Beverly, from what I read your study shows nothing. sorry but you were using different water samples and 1 hours is hardly enuf time for PH to stabalize . if you want to do it again, fill a large bucket with water. then do all your tests from that water. this way you have the same quality of water to start with. Next let the tank run over night to stabalize and do not treat with prime as by doing that you are adding other factors.
then you have to do your tests at the same time each day. as normal bacterial processes in a tank will varry the PH thought out the day but it should be close to the same value at the same time each day.
As for the origianl question, I use 8oz of carbon which I cange out every two weeks to 1 month. If I let it go a full month I do now a little less clarity in the water but only slightly. will this effect light penatration.. of course it will but as to how much it depends on the degree of turbidity. I am getting close to a month with out changing mine at this point maby I will let it go for another month and then do lighting tests at that time, then again 5 days later and see if there is a measurable difference.
Steve
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