Simple Carbon or Charcoal for Filter media?

[piannino]

Hello guys,

I somehow dont seem to get the difference between the expensive activated carbon sold in petshops and the normal carbon that we buy for barbeque....

Does anyone has any idea ? :D

thx!

[oscarzx]

^^ someone answer! :D

[strawberryblonde]

This is a direct quote from the web:

"The major difference between activated charcoal and charcoal briquettes is that the activated charcoal is an alternative medicine and charcoal briquettes are a type of fuel. Although the process is similar in making the two types of charcoal, activated charcoal is made of non-toxic products and includes one additional step in the production process.

Activated Charcoal

Activated charcoal is a charcoal substance made from bone char, coconut shells, peat, petroleum coke, coal, olive pits, and/or sawdust. In order to activate the charcoal, it is oxidized using steam or air at high temperatures. The activation process is what gives this substance its medical properties as it increases the surface area of the charcoal by making in more porous than regular charcoal."

SB

[Jhhnn]

Some hobbyists like Activated charcoal, others don't. It's not absolutely necessary with good biological filtration & water changing. For those who do use it, buying in bulk online is a lot cheaper. Just one source, here-

http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=5276

You probably want some other stuff anyway, right?