Reptile & Amphibian Forums

hi everyone,
What exactly is "activated charcoal". Where can i find it. Also what does activated mean?
thanks
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Nate
1.1 alanis tincs
0.0.3 imitators
0.0.2 Azureus (soon)

Activated charcoal is pieces of burned wood, coconut husk or animal bone. It is activated by means of steaming at an extreme temperature to remove any traces of organic substances. In this form it is like a sponge that readily absorbs organic chemicals. Used in aquariums, it removes nitrogen, ammonia and other harmful chemicals from the water which poromotes cleaner water for the inhabitants. However, it must be changed regularly. The thing is, it will absorb ALOT of those chemicals and they will become concentrated inside of the charcoal. Once the charcaol becomes 'overloaded' it will eventually leach these chemical back out in concentrated ammounts. Used in an aquarium this is easy to change (once a month or so) given that alot of changeable filters have the charcoal contained within. If you were to mix this with your vivarium medium, you would have to replant continously as the soil would need to be changed out. I have developed an easy method for this in vivariums that have large enough water features. Simply take some nylon mesh and make it into a small baggie. Place a few large pieces of the charcoal in the bag and tie it of. Hide somewhere, submerged or semisubmerged in the water, making sure that you have access to it at all times in order to change as necessary.
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Updated list as of: 9/17/03
2.2.6 D. azureus
1.2.24 D. ventrimaculatus 'yellow' (16 tads in the water)
1.1 D. tinctorius 'cobalt' (one subadult)
0.0.3 D. tinctorius 'patricia'
1.1 D. auratus 'blue'
0.0.5 D. auratus 'green/black'
0.2 P. aurotaenia
0.0.10 D auratus 'green/bronze' (very soon)
0.0.3 D. imitator 'Alex Sens line' (2 weeks)
0.0.2 D. reticulatus (soon)

Charcoal chemically adsorbs, and will only release its contents under extreme conditions that will not be encountered in an aquarium/terrarium environment. I personally believe this to be a major "urban myth" in the pet industry.

In this case, it slowly changes from beneficial to harmless in terrarium substrates and aquarium filters. Once its adsorbing potential is reached, it simply becomes another place for beneficial bacteria to grow (in aquarium filters anyway).

I will provide links to relevent discussion on some aquarium boards if interested.

hth,
JOSH