MAQIHAN Coconut Shell Activated Charcoal Pellets

MAQIHAN Activated Charcoal Pellets are a coconut shell carbon for aquarium filters. The pack comes with 3 zippered nylon mesh bags, so you can split the carbon into portions and drop one into your filter.

Coconut shell carbon

Most cheap carbon is made from coal. MAQIHAN uses coconut shell, which has a lot of fine pores and tends to be low in dust. The goal is the same: pull dissolved compounds out of the water to cut odor and improve clarity.

The bags

The nylon bags have a tight weave and a zipper, which keeps granules from leaking into your filter or tank. Fill a bag about two thirds full so water can move through it rather than around it.

Using it

• Rinse the carbon to clear any dust.
• Place the bag after your sponge or floss stage.
• Replace it about every 4 weeks, as MAQIHAN advises.

Cautions

Don’t run carbon while dosing medication, because it removes the treatment. MAQIHAN also advises care in planted tanks, since carbon can pull out some liquid fertilizer between doses.

Who it suits

It suits most cartridge and media-box filters. Good for anyone who wants carbon in a ready-to-use bag rather than a large bulk tub.

If you have more than one tank, the three bags make it easy to give each filter its own portion. Label each bag with the date it went in. When the month is up, empty the old carbon into the trash and refill the bag, since the zipper bags themselves can be reused.

Other options

For a larger supply, Aquatic Experts premium carbon comes in bulk. For a carbon-free way to clear organics, see Seachem Purigen.