Running Activate Carbon

Craig Lambert · 04/23/2006, 09:46 AM

Randy,

I have been running activated carbon (HydroCarbon by Two Little Fishies) 24/7 on a passive basis. I have been using 11 tbsp in a mesh bag in a good flow area of the sump. The tank is 75G with a 29G sump with total water capacity of 70G. It is lightly stocked (3 small fish, 4 corals, and a rbta). I have a dsb, 100lbs lr, and a small fuge with cheato. Skimmer is an AquaC EV-180. I do 10% water changes weekly. The tank stable and doing well, but I am unclear on how often I should replace the carbon. How frequently do you suggest changing it out?

mg426 · 04/23/2006, 12:49 PM

I have heard anywhere from two weeks to a month. I have also heard that its better to change a little each week as opposed to the whole bag monthly.

bertoni · 04/23/2006, 02:08 PM

I don't think anyone's run a lot of studies on carbon lifetime in tanks, and the lifetime could vary a lot, too. I change mine once a month, and that seems to work for me and a lot of other people. Seems like a reasonable guess.

If you're seeing issues, you could try changing it more frequently. That might help with soft corals, for example, since they often release toxins.

psimitry · 04/24/2006, 11:35 AM

I take the middle road between two weeks and a month and replace mine every three weeks. I don't honestly know if it makes a difference - I'm just not diciplined enough or equipped to make a worthwhile scientific observation about whether or not two weeks, three weeks or a month is the right amount of time.

Ironman · 04/24/2006, 11:38 AM

I replace mine every two weeks. I like maintain a proactive approach just in case.

steve the plumb · 04/24/2006, 12:10 PM

I used to change it every so often.I never payed attention as to how often.It may have been once a month.I never noticed negative affects.Skimmate was good and the tank was healthy.I started to change it every 2 weeks in the last month and a half.I use about 1 1/2 cups for my 150.I think the rule of thumb is 1 cup or so per 90 gal of water.Even thoug hI started to change the carbon regularly the tank looks the same.The water is clear and the corals are fine.I don't have phosphates and I never had a problem with hair algea.I have had cyno twice in the past due to poor circulation and in my sump because poor circulation anf the bulb was old.I changed out the bulb and added a powerhead after that I was fine.I was forced to use chemi-clean.

PatMayo · 04/25/2006, 10:07 AM

I use 2 units of chemi-pure and change them out every other month. I have carbon but have not used any yet. (Don't really know if I need to.)
My water has been clear as a bell since day 1. I have used the chemi-pure since the incpetion of the tank and I probably won't change since it does not seem to be broken so why fix it.

I too got a little cyno in my sump but not in the main tank. I have done nothing about the cyno in the sump. It's only in a few places so I am not going to sweat it. If I ever see any in the main tank then I will have to take another approach.

Virtually an empty tank still. 2 clowns, 2 emerald crabs, about 6 snails and 4 or 5 hermit crabs.

Tank has been up 92 days now.

Regards,

Pat

04/23/2006, 09:46 AM	#1
Craig Lambert Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 2,897	Running Activate Carbon Randy, I have been running activated carbon (HydroCarbon by Two Little Fishies) 24/7 on a passive basis. I have been using 11 tbsp in a mesh bag in a good flow area of the sump. The tank is 75G with a 29G sump with total water capacity of 70G. It is lightly stocked (3 small fish, 4 corals, and a rbta). I have a dsb, 100lbs lr, and a small fuge with cheato. Skimmer is an AquaC EV-180. I do 10% water changes weekly. The tank stable and doing well, but I am unclear on how often I should replace the carbon. How frequently do you suggest changing it out? __________________ "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will spend all day in a boat drinking beer." Current Tank Info: 75G Tank, 29G Sump, 100lbs LR, AquaC EV-180, Iwaki MD-20RT return Tunze nano streams 4X54 t-5/Icecap Ballast & SLR's 2x110 vho actinic

04/23/2006, 12:49 PM	#2
mg426 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: maryland Posts: 6,923	I have heard anywhere from two weeks to a month. I have also heard that its better to change a little each week as opposed to the whole bag monthly. __________________ I found a way to make a small fortune running a reef tank. Start with a large fortune. Unofficial President of the SEACLONE haters club Current Tank Info: 125 mixed reef 110 lbs LR, 1x250watt XM 20K MH 2x175watt XM 20K MH on Magetics 2X96 watt actinic PC, 220 watt VHO actinic, 30 gallon refugium, closed loop system powered by Sequence Dart MSX 200 skimmer 38 gallon sump, Oceansmotions squirt

04/23/2006, 02:08 PM	#3
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	I don't think anyone's run a lot of studies on carbon lifetime in tanks, and the lifetime could vary a lot, too. I change mine once a month, and that seems to work for me and a lot of other people. Seems like a reasonable guess. If you're seeing issues, you could try changing it more frequently. That might help with soft corals, for example, since they often release toxins. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

04/25/2006, 10:07 AM	#7
PatMayo Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Seattle Posts: 2,843	I use 2 units of chemi-pure and change them out every other month. I have carbon but have not used any yet. (Don't really know if I need to.) My water has been clear as a bell since day 1. I have used the chemi-pure since the incpetion of the tank and I probably won't change since it does not seem to be broken so why fix it. I too got a little cyno in my sump but not in the main tank. I have done nothing about the cyno in the sump. It's only in a few places so I am not going to sweat it. If I ever see any in the main tank then I will have to take another approach. Virtually an empty tank still. 2 clowns, 2 emerald crabs, about 6 snails and 4 or 5 hermit crabs. Tank has been up 92 days now. Regards, Pat __________________ 90 AGA Megaflow (Setup 1-24-06) 120 Lbs. Liverock EuroReef RS 100 Skimmer 2 X 150 MH 2 X 96 watt PC Actinic 2 Clarki Clowns (31 months old) 1 Niger Trigger (Owned 6 months) 2 Tunze 6055 PH Current Tank Info: 90 AGA Megaflow To Be Mixed Reef

04/24/2006, 11:35 AM	#4
psimitry Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Phoenix Posts: 1,560	I take the middle road between two weeks and a month and replace mine every three weeks. I don't honestly know if it makes a difference - I'm just not diciplined enough or equipped to make a worthwhile scientific observation about whether or not two weeks, three weeks or a month is the right amount of time.

04/24/2006, 11:38 AM	#5
Ironman Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Earth Posts: 811	I replace mine every two weeks. I like maintain a proactive approach just in case.

04/24/2006, 12:10 PM	#6
steve the plumb Moved On Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Montreal, Canada Posts: 3,664	I used to change it every so often.I never payed attention as to how often.It may have been once a month.I never noticed negative affects.Skimmate was good and the tank was healthy.I started to change it every 2 weeks in the last month and a half.I use about 1 1/2 cups for my 150.I think the rule of thumb is 1 cup or so per 90 gal of water.Even thoug hI started to change the carbon regularly the tank looks the same.The water is clear and the corals are fine.I don't have phosphates and I never had a problem with hair algea.I have had cyno twice in the past due to poor circulation and in my sump because poor circulation anf the bulb was old.I changed out the bulb and added a powerhead after that I was fine.I was forced to use chemi-clean.