who does not run carbon?

frags75 · 10/16/2007, 02:24 PM

I am debating this and was wondering if anyone does not run carbon on their tanks. My tank is fairly new and so far no signs of any problems and the water params are where the should be. I thought of running a reactor with phos/carbon but now I am not sure if it is necessary. The last test I did showed no phosphate or nitrate or ammonia. My last two tanks I used it but couldnt really see a difference. All water is RODI with 0 tds and I do bi-weekly water changes. Any thoughts on this?

JetCat USA · 10/16/2007, 02:45 PM

once in a blue moon i do, but 99% of the time i don't.

Rick2203 · 10/16/2007, 02:53 PM

once in a while here, when needed

Æonic · 10/16/2007, 03:14 PM

I have never run carbon in about 1.5 years on my nano, and only once on my home tank (~1 yr) when I used some flatworm exit.

SaltyBoG Water · 10/16/2007, 03:50 PM

I have a 29 gal bio cube http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1228133
i run carbon all the time. I have those half carbon half pad stuff.... why shouldn't you run carbon?

TWallace · 10/16/2007, 04:47 PM

I don't run carbon at all. I've got a 55g mixed reef, mostly SPS, but several softies and a few LPS. I don't run a skimmer either.

old salty · 10/16/2007, 05:16 PM

I threw a bag of carbon into my sump when I first set up my latest tank. Once the water cleared, the carbon was removed. Unless something goes seriously wrong, I don't anticipate on using carbon on the system again. I have found that putting carbon on a healthy running system is all but useless; just my observations.

Mavrk · 10/16/2007, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by frags75
I thought of running a reactor with phos/carbon but now I am not sure if it is necessary. The last test I did showed no phosphate or nitrate or ammonia.

I would still run the phosban reactor with phosban (or similar product). Phosphate leaches out slowly from rocks and substrate and can get caught up in any algae you have. This give you a false 0 reading.

As for the carbon, I believe in running it in small amounts for short periods of time. What I am doing is running phosban (actual PhosPure) in the reactor. Then when it is time to change the phosban, I put in carbon for a day or two before I put the phosban back in. I change my phosban monthly (if you use more it can last for a few months, but I like to run carbon once a month).

Before my reactor, I would run a few Tablespoons of carbon once a week for 12-24 hours.

dascharisma · 10/16/2007, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by JetCat USA
once in a blue moon i do, but 99% of the time i don't.

Same here. I have never really noticed a difference with or without. I run it if an SPS RTNs and I am trying to absorb its toxins, but I don't really know that it is effective.

Brad

da1jewfish · 10/16/2007, 06:23 PM

once in a blue moon. Unless your trying to remove treatment, it shouldn't be necessary. It usually removes some trace elements and I rather that not happen in a reef. Fish only- I could see using it. However in my FW tank it runs 24 hours.

frags75 · 10/16/2007, 07:27 PM

thanks for the input guys. I think I will stay away from it for now. As for the phosgaurd I havent seen any rise in the reading on my test kit. I keep my fuge on a reverse light cycle and it is pretty full of cheato and a few mangrove stalks. I beleive this to help control the phosphate as well as any nitrate.

10/16/2007, 02:24 PM	#1
frags75 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Suburbia Posts: 275	who does not run carbon? I am debating this and was wondering if anyone does not run carbon on their tanks. My tank is fairly new and so far no signs of any problems and the water params are where the should be. I thought of running a reactor with phos/carbon but now I am not sure if it is necessary. The last test I did showed no phosphate or nitrate or ammonia. My last two tanks I used it but couldnt really see a difference. All water is RODI with 0 tds and I do bi-weekly water changes. Any thoughts on this?

10/16/2007, 03:50 PM	#5
SaltyBoG Water Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 190	I have a 29 gal bio cube http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1228133 i run carbon all the time. I have those half carbon half pad stuff.... why shouldn't you run carbon? __________________ If you can walk, you can dance. If you can talk, you can sing. - African Proverb. Current Tank Info: 29 bio cube 25 lbs LR 40 lbs LS

10/16/2007, 05:16 PM	#7
old salty Genius Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: The Island of Misfit Toys Posts: 3,131	I threw a bag of carbon into my sump when I first set up my latest tank. Once the water cleared, the carbon was removed. Unless something goes seriously wrong, I don't anticipate on using carbon on the system again. I have found that putting carbon on a healthy running system is all but useless; just my observations. __________________ "The man who reads nothing at all is better educated than the man who reads nothing but newspapers." Thomas Jefferson Current Tank Info: Out of the marine aquarium hobby

10/16/2007, 02:45 PM	#2
JetCat USA Moved On Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 2,847	once in a blue moon i do, but 99% of the time i don't.

10/16/2007, 02:53 PM	#3
Rick2203 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: North East PA Posts: 472	once in a while here, when needed

10/16/2007, 03:14 PM	#4
Æonic Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 115	I have never run carbon in about 1.5 years on my nano, and only once on my home tank (~1 yr) when I used some flatworm exit.

10/16/2007, 04:47 PM	#6
TWallace Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Seattle Posts: 1,464	I don't run carbon at all. I've got a 55g mixed reef, mostly SPS, but several softies and a few LPS. I don't run a skimmer either.

10/16/2007, 06:23 PM	#10
da1jewfish Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: West Palm, FL Posts: 990	once in a blue moon. Unless your trying to remove treatment, it shouldn't be necessary. It usually removes some trace elements and I rather that not happen in a reef. Fish only- I could see using it. However in my FW tank it runs 24 hours.

10/16/2007, 07:27 PM	#11
frags75 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Suburbia Posts: 275	thanks for the input guys. I think I will stay away from it for now. As for the phosgaurd I havent seen any rise in the reading on my test kit. I keep my fuge on a reverse light cycle and it is pretty full of cheato and a few mangrove stalks. I beleive this to help control the phosphate as well as any nitrate.