If aquaculture and aquariums are part of your life, you probably know how essential activated carbon is for aquariums and aquaculture. Activated carbon is one of the most widely used adsorbents and purification agents in the world, with an expanding scope of uses. Activated carbon is extensively used in aquariums for water filtration, but you might still not have a clear idea of what activated carbon actually is, how it functions as a filter in aquariums, and what it does for aquaculture environments. In this article, we are going to discuss how activated carbon is used in aquariums.
What exactly is activated carbon?
For those who don’t know, activated carbon is a form of carbon that is highly porous and made from carbon-rich raw materials such as wood, coconut shells, lignite, coal, and bamboo. The production of activated carbon includes treating raw materials at a high temperature in a carefully controlled environment. The final product, activated carbon, has qualities like high surface area and superior adsorption capacity. These qualities of activated carbon make it highly effective in adsorbing and removing pollutants from air and water. Based on additions and differences in the production method, there are variations of activated carbon available in the market, such as PAC (powdered activated carbon), GAC (granular activated carbon), EAC (extruded activated carbon), impregnated activated carbon, etc.
The porous surface and high surface area make activated carbon an excellent adsorbent that can help in removing pollutants from various liquids and gases, and the concentration of pores, its size, the shape of the product, and other specific characteristics determine the effectiveness of a specific type of activated carbon in a filtration, purification, or material recovery process. Aquariums popularly use granular activated carbon (GAC).
Benefits of using activated carbon in aquariums
Activated carbon is a component that can assist you in keeping your aquarium in good health. But if you are new to keeping aquatic life, you might not be familiar with the benefits of using activated carbon.
Removes toxins and medications from water: Activated carbon is an effective adsorbent used in numerous industries, and in aquaculture, it is predominantly used to remove pollutants and toxins from water. Highly effective in removing impurities and toxins, activated carbon can also adsorb medicines from water. If you add certain medicines to water to treat a sick fish and no longer want that in the system, activated carbon is the best option to remove it from the water.
Odour-free aquarium: Apart from adsorbing toxins and medications, activated carbon can also adsorb pollutants like phenols that can cause bad odours. So if you want to make your aquarium odour-free, activated carbon is the answer.
Clear and transparent water: Colour change of water is a common issue in aquaculture, especially when you have moss and driftwood in the aquarium. Driftwood can produce a pigment called tannins, but activated carbon can ensure your aquarium has clear and transparent water by adsorbing contaminants like tannins as well as chlorine and chloramine, creating a healthy and clean environment for fish.
How to use activated carbon?
Knowing how to properly use activated carbon in aquariums is crucial to ensuring its effectiveness. You can’t directly release activated carbon granules into the water; instead, keep it in a fine mesh bag or filter pad and place it in the aquarium in an area that has high water flow. Keeping it in an area with high water flow will increase its effectiveness in removing pollutants and keeping your aquarium healthy. Depending on the amount of impurities, the lifetime of activated carbon can vary, but in general it can last a few weeks. So remember to replace the activated carbon periodically and rinse the mesh bag or filter pad used to keep the activated carbon each time the water changes.
Buy activated carbon
Southern Carbon is one of India’s prominent activated carbon manufacturers with over two decades of experience in the industry. Our premium customizable products, global outreach, and exceptional customer service differentiate us from the rest. We are one of the major exporters of granular activated carbon in Korea from India and are swiftly establishing our presence around the world. Based in Kerala, we produce our products from renewable resources like coconut shells, and we are among the best coconut shell-based activated carbon manufacturers in India. Proud to be part of an initiative to create a healthier and safer world, we pledge to produce superior quality, so connect with us to learn more about our product catalogue and customization options.