Activated Carbon

[maxwellwhothunk]

Can the addition of activated carbon to my new tank cause the temp of the tank raise sveral degrees?

I have the heater set at about 78 degrees and since I started using carbon I've noticed a increase of about 2-3 degrees. and now its about 82 degrees with the lights off and even warmer with them on. I would like to lower the temp but I figure this might be part of the cycling process. If that may be the case I'm on day 6 with fish. And my ammonia levels are just dropping.

[Telco Guy]

I have not heard of this happening. How have you added the carbon to the system? It is restricting the flow at all? If this causes any restriction in flow it could cause a pump to work harder thereby adding heat. Or by restricting flow it could reduce heatloss from evaporative cooling.

You could set up a fan or two blowing across the water to help with evaporative cooling. This may help to bring the temp down a degree or so. I have a smalle fan that I got out of an old computer on the same timer as my lights. That way it blows air across the lights and water so that the warm air does not build up over the tank.

[maxwellwhothunk]

I have a canister filter that I am using until my sump is built and i'm using about like a pound of it, i dont believe it is restricting the flow, as it is running normaly (compared to when i just had the filters in the canister. its a Magnum Deluxe Set up.

[Telco Guy]

Well, if you have the carbon in the canister I'd say it probably is restricting the flow a bit causing the pump to work a bit harder. That's probably where the extra heat is coming from.

Try some fans acros the top of the water if you can. But, if you are still in the cycling phase then a few degrees isn't too much of a concern.