Is Activated Carbon Good With Live Aquarium Plants?

Activted carbon filters are good for short term use in planted aquariums.

Activated carbon is one of the most popular forms of chemical filtration for freshwater and saltwater aquariums. Activated carbon does contain drawbacks for keeping live plants.

Advantages

If any uneaten fish food or dead plants begin to decay, they release harmful chemicals, like tannins and phenols into the water. Activated carbon is excellent for absorbing these harmful chemicals.

Disadvantages

Activated carbon does not filter out nitrates or ammonia, which may be caused by uneaten fish food or rotting vegetarian. Activated carbon is best for short-term use, according to "A Practical Guide to Choosing Aquarium Plants."

Expert Advice

Planted tanks or tanks with just aquarium plants should have filters with activated charcoal that hang outside or rest underneath the tank. This helps avoid disturbing the plant roots, according to "Tetra's Guide to Popular Aquarium Fishes."

References

• Fish Channel: Aquarium Carbon; A.Colin Flood; June 2010
• "A Practical Guide to Choosing Aquarium Plants"; Peter Hiscock; 2001
• "Tetra's Guide to Popular Aquarium Fishes"; Dick Mills; 1992
• Los Angeles Times: Aquascaping: Aquarium Meets Terrarium In The Japanese-Inspired Design Practice; Debrorah Netburn; Sept. 19, 2009

Resources

• Aquarium Fishkeeping: Filtration in the Planted Aqquarium; 2009
• FINS: Fish Information Service: Glossary
• Aquatic Community: Setting Up a Planted Aquarium