Continuous Use of Carbon ???

[ShooterRick]

I have been considering using Pura Pads as my particulate filter in my mixed reef system. I currently use the blue poly fiber that I clean weekly and replace after 2 cleanings. My concern is the Pura Pads also incorporate chemical filtration as well as simple mechanical filtration. Is the use of phosgaurd and carbon full time a concern such as removing to much trace elements? Any other concerns?

[Reefing Madness]

None that I am aware of. But, there is no need to run carbon 24-7. In fact, it has a bad rep for HLLE in fish. Might want to rethink that.

[ShooterRick]

None that I am aware of. But, there is no need to run carbon 24-7. In fact, it has a bad rep for HLLE in fish. Might want to rethink that.

Thanks. I did a bit of research and believe you are correct. I will save the Pura Pad I have for a as need situation and continue with just the simple mechanical filtration.

[Reefing Madness]

Thanks. I did a bit of research and believe you are correct. I will save the Pura Pad I have for a as need situation and continue with just the simple mechanical filtration.

[Housen]

Carbon has been blamed for removing trace elements, but this has been shown to be untrue. It also has been blamed for causing HLLE, but it has never been conclusively proven. Carbon is best used for no more than four weeks and changed out. But, not to change it all out at the same time. Split it in half and replace half every two weeks. I have spent hundreds of dollars on Purigen and other chemical filters and find that prewashed, activated carbon, that is phosphate free to be more than adequate for my tanks. I have floated bags of it in sumps and put it in filters. I find the latter to be most effective -- being sure that water passes through it.