1st post, quick question

[Yellow Fellow]

Hey guys, new to this site and all forums.

Just a quick question, i bought a second eheim external filter for my 140l planted tank. It came with a carbon filter pad in it. Just wandering what it does, and is it necessary?

Thanks for any help

 

[Dan Crawford]

Hi and Welcome.
Carbon is generally used to strip the water of various different things, i believe it's claimed to strip nitrates and phosphates? One thing it does well is strips the water of tannins from wood ect. It "runs out" after about a month and then just acts as a biological sponge. If yours was second hand then no doubt it's ran out, give it all a clean and set it up from scratch and your good to go

 

[Themuleous]

Yeh I wouldn't bother with the carbon, if its there then use it but not worry about replacing it

Sam