using carbon to clear a tank of meds

Hi guys, I know this will seem to be a really basic question but I've never used this method before to please excuse my ignorance!

I recently treated my Rio 240 (240 litre) with Esha 2000 as all other ways of curing a tetra with external parasites were failing. All looks to be fine now and it seems to have done the trick. I added the last dose yesterday and I've just done a 60 litre water change. Normally to remove meds I've used water changes - that's the way I've always done it but on this occasion I want to run some carbon as changing large amounts of water on a large tank is tedious and back breaking.

So, I managed to get a pack of carbon sponges - I bought interpet for a PF1 as I have a PF1 internal and I was going to just pop it in to the tank with two carbon sponges inside it. The pack contains 3 sponges. The PF1's capacity is only 60 litres max so running my PF1 as an extra filter probably won't do it aswell as dropping the sponges into my externals! (sorry, I'm being a bit thick at the moment, blame sleep deprivation!)

So my question is - is it best to just drop all 3 of these little carbon sponges into my external filter and how long does it take to remove the meds? I want to get my nerite snails back into the tank asap

Thanks ... and no laughing at me

Filters are normally rated for the size of tank / volume of water, bigger the tank, bigger the filter.

In this case, you're not using the filter to cope with filtering the whole tank (you've got your external/s doing that).

So, just pop the carbon sponges into the PF1 and let it run. Don't bother disturbing your external/s.

The PF1 will turnover almost 400 lts per hour and carbon is very effective (quick to work). I'd imagine that you'd be chemical free within a couple of hours. Give it half a day to be on the safe side and then add your snails. You can leave the filter running but I'd probably take it out after a couple of days and throw the used inserts away.

AKASHAS TODO LIST: Buy Python Water Changer!

thanks Dean .... with a smaller tank I used to do a 50% water change, leave it a couple of days and then do another and then I was confident I'd removed the meds and there was no need to go buying carbon! This was why I never learned how you use it, I never needed to.

With the new tank being so big chucking in the carbon is a much easier option .... and yes I got plans for a python - albeit a DIY one - I just need to get my bottom on gear and buy everything I need!

I'll set that PF1 running today and my snails can go home tomorrow. They'll be hungry now, there's no algae in the 30 litre tank that they are in so they've had nothing to eat for 5 days now - poor babies must be starving

ok ... slightly unrelated but it's got me worried.

I've just added the PF1 with two bits of carbon in - one in each side of the housing - and within 10 minutes all my fish have started zooming around the tank.
I got up this morning and they all seemed to be hanging around and a bit sleepy. One of my palmeri tetra's has been fighting as he's missing half his tail this morning and so I was putting it down to that - they were maybe subdued due to stress but they've suddenly perked up with the addition of the internal filter .... is this pointing to a possible lack of oxygen in the tank?

Help please

You might notice that your water turns crystal clear, thanks to the carbon. It's good stuff and soaks up all the junk.

Is it pointing to a lack of oxygen in the tank? Most likely not. They're probably just glad the treatment is going!

yeah ... bye bye blackwater

I'll have to replace that but at least it'll clear the tank of anything lurking. I've risked putting my snails back in and one glance into their temporary tank and there's eggs all over! Clearly not that unhappy in there!
I think I might have a go at hatching them. I've done some research and apparently marine salt water is the best way as it gives them minerals that their shells need to begin with.
I've nothing to lose and the little mystery baby is in the other seperate compartment of this tank so it's got to stay running anyway.