Charcoal Canister, replacing the activated carbon

[njsteve]

i went to Petsmart and bought a couple pounds of aquarium activated charcoal and replaced it in mine.

Tastes just the same...and the fish haven't complained either. ;-)

[roeville]

Thanks for the reply. Getting the charcoal out was the easy part. The complication is getting the new activated carbon and new filter screens back in. It looks like I’ll have to cut the plastic grate in the bottom of the canister.

[njsteve]

No need to cut it open.

I fished out the old filter and the charcoal then dumped out by itself. You can turn it upside down, dump the new charcoal in through the grate. Then roll up the filter and wiggle it through the largest grate slot you have. Once it is inside, use a couple metal picks or probes to unfold it into place. Then turn it right side up and the charcoal will hold the filter in place, nicely.

[roeville]

Good thing I didn’t cut it open. I will definitely try that. Thanks!
Mike