Carbon in reef systems....

VIC · 11-12-2001, 02:43 PM

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. · 11-12-2001, 03:28 PM

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

organicreefer · 11-12-2001, 04:03 PM

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

watermama · 11-12-2001, 05:09 PM

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 · 11-12-2001, 08:48 PM

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 · 11-13-2001, 01:41 AM

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 · 11-13-2001, 09:35 AM

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

rededteck · 11-13-2001, 09:54 AM

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

**kevinpo** · 11-14-2001, 10:07 AM

I run 16oz for 1 week every 3 months or if I notice a yellowing of the water. I look through the lond 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 · 11-17-2001, 02:01 AM

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 · 11-17-2001, 11:39 AM

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

Ironreef · 11-17-2001, 08:48 PM

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** · 11-18-2001, 09:21 PM

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 · 11-25-2001, 05:03 PM

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.

View Poll Results: Do you use carbon in your reef aquarium?
no-never use it	13	30.23%
yes-4 days or less a month	14	32.56%
yes-1 week or less a month	3	6.98%
yes- I run it constantly	12	27.91%
yes-7 days every 90 days	1	2.33%
Voters: 43. You may not vote on this poll

11-12-2001, 02:43 PM	#1
VIC Citizen Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Elmwood Park, N.J. U.S.A Posts: 134	Carbon in reef systems.... 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

11-12-2001, 03:28 PM	#2
Barry N. Sponsor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: San Diego Posts: 1,034	The reason, I only run in now and then as it will leach Phos. into the tank as I have read. __________________ Barry ClamsDirect.Com

11-12-2001, 08:48 PM	#5
rededteck Sci Fi Reefer Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: central pa, usa Posts: 394	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. __________________ "That is the sound of inevitability..."

11-13-2001, 09:54 AM	#8
rededteck Sci Fi Reefer Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: central pa, usa Posts: 394	I change my carbon around every 3 months. I place them in panty hose in my sump. __________________ "That is the sound of inevitability..."

11-12-2001, 04:03 PM	#3
organicreefer Governor Join Date: May 2001 Location: Northern CA Posts: 2,171	all the time,as long as you supplement trace elements.

11-12-2001, 05:09 PM	#4
watermama Just Moved In Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Florida Posts: 26	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).

11-13-2001, 01:41 AM	#6
BlueWater Citizen Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Manhattan Beach, California Posts: 129	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

11-13-2001, 09:35 AM	#7
organicreefer Governor Join Date: May 2001 Location: Northern CA Posts: 2,171	i change my carbon about three times a year,every four months or so.

11-14-2001, 10:07 AM	#9
kevinpo Moderator Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Spokane Valley WA Posts: 2,424	I run 16oz for 1 week every 3 months or if I notice a yellowing of the water. I look through the lond 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 __________________ SPSguy On - On

11-17-2001, 02:01 AM	#10
Great Reefer Man Citizen Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Portland, OR USA Posts: 192	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 __________________ Dennis

11-17-2001, 11:39 AM	#11
organicreefer Governor Join Date: May 2001 Location: Northern CA Posts: 2,171	the reccomendations ive read say it will probly last 4-6 months.

11-17-2001, 08:48 PM	#12
Ironreef Governor Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Pacific WA Posts: 1,220	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

11-18-2001, 09:21 PM	#13
SPasse Moderator Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Forney Texas USA Posts: 2,252	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 __________________ Founding Member – Rocky Mountain Reef Club You can see my former reeftank at http://www.sdpasse.com

11-25-2001, 05:03 PM	#14
fishfarmer Just Moved In Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Bridport,VT Posts: 13	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.

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