CARBON!!! do i need it?

snaza · 04/29/2006, 12:21 AM

do i need carbon in my tank? what does it do. i've notice people are using it? do i put it in my sump?

carib · 04/29/2006, 12:42 AM

To put a long story short-CRYSTAL CLEAR WATER.But you must do some reaserch for your particular aplication.

hollywood300m · 04/29/2006, 06:32 AM

the only time I use carbon is after a water change, but I only use it for about 2-3 days and take it out. Make sure you get a good grade of carbon which has a very porous structure, and doesn't have any excess dust. Reef carbon is good. The use of carbon should only to be used like a sponge temporaily pulling organics and toxins out of the water. You don't want to over use it and start to strip out essential elements, or have the carbon build up organics and leech out. hope that helps.

SunnyX · 04/29/2006, 07:30 AM

I run carbon 24/7 365 days a year. I place some in a mesh bag in my sump and replace it every month.

It works great for me and you really cant argue with my results.

ROB2005 · 04/29/2006, 09:25 AM

more power to ya...it works for me as well...

agrusczak · 04/29/2006, 11:03 AM

What brand carbon are you using? I'm trying to avoid introducing phosphates into my tank. Some brands claim not to introduce phosphates, but they do.

B33FST3W · 04/29/2006, 12:41 PM

If you are worried about phosphates, Seachem make a 2 in one carbon/phosphate remover called seagel which removes any phosphate that may have been added by the carbon.

tran383 · 04/29/2006, 02:58 PM

when people say I use it for 2-3 days and take it out. Does that mean they dump it after they remove it? Use new carbon next time they run it or do they use the same ones again?

szwab · 04/29/2006, 03:01 PM

I use carbon for water clarity and also as a saftey. If any chemical or unwanted should get into he tank the carbon should pull it out.
My application is a mesh bag in the sump hat gets changed monthly.

KEstep · 04/29/2006, 04:19 PM

If you are afraid of it containing phosphates I have read somewhere that you could drop some pieces of carbon into a test tube vial with RO water and perform a phosphate test in the same vial. If it turns any color then it has phosphates.
I personally run it in my tanks 24/7 and have never had any ill effects from it. I use Marineland Black Diamond Carbon in a filter sock and rinse it a lot before i put it in the overflow.

04/29/2006, 12:21 AM	#1
snaza Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Australia Posts: 1,393	CARBON!!! do i need it? do i need carbon in my tank? what does it do. i've notice people are using it? do i put it in my sump?

04/29/2006, 09:25 AM	#5
ROB2005 Reefing Is My Passion! Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 719	more power to ya...it works for me as well... __________________ If at first you don't succeed at reefing, break it down and set back up😁 Current Tank Info: 75 gallon corner overflow, 4-54W T-5 , dozen blue hermits, tiger pistol/yellow watchman goby, royal gramma, banghai and pajama cardinals

04/29/2006, 03:01 PM	#9
szwab RC Mod Join Date: May 2002 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 15,225	I use carbon for water clarity and also as a saftey. If any chemical or unwanted should get into he tank the carbon should pull it out. My application is a mesh bag in the sump hat gets changed monthly. __________________ Mark "I got a fever, and the only prescription, is more cowbell" ~ Christopher Walken Current Tank Info: AGE 240 Flatback Hex

04/29/2006, 04:19 PM	#10
KEstep Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Amarillo, TX Posts: 550	If you are afraid of it containing phosphates I have read somewhere that you could drop some pieces of carbon into a test tube vial with RO water and perform a phosphate test in the same vial. If it turns any color then it has phosphates. I personally run it in my tanks 24/7 and have never had any ill effects from it. I use Marineland Black Diamond Carbon in a filter sock and rinse it a lot before i put it in the overflow. __________________ A bartender is just a pharmacist with limited inventory. If you drink don't park, accidents cause people. If only closed minds came with closed mouths. Have a great day. Kris Current Tank Info: 150g. DAS Oak Aquarium, 3 250w. Reeflux 10k on Coralvue Dimmable E-ballasts, 150lbs. Live Rock, DAS EX-2 Skimmer, Remote Deep Sand Bucket, Reefkeeper 2, 10 gallon fuge, 2 Vortechs, Coralvue Dual Chamber Calcium Reactor, Coralvue Kalkwasser Reactor.

04/29/2006, 12:42 AM	#2
carib Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: los angeles Posts: 210	To put a long story short-CRYSTAL CLEAR WATER.But you must do some reaserch for your particular aplication.

04/29/2006, 06:32 AM	#3
hollywood300m Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Northern NJ Posts: 37	the only time I use carbon is after a water change, but I only use it for about 2-3 days and take it out. Make sure you get a good grade of carbon which has a very porous structure, and doesn't have any excess dust. Reef carbon is good. The use of carbon should only to be used like a sponge temporaily pulling organics and toxins out of the water. You don't want to over use it and start to strip out essential elements, or have the carbon build up organics and leech out. hope that helps.

04/29/2006, 07:30 AM	#4
SunnyX Moved On Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Michigan Posts: 4,991	I run carbon 24/7 365 days a year. I place some in a mesh bag in my sump and replace it every month. It works great for me and you really cant argue with my results.

04/29/2006, 11:03 AM	#6
agrusczak Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Capital District New York State Posts: 85	What brand carbon are you using? I'm trying to avoid introducing phosphates into my tank. Some brands claim not to introduce phosphates, but they do.

04/29/2006, 12:41 PM	#7
B33FST3W Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Atlanta GA Posts: 173	If you are worried about phosphates, Seachem make a 2 in one carbon/phosphate remover called seagel which removes any phosphate that may have been added by the carbon.

04/29/2006, 02:58 PM	#8
tran383 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 402	when people say I use it for 2-3 days and take it out. Does that mean they dump it after they remove it? Use new carbon next time they run it or do they use the same ones again?