How should I run carbon?

jamest0o0 · 03/28/2011, 01:38 AM

My DT is only around 8g and the new fuge I'm going to use is probably going to be in the 5-10g range... Question is should I use my phosban reactor to run carbon or would that be overkill? And should I wait until after the cycle to run carbon?

phillyfishguy · 03/28/2011, 04:22 AM

I would wait to run carbon but you can search the forums here.

billdogg · 03/28/2011, 06:10 AM

I start with carbon from the beginning. Your reactor will be perfect for it. As small as your system is, you will easily be able to run GFO in it at the same time. IMO, that is not the best (or easiest) way to do it, but would work well for you.

spskid01 · 03/28/2011, 06:48 AM

Yes use a reactor that's what I use for my carbon. Once you rinse it the rest is mess free

mktang · 03/28/2011, 07:50 AM

if it was my 8 gallon system, i would keep it real simple and just do large, weekly water changes. also, resist the urge to overstock the tank with to many fish.

mk

jamest0o0 · 03/28/2011, 12:02 PM

Alright thank you very much everyone, the only fish/inverts I plan on keeping are zoas, a blood red shrimp, and a shrimp/goby pair. Along with a CuC obviously

gweston · 03/28/2011, 12:27 PM

With a tank and bioload of that size you shouldn't 'need' to run carbon and/or GFO, but it certainly would help. Keeping up with consistent water changes is far more important. If you add a small skimmer to the sump, that'll certainly help too.

I'd say do what you want, and observe. If you want to improve something, can always make adjustments later to fine tune.

Now.. if I had a tank that size... and had a sump for it: I'd go with a small skimmer and a TLF reactor powered by a MJ pump. I'd mix carbon and GFO in the same reactor. Very little goes a long way. Maybe 1/3 cup carbon and 1/8 cup (2 tablespoons) GFO per month? Each tank differs a bit, so you'd need to figure out the quantity and change frequency that works best. Don't layer the media. Mix both carbon and GFO together. GFO tends to clump and solidify if you combine the two medias in a single reactor in layers. In my case, I found mixing them works FAR better in the reactor for my 29gal +15 sump.

I try to change media every 4 weeks.. but I occasionally let it go 6-8 weeks. By the 6-8 week mark, I can tell by looking at the water condition that the media has become far less effective.

As always best to make your own judgment call as you'll know your tank's conditions/parameters best and can adjust your methodology.

phillyfishguy · 03/30/2011, 04:29 AM

Is your fuge larger then your display tank?

needmore-reef · 03/30/2011, 04:37 AM

If I could I would have a sump twice the size of my tank

You shouldn't need much carbon for that size. The reactor is perfect. And it will not hurt to run carbon while you cycle the tank.

jamest0o0 · 03/30/2011, 12:10 PM

My fuge was larger, but it was just a little too big for the water levels to work out... So I'm making a fuge out of a rubbermaid probably around 10g. It will be like a sump too, I'm just going to put all of my equipment in there along with chaeto, DSB, and LR

03/28/2011, 01:38 AM	#1
jamest0o0 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 2,325	How should I run carbon? My DT is only around 8g and the new fuge I'm going to use is probably going to be in the 5-10g range... Question is should I use my phosban reactor to run carbon or would that be overkill? And should I wait until after the cycle to run carbon? __________________ Planning on new tank, been about 5-6 years since I've been in the hobby

03/28/2011, 06:10 AM	#3
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	I start with carbon from the beginning. Your reactor will be perfect for it. As small as your system is, you will easily be able to run GFO in it at the same time. IMO, that is not the best (or easiest) way to do it, but would work well for you. __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

03/28/2011, 12:02 PM	#6
jamest0o0 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 2,325	Alright thank you very much everyone, the only fish/inverts I plan on keeping are zoas, a blood red shrimp, and a shrimp/goby pair. Along with a CuC obviously __________________ Planning on new tank, been about 5-6 years since I've been in the hobby

03/30/2011, 12:10 PM	#10
jamest0o0 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 2,325	My fuge was larger, but it was just a little too big for the water levels to work out... So I'm making a fuge out of a rubbermaid probably around 10g. It will be like a sump too, I'm just going to put all of my equipment in there along with chaeto, DSB, and LR __________________ Planning on new tank, been about 5-6 years since I've been in the hobby

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03/28/2011, 04:22 AM	#2
phillyfishguy Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: philadelphia pa Posts: 233	I would wait to run carbon but you can search the forums here.

03/28/2011, 06:48 AM	#4
spskid01 Moved On Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 140	Yes use a reactor that's what I use for my carbon. Once you rinse it the rest is mess free

03/28/2011, 07:50 AM	#5
mktang Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 49	if it was my 8 gallon system, i would keep it real simple and just do large, weekly water changes. also, resist the urge to overstock the tank with to many fish. mk

03/28/2011, 12:27 PM	#7
gweston Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Gardner, MA Posts: 961	With a tank and bioload of that size you shouldn't 'need' to run carbon and/or GFO, but it certainly would help. Keeping up with consistent water changes is far more important. If you add a small skimmer to the sump, that'll certainly help too. I'd say do what you want, and observe. If you want to improve something, can always make adjustments later to fine tune. Now.. if I had a tank that size... and had a sump for it: I'd go with a small skimmer and a TLF reactor powered by a MJ pump. I'd mix carbon and GFO in the same reactor. Very little goes a long way. Maybe 1/3 cup carbon and 1/8 cup (2 tablespoons) GFO per month? Each tank differs a bit, so you'd need to figure out the quantity and change frequency that works best. Don't layer the media. Mix both carbon and GFO together. GFO tends to clump and solidify if you combine the two medias in a single reactor in layers. In my case, I found mixing them works FAR better in the reactor for my 29gal +15 sump. I try to change media every 4 weeks.. but I occasionally let it go 6-8 weeks. By the 6-8 week mark, I can tell by looking at the water condition that the media has become far less effective. As always best to make your own judgment call as you'll know your tank's conditions/parameters best and can adjust your methodology.

03/30/2011, 04:29 AM	#8
phillyfishguy Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: philadelphia pa Posts: 233	Is your fuge larger then your display tank?

03/30/2011, 04:37 AM	#9
needmore-reef Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 425	If I could I would have a sump twice the size of my tank You shouldn't need much carbon for that size. The reactor is perfect. And it will not hurt to run carbon while you cycle the tank.