removing from the water; after that point, as stated above, it stops being a chemical filtration medium and functions strictly as a biomedium. I have read many times that it can, once saturated, somehow release some of those potentially-harmful compounds back into the aquarium water. Not sure I believe that...never really looked into it that closely, but maybe worth keeping in mind. The possibility of this is perhaps a reason for removing old carbon from your filter; can't really think of a valid reason for putting any new carbon back in.
I don't use the stuff. Carbon, like other filtration, is simply a means of delaying or decreasing the need for water changes. Do enough of those and you don't need carbon. Carbon doesn't remove everything; water changes do.
It was given to me that way by a friend; I haven't actually bought any since sometime in the 1980's.Carbon definitely works as advertised, but it quickly gets saturated with whatever compounds it is removing from the water; after that point, as stated above, it stops being a chemical filtration medium and functions strictly as a biomedium. I have read many times that it can, once saturated, somehow release some of those potentially-harmful compounds back into the aquarium water. Not sure I believe that...never really looked into it that closely, but maybe worth keeping in mind. The possibility of this is perhaps a reason for removing old carbon from your filter; can't really think of a valid reason for putting any new carbon back in.
I don't use the stuff. Carbon, like other filtration, is simply a means of delaying or decreasing the need for water changes. Do enough of those and you don't need carbon. Carbon doesn't remove everything; water changes do.
