Over-skimming and carbon filtration

dax29 · 08/26/2009, 02:24 PM

I've read and been told that carbon is useful in saltwater aquariums. Is that for real b/c I rarely if ever intentionall use it in freshwater tanks. Sometimes it is in the filter cartridges I purchase but I don't really think it helps that much and neither do any of the other freshwater aquarium folks (at least the cichlid keepers like me).

Also, I have a tendency to over-filter, or at least filter my tanks to where my water turnover is about 15X the tank volume per hour. I've been considering using skimmers that are over-rated for my tank volume. These will be HOB skimmers. I've got a 100 gallon tank that I'd like to slap a couple of skimmers on that are rated for 75-100 gallon tanks. On my 125 I'd put on two skimmers rated at 100-125 gallon tanks. That way I'd get as much waste as possible and won't have to empty cups as often.

Does all this make any sense?

robow · 08/26/2009, 02:32 PM

I would have to disagree about the carbon it preforms microscopic mechanical filtration and is very good for all aquariums fresh and marine
as for the skimmer I don't think you can over skim as long as it is getting stuff out you will be fine.

100%hydrophylic · 08/26/2009, 02:53 PM

15x turnover in a reef isnt very much. youd have to get powerheads to add to your turn over rate. and i agree with robow. carbon is good. especially for keeping water from becoming discolored. also big powerful skimmers are good if you ask most people on here. my opinion is that alot of corals like a little gunk in the water, especially filter feeding corals and inverts.

seapug · 08/26/2009, 02:54 PM

Reef tanks generate large volumes of organics that can cause the water to yellow. Carbon does a very good job of getting rid of it.

As far as circulation goes, 15X/hour is on the low side for a reef tank. Between the main return pump and powerheads in the tank, you want total circulation to be closer to 30 or 40X/hour.

Re: Protein Skimmers-- no harm is using a skimmer rated for a tank size larger than what you have, but their effectiveness can really vary depending on their design and where they are located in the system. HOB skimmers are not as efficient as an external or sump based skimmers, so running one well designed large skimmer in your sump is probably more effective than having two low quality HOB skimmers, and you won't have all that junk hanging off your display.

Gary Majchrzak · 08/26/2009, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dax29
I've read and been told that carbon is useful in saltwater aquariums. Is that for real (?)

no.
carbon is extremely useful in saltwater aquariums and specifically VERY useful in reef aquariums

tip: installing a drain line from the skimmer collection cup to a bucket will alleviate the need to dump the cup.

stevek480 · 08/26/2009, 03:21 PM

Do you have a sump? It doesn't sound like you bought the skimmers yet, so you may want to think about adding a sump and buying in-sump skimmers instead of the HOB. Just seems to me like having 2 HOB skimmers might not look that great.

dax29 · 08/26/2009, 03:45 PM

I haven't purchased anything, and I don't have sumps on my tanks. I was thinking of going FOWLR with my tanks before going reef. The lights are very expensive for reef aquariums.

08/26/2009, 02:24 PM	#1
dax29 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Tifton, GA Posts: 66	Over-skimming and carbon filtration I've read and been told that carbon is useful in saltwater aquariums. Is that for real b/c I rarely if ever intentionall use it in freshwater tanks. Sometimes it is in the filter cartridges I purchase but I don't really think it helps that much and neither do any of the other freshwater aquarium folks (at least the cichlid keepers like me). Also, I have a tendency to over-filter, or at least filter my tanks to where my water turnover is about 15X the tank volume per hour. I've been considering using skimmers that are over-rated for my tank volume. These will be HOB skimmers. I've got a 100 gallon tank that I'd like to slap a couple of skimmers on that are rated for 75-100 gallon tanks. On my 125 I'd put on two skimmers rated at 100-125 gallon tanks. That way I'd get as much waste as possible and won't have to empty cups as often. Does all this make any sense?

08/26/2009, 02:32 PM	#2
robow Ninja Robot Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 301	I would have to disagree about the carbon it preforms microscopic mechanical filtration and is very good for all aquariums fresh and marine as for the skimmer I don't think you can over skim as long as it is getting stuff out you will be fine. __________________ I have no idea what is going on Current Tank Info: 120 Gallon mixed reef 24 gallon sump 20 gallon fuge eshopps pks150 skimmer

08/26/2009, 02:53 PM	#3
100%hydrophylic Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: GA Posts: 1,636	15x turnover in a reef isnt very much. youd have to get powerheads to add to your turn over rate. and i agree with robow. carbon is good. especially for keeping water from becoming discolored. also big powerful skimmers are good if you ask most people on here. my opinion is that alot of corals like a little gunk in the water, especially filter feeding corals and inverts. __________________ :) Current Tank Info: 75g mixed reef, 28g nano SPS

08/26/2009, 02:54 PM	#4
seapug Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: 4980 ft. Posts: 7,954 Blog Entries: 1	Reef tanks generate large volumes of organics that can cause the water to yellow. Carbon does a very good job of getting rid of it. As far as circulation goes, 15X/hour is on the low side for a reef tank. Between the main return pump and powerheads in the tank, you want total circulation to be closer to 30 or 40X/hour. Re: Protein Skimmers-- no harm is using a skimmer rated for a tank size larger than what you have, but their effectiveness can really vary depending on their design and where they are located in the system. HOB skimmers are not as efficient as an external or sump based skimmers, so running one well designed large skimmer in your sump is probably more effective than having two low quality HOB skimmers, and you won't have all that junk hanging off your display. __________________ insert clever saying here. Current Tank Info: 200 gallon custom Marineland DD peninsular tank. LPS dominated mixed reef. Previous 90 gallon mixed reef TOTM April 2009. Last edited by seapug; 08/26/2009 at 03:05 PM.

08/26/2009, 03:21 PM	#6
stevek480 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Flemington, NJ Posts: 605	Do you have a sump? It doesn't sound like you bought the skimmers yet, so you may want to think about adding a sump and buying in-sump skimmers instead of the HOB. Just seems to me like having 2 HOB skimmers might not look that great.

08/26/2009, 03:45 PM	#7
dax29 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Tifton, GA Posts: 66	I haven't purchased anything, and I don't have sumps on my tanks. I was thinking of going FOWLR with my tanks before going reef. The lights are very expensive for reef aquariums.