NickD Posted May 4 Share Posted May 4 I am going to buy activated charcoal and it’s a jar full of it, it doesn’t come with mesh bags. Can I just pour some of it into my filter or should I buy mesh bags for it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yoshi Posted May 4 Share Posted May 4 Is it in like pellets or is it a powder? Either way, I'd think using a bag would make it easier to remove once it's not working anymore. But especially if it's a powder, because then I'd worry about it gunking up the inside of the filter. But you'd need a pretty fine mesh. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony s Posted May 4 Share Posted May 4 Depending on the size of your filter, they make refillable cartridges. Or more precisely, they make cartridges you can put stuff in. Unless you’re talking about a canister. Then you’ll need the bags Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fishoutawater Posted May 4 Share Posted May 4 A mesh bag is definitely preferable. You don't want the carbon banging around and breaking up into smaller pieces. Carbon dust has possibly been linked to hith so it's best to avoid that situation besides the nightmare clean up it will cause. I use serenity brand carbon thats fairly cheap and has a mesh bag in every box. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lefty o Posted May 4 Share Posted May 4 you want some sort of bag or container for it. #1 you want to be able to rinse it before you add it, and #2 you want to be able to remove it. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Little Guys Posted May 4 Share Posted May 4 Google Aquarium Media Mesh bag and you will find them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T. Payne Posted May 4 Share Posted May 4 Aquarium coop sells mesh bags in different sizes, I would recommend them. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanked Posted May 4 Share Posted May 4 Bag it. In addition to the reasons mentioned above, you don't want to run the risk of pieces of charcoal eventually getting into the impellers on your filter. Just a thought: If your charcoal is fairly coarse, grocery stores near me sell 4 or 5 garlic cloves in a mesh bag for $1.00. The mesh will stretch to accommodate the amount of product you put in it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lonkley Posted May 4 Share Posted May 4 Bag it. Floating carbon is the most annoying thing ever. If it sank that would be another thing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Airborne 82nd Posted May 4 Share Posted May 4 https://www.amazon.com/s?k=aquarium+filter+mesh+bags&s=relevanceblender&crid=2KAWLRTCOEJCG&qid=1714850120&sprefix=aquarium+filter+mesh+bags%2Caps%2C869&ref=sr_st_relevanceblender&ds=v1%3ADfCw28zEaPq592sWc8Gg%2BoiQQDq6q40NZjfVEqLftNA In my HOB Seachem tidal 75 I even put my bio rings in them. But not in my canister Fluval 407 only because the baskets in the 407are easy to rinse with the rings in. Why are you using the charcoal? I only use it to remove meds if needed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavinCantu Posted May 14 Share Posted May 14 (edited) The link is for the Amazon homepage, not for the product. On 5/5/2024 at 1:05 AM, Airborne 82nd said: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=aquarium+filter+mesh+bags&s=relevanceblender&crid=2KAWLRTCOEJCG&qid=1714850120&sprefix=aquarium+filter+mesh+bags%2Caps%2C869&ref=sr_st_relevanceblender&ds=v1%3ADfCw28zEaPq592sWc8Gg%2BoiQQDq6q40NZjfVEqLftNA In my HOB Seachem tidal 75 I even put my bio rings in them. But not in my canister Fluval 407 only because the baskets in the 407are easy to rinse with the rings in. Why are you using the charcoal? I only use it to remove meds if needed. Edit: Can you recheck the link, please? Edit 2 : Thanks for the link. Edited June 11 by DavinCantu Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Airborne 82nd Posted May 23 Share Posted May 23 (edited) https://www.amazon.com/Seachem-Bag-Filter-Media/dp/B002X6F7AW/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3GSAM47ND312Q&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9._R0iQGYmiZIo3rSh8xeXTKQy8issaULg19nZe56yz9qTYSJ0zLHc6MJSkf89QD50DL26KMa0JSS2lf8TETv5PTi6zJxgmQJPGWZ03JohRDtt4Hvq7NKO2TVUydJLXjDKwe2kbC5YCkQMM6dR_6QLcyG-dja3nzV5yvrTKX8-6huzYhhbJ0UzneGrL7E9rO0y_hhZ3Na3d4bzpXr8Q4nL6xbDb4XHeM3Zt4cyUxPvycQg61Vdfi5VlAg3t2D7UiBXxU3hd4jk1yTCr4aXzAUDDAEnlIARCiTlSnFkPowt7Dk.enBdY7sh7czJXnSQELozQ-2fiP-bIFqwFjyEQFEkQFw&dib_tag=se&keywords=seachem%2Bbio%2Bbags&qid=1716488173&sprefix=seachem%2Bbio%2Bbags%2Caps%2C947&sr=8-1&th=1 Sorry about the first link. I don't know how to check a link before posting. Above is just one example. After I posted I check to see if it worked. If someone knows another way please let me know. At amazons home page just type aquarium bio bags and you will get tons of hits. Edited May 23 by Airborne 82nd New link Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TUCCI Posted June 21 Share Posted June 21 On 5/3/2024 at 7:10 PM, NickD said: I am going to buy activated charcoal and it’s a jar full of it, it doesn’t come with mesh bags. Can I just pour some of it into my filter or should I buy mesh bags for it? It'll be easier to control the media, get the fine mesh bags. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lennie Posted June 22 Share Posted June 22 mesh begs without any metals is what I use. Either plastic zipper or just with a rope to tie on top. Particle size of a.carbon may change so you should choose the bag accordingly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daggaz Posted June 22 Share Posted June 22 Couldn't you just stuff it into a small sock? Or pantyhose? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lennie Posted June 22 Share Posted June 22 On 6/22/2024 at 12:57 PM, daggaz said: Couldn't you just stuff it into a small sock? Or pantyhose? idk, mesh begs are much cheaper than those tho 😄 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daggaz Posted June 22 Share Posted June 22 I don't buy much pantyhose, I swear. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plursa Posted June 22 Share Posted June 22 You can get knee highs at a dollar store really cheap. They work great for a lot of things. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanked Posted June 22 Share Posted June 22 I use the knee highs as dryer lint filters, and as a filter sock in the pond. In the pond, as the pores clog they tend to swell up to the size of a small dog. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plursa Posted June 22 Share Posted June 22 I use knee highs to strain oil infusions, homemade vinegar and tinctures. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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