Carbon Sans Filter Bags

[Johnny Reefer]

Okay, big pet peeve here. Can't effing stand emptying old carbon out of filter bags. Big pain in le derriere. If I could eliminate this chore it'd be just marvy. It's all I run in a Fluval 405 canister, now, so it's not like it has to be separated from any other media.
Just wondering if anyone has tried running carbon in a canister without using filter bags? If so, did carbon bits get up in the impeller chamber?

Thanx much,