Carbon in reef systems....

[VIC]

I am running carbon in my system for 2-4 days a month. Was wondering what the general opinion regarding carbon use in reef systems was. I used to run it constantly but it stripped the water of nutrients and killed some delicate corals.
Vic

[Barry N.]

The reason, I only run in now and then as it will leach Phos. into the tank as I have read.

[organicreefer]

all the time,as long as you supplement trace elements.

[watermama]

I used to but stopped after reading that it can "strip" the slime coat off of tangs. (Read this in one of my fish mags).

[rededteck]

I have been running carbon constantly for the last 1.5 years. I use C balance daily. I also 5 tangs in my tank. No ill effects on them as of yet. One of these tangs. my purple has been there since my tank cycled. He is my only fish from the first bunch to endure.

[BlueWater]

How often do you change out your carbon?
I am doing it every 2 weeks to a month.
That too long? No signs of Ammonia so far

[organicreefer]

i change my carbon about three times a year,every four months or so.

[rededteck]

I change my carbon around every 3 months. I place them in panty hose in my sump.

[kevinpo]

I run 16oz for 1 week every 3 months or if I notice a yellowing of the water. I look through the long end of the tank (8' side). A better way is to take 2 5gal white salt buckets and put fresh salt mix it one and tank water in the other look at the color of the white bottom you might be shocked at the color difference.

Regards,
Kevin

[Great Reefer Man]

To the people that run carbon longer than a month.....do you really think the carbon is still absorbing anything? Dont you think it would be "filled up" after say.......a few weeks max? After that, isnt it just a biological filter? I am a firm believer in "if it ain't broke, dont fix it" but I was just curious. Maybe you had some info I didnt.

Dennis

[organicreefer]

the reccomendations ive read say it will probly last 4-6 months.

[Ironreef]

everything I've read says carbon needs to be changed monthly depending on your bioload. But I rarely use it. My water remains clear with heavy skimming. But looking at the carbon i would think it would fill up pretty fast. most ppl use it a few weeks only or use it and rinse weekly

[SPasse]

Hi All,

As I used a no skimmer, algae filtered approach, I use carbon for 1 week, approximately every 90 days.

But I don’t use it on a continuous basis.

Regards,

Scott Passe

[fishfarmer]

I run carbon for about two weeks a month, sometimes I'll leave it in for a month. If I've done some major fragging, I'll add a fresh bag.