Carbon filtration and dosing ferts

[jonny_ftm]

Hi,

I just put a carbon pad in my canister to clean water from antibiotic and cyanobacteria smell after a BGA treatment

While I have the carbon pad, will it affect dosing the ferts?

Many thanks for helping

[Biollante]

Hi,

I just put a carbon pad in my canister to clean water from antibiotic and cyanobacteria smell after a BGA treatment

While I have the carbon pad, will it affect dosing the ferts?

Many thanks for helping

Hi Jonny,

No, not in any meaningful way.

Biollante

[jonny_ftm]

Thank you, was wandering if I had to add some EI dosing when filtering on carbon.

Tested NO3 today, and it didn't drop after the carbon was added. Thank you for clarifying it

Now, how long should I keep that pad of carbon please?

[Biollante]

Hi Jonny,

When I use carbon it is generally three days to a week.

Biollante

[jonny_ftm]

Any risks with filtrating longer on carbon?

[Biollante]

Any risks with filtrating longer on carbon?

Hi Jonny,

I am not aware of any significant risks to using activated carbon for greater periods of time.

Over extended periods of time I think there is some risk of reducing certain trace elements. though, I think with our robust EI programs the risk to our plants are negligible.

Regular water changes negate the need for the charcoal filtration except in dealing with specific situations, such as removing residual medications and off smells.

Biollante

[Philosophos]

Over extended periods of time I think there is some risk of reducing certain trace elements. though, I think with our robust EI programs the risk to our plants are negligible.

Depends which trace you use most likely. A lot of the more obscure trace elements aren't in CSM+B, hence the whole flourish supplementing thing. Carbon looses its efficiency after a while anyhow, so unless it's fresh stuff every few days it doesn't seem to do that much.

I'd use it as necessary for short term stuff, especially if it's with aquasoil; the plants can fall back on what ever trace they can find there.

-Philosophos

[jonny_ftm]

Do you intend that CSM+B is not a good replacement for TPN?

[Philosophos]

The two are about the same:
http://www.aquarticles.com/articles/...son_Chart.html

It's the more obscure traces in the column that I'd be concerned for. Flourish provides these, though I don't really like to pay for constant dosing of it. I throw in a few ml's weekly because I've got a bottle hanging around, and I'm not sure of the finer trace details of my tap water.

-Philosophos

[Biollante]

Do you intend that CSM+B is not a good replacement for TPN?

Hi Jonny, Philosophos,

All due respect, CSM+B, in particular with enriched substrates, water changes and feeding fish, pretty much takes care of all your minor and major trace elements.

I confess I do not run activated charcoal all the time in part because I worry, a little, about stripping minor trace elements. I am aware for instance that activated charcoal is pretty good at removing copper.

If you are really concerned with the minor trace items mash a daily multi-vitamin tablet an average tablet per hundred gallons once a month. I know some folks like to add a vitamin C tablet as well.

Biollante