Activated carbon is a commonly used filtration medium in aquariums to remove dissolved impurities and improve water clarity. It works by adsorbing impurities such as tannins produced by driftwood and other organic materials that can cause discoloration in the water. It also helps to remove chlorine and chloramines from tap water, making it safe for fish and aquatic life. However, it is not effective in removing the three main forms of nitrogenous waste (ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate) produced by fish and other aquatic life.
Activated carbon, also known as "aquarium-friendly carbon," is commonly used in aquariums as a filtration medium. It is treated with chemicals to remove impurities and ash from the coal, making it more effective and safe for use in aquariums than regular carbon. Activated carbon is used to remove impurities from water and improve water clarity, and it helps to maintain a stable pH level and overall water quality in the aquarium. Regular carbon, on the other hand, is made from coal and is not treated to remove impurities or ash,
Activated carbon is chemically treated and heated to high temperatures (200 degrees Celsius) in order to create micropores that can absorb impurities from the water in an aquarium. The heating process changes the micropores in the carbon to macropores, which increases their ability to absorb more pollutants.
One of the main advantages of activated carbon over other filtration media such as purigen is that it can also absorb odours from aquarium water, while purigen does not have this ability. Purigen is a synthetic filtration media that can remove dissolved organics, it can be regenerated multiple times for reuse, but activated carbon cannot be regenerated.
It's important to note that both activated carbon and purigen have their own specific uses and benefits, and depending on the type of aquarium you have, you may want to use one or the other, or a combination of both.
The recommended replacement schedule for activated carbon in a regular aquarium setup is generally every 2 to 4 weeks. This is because activated carbon loses its effectiveness over time as it becomes saturated with impurities and pollutants. A general rule of thumb is to change the carbon once the water in the tank starts to look cloudy or discoloured, or if you notice a decrease in water clarity.