carbon

jennmac415 · 02-05-2005, 08:55 PM

This week some of my corals were not opening and expanding as much as they normally do. All parameters are good, so I began to research the reason for this... came up with the concept of coral chemical warfare... I have a small 29 with quite a few LPS, softies, shrooms and zoos.. I decided to get a small HOB and only place a bag of carbon in it. Within a day or 2 all seemed happy again.

Mt question is this... how long should I run this, if the answer is always, then how often should I replace it. I will soon be upgrading to an 80, so placement of corals will be easier. Right now they are pretty crowded. For now should I just run this all the time?

Another question... what are the effects of running carbon... any that are not desirable? IE.. does it mess with PH or any other levels that I should be aware of?

Thanks,
Jenni

jennmac415 · 02-05-2005, 11:37 PM

surely someone can answer these questions for me...

VWD · 02-06-2005, 06:55 AM

Well , I not going to answer that for You , I hope someone will , I would like to know also how many People run it on there Reefs all the time , I have been doing salt water for 34 Years and always stayed away from carbon , But on My new set up for some reason I dicided to run carbon during the cycle , Don't know if I will keep it after the cycle , Vince

yardboy · 02-06-2005, 07:09 AM

Carbon does tend to be controversial, I don't know why. I see only good effects from it. Some claim, and experimentally it's true, that it can pull trace elements out of the water, but if you keep up with water changes it shouldn't be an issue. Carbon is really good at pulling high molecular weight organics out of the water, which is why I use it. I generally run it constantly, but it needs to be changed out fairly frequently, depending on your skimmer and organic load. I've run it passively in the past, just putting it in a mesh bag sitting on a rack in front of the return pump intake, changing it every two weeks. I'm experimenting now with setting it up using the discharge of the skimmer, figuring since the skimmer removes organics, the carbon will "polish" the skimmer water. I do think that small amounts changed frequently are better than a huge dose kept a long time. There will be an initial polishing of the water that, if nothing else, will clarify the water so fast that it can bleach corals from increased light penetration. Left too long in the water, it can filter detritus and become a nitrate factory, as it's a very good substrate for microbial growth.

As you've noticed, I think it's most useful function is to reduce chemical warfare between corals, particularly softies. I had a Sinularia that had everything else in the tank stunted. You should have heard the cheering when I removed it!

Peter · 02-06-2005, 10:17 AM

I used to use carbon continuously and found it to work very well. Like most proponents, I found it's benefits to greatly outweigh any of it's shortcomings.

However, some time later I switched over to polyfilters. I found it's performance to be outstanding as it removes most contaminants without reducing trace elements. Furthermore, I does not leach any of the contaminants back into the water column over time.

I would buy the larger pads which are thicker and more concentrated and cut them to fit into a direct flow thru compartment. I would place three layers together to increase the filtration capabilities.

I found it's only draw back was it's relatively high costs.

nikesmashing · 02-06-2005, 11:39 AM

I run carbon every day. and change it once a month

jennmac415 · 02-06-2005, 04:37 PM

Thanks, everyone...

I too heard cheering from some of my corals when I put it in the other day... I think for now I will run it constantly, seeing as my system is so small (until of course I get the 80 up) and change it frequently so it doesn't become a nitrate factory. On a side note... for a 29 gallon system that probably has around 35 lbs of live rock,(making of course, the total water volume less) do you think changing out 2 gallons every week is enough?

I hijacked my own thread... lol

Jenni

gitsumpottery · 02-06-2005, 08:31 PM

Hey Jen,

To answer the first question: I run carbon in my 40 gallon 24/7, and change it every 2 weeks.

Second question: A couple of gallons a week is a good way at keeping your tank clean, and well stocked with the essential minerals. I change about 2.5-3 gallons every week, and I think my water quality is very good.

Zac

Ace's Reef · 02-06-2005, 09:26 PM

I run a magnum 350 with phosguard and carbon 24-7 and change it every two weeks

ACE

tdwyatt · 02-06-2005, 09:57 PM

1 tablespoonful of GAC per 10 gal of system water, split between two bags, changed every 2 weeks, half on even weeks, half on odd weeks. I am thinking of buillding a slow to medium flow rate canister with throughflow from the bottom to improve efficiency, rather than just hanging it in front of the returns, I want it to have some flow through it, but I don't want it to tumble and break up the granules. I also would think about trying the Chempure adsorbant granules, and would consider the polyfilter pads, but I also think it is a bit too expensive for the amount of time it works.

Mine runs 24/7 for about two weeks a shift.

aussiereefer82 · 02-06-2005, 10:47 PM

G'day guys,
i used to run carbon periodically but switched to 24/7 because of chemical warfare between corals. I run a small bag in my 60gal with fluval 304 canister and change it once a week. Everything has been good ever since. I truly belive my water quality has improved as a result.

wanareef · 02-07-2005, 05:20 AM

Just a small reminder - carbon will leach back phosphates into the tank. Some brand more than others - and have found black diamond brand the least offensive of the carbons.

just my .02

Ace's Reef · 02-07-2005, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wanareef

Just a small reminder - carbon will leach back phosphates into the tank. Some brand more than others - and have found black diamond brand the least offensive of the carbons.

just my .02

True all carbons are not the same just make sure you get a phosphate free carbon i use Black Diamond.

Peter · 02-07-2005, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdwyatt

I also would think about trying the Chempure adsorbant granules, and would consider the polyfilter pads, but I also think it is a bit too expensive for the amount of time it works.

Yeah, the polyfilter pads are a great product but they "burn-out"

very fast. I would get a couple of weeks out of each triple layer scheme.

I often wondered how long they would have lasted if I was using them from the very beginning (initial tank set-up).

Another great benefit of the pads are their color-changing patterns. You always know that they worked and when to change them as they progressively change from yellow to tan to dark brown.

Again the only main drawback is the cost. Every time I throw them out I felt as if I was tossing money away.

tdwyatt · 02-07-2005, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter

Again the only main drawback is the cost. Every time I throw them out I felt as if I was tossing money away.

Heh! My old sailing buddy (Nick for those of you who know him) would tell folks that wondered how sailing (another EXPENSIVE hobby) compared to reefkeeping. His response was:

Quote:

Originally Posted by nicky D

...to understand sailing and reefkeeping, especialy big tanks, you need to stand with your wallet out and tear $100 bills in half and drop them into the trash can, the difference being that when sailing your standing in a cold shower fully clothed as well...