Setting up new tank

bmk · 04/24/2007, 01:59 AM

Hi
I am going to setup my tank this weekend, I am using my Ehiem 2026 for mechanical and chemical filtration (ceramic at the bottom and phosphate in bag at the top) and wanted to know if I should use carbon as well. I have kept freshwater tropicals and only used carbon when needed but dont know whether it's needed in a marine tank. Any advice is much appreciated.

glockcoma · 04/24/2007, 02:08 AM

just dont make the same mistake I did and bought the one that has white crystals for ammonia cause it for fresh water only, black diamond Ive heard is a really good one, and if you want cloudiness to go away asap, I'd use it.

mg426 · 04/24/2007, 06:29 AM

I run carbon 24/7

Nano Chris · 04/24/2007, 02:52 PM

Yes i use Matrix carbon, works great, i run 24/7 change it ever 2 weeks or so.

bmk · 04/25/2007, 01:22 AM

Thanks for that, I will put the carbon in a bag next to the phosphate remover on the top tray in the Ehiem.

drummereef · 04/25/2007, 01:37 AM

I would recommend only running the phosphate and carbon media in there. Take the mechanical filtration out, no need for it and will build up nitrates, imo. If you are planning on having at least 1lb/gallon of live rock in the display there is no need for the bio media either. Just use it for flow and chemical filtration.

04/24/2007, 01:59 AM	#1
bmk Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: England Posts: 278	Setting up new tank Hi I am going to setup my tank this weekend, I am using my Ehiem 2026 for mechanical and chemical filtration (ceramic at the bottom and phosphate in bag at the top) and wanted to know if I should use carbon as well. I have kept freshwater tropicals and only used carbon when needed but dont know whether it's needed in a marine tank. Any advice is much appreciated.

04/24/2007, 06:29 AM	#3
mg426 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: maryland Posts: 6,923	I run carbon 24/7 __________________ 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

04/24/2007, 02:52 PM	#4
Nano Chris Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 2,758	Yes i use Matrix carbon, works great, i run 24/7 change it ever 2 weeks or so. __________________ Chris ------- 34 Gallon Red Sea Max 130! Setup (Just got back into the hobby) Current Tank Info: 34 Gallon RedSeaMax!

04/25/2007, 01:37 AM	#6
drummereef Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: STL Posts: 14,754	I would recommend only running the phosphate and carbon media in there. Take the mechanical filtration out, no need for it and will build up nitrates, imo. If you are planning on having at least 1lb/gallon of live rock in the display there is no need for the bio media either. Just use it for flow and chemical filtration. __________________ -Brett 180g Marineland Starfire In-Wall 278 gallon system

04/24/2007, 02:08 AM	#2
glockcoma Moved On Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Hawthorne, CA. Posts: 1,383	just dont make the same mistake I did and bought the one that has white crystals for ammonia cause it for fresh water only, black diamond Ive heard is a really good one, and if you want cloudiness to go away asap, I'd use it.

04/25/2007, 01:22 AM	#5
bmk Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: England Posts: 278	Thanks for that, I will put the carbon in a bag next to the phosphate remover on the top tray in the Ehiem.