Best way to run carbon... Reactor or Canister filter?

yankeeslover · 04/03/2016, 08:04 AM

75 gallon mixed reef tank about 8 months running....currently running a eshopps hob 100 skimmer... I do not have a sump.. yesterday I purchased two small Sinularia leather frags.. I went against my norm and purchased without researching. I read lastnight that these can be very toxic and kill a tank.. I am not sure if I should get rid of them or as some say to just run carbon or if the skimmer is enough? my tank is full of small zoas and lps corals.
My question is, if I run carbon what is the best way to run it? I do have a two little fishies reactor that I do not currently use.. I just didn't like the extra equipment laying in my tank(pump,hoses).. I was also considering purchasing a small canister filter to run the carbon... being that I already own the reactor is this a decent way to run carbon? if so, do I just run the carbon 24/7? how often do I change? what kind of carbon do I put in the reactor? do I fill it? I'm sorry, I'm so new to all this.. thanks for helping..

Keoki18 · 04/03/2016, 09:02 AM

Sinularia sp do have the potential of releasing toxins, however I wouldn't be concerned with this fact. Typically a system that has good filtration and is well managed with the placement of coral colonies will never see a problem. Leather corals usually only affect other colonies that are situated within a very close proximity to them. I have plenty of sinularia sp growing right next to LPS and SPS for years with little to no complications.

so don't stress..

That being said, I would rather use a reactor so you could control the flow to what you would like. Both are viable options though. I personally do not use carbon but would recommend not running it all the time. Maybe use it once every couple weeks for a 48 hour period.

ca1ore · 04/03/2016, 09:06 AM

A cannister and a reactor are functionally the same thing, just that the former has an integrated pump. Either will suffice. I run carbon 24/7 on my system because I'm keeping softies, LPS and SPS in the same system (plus I run an ATS, so carbon is helpful in removing any yellowing from the algae).

yankeeslover · 04/03/2016, 09:12 AM

if I do run carbon.. i wont run 24/7, so makes sense just to hook up the reactor every couple weeks... any special carbon i have to use? or can i just go to petsmart and use there marineland activated carbon and throw that in the reactor? thanks again.

billdogg · 04/03/2016, 09:21 AM

If you don't run it 24/7 you will have to throw it away between uses because the water will become stagnant. You will end up wasting 99% of it that way. I have used carbon both ways - IMO, the reactor is a much better choice just because it is easier to clean.

ca1ore · 04/03/2016, 09:30 AM

Unsuspecting hobbyist: I'm looking for a cannister filter to run carbon
Marketing genius: (strangling sound>
Unsuspecting hobbyist: What?
Marketing genius: You don't want to run a cannister, you want to run one of these ..... Uh ..... Reactors! Yeah, reactor!
Unsuspecting hobbyist: looks just like a cannister.
Marketing genius: oh, no completely different. It's clear plastic and cost way more, so it must be better. Right!
Unsuspecting hobbyist: oh, right. (Sounds of 'evil woman' playing on the radio)

Drae · 04/03/2016, 10:05 AM

^^^^^ too funny. I actually lol'd a little bit at this one. Haha

Drae · 04/03/2016, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yankeeslover

if I do run carbon.. i wont run 24/7, so makes sense just to hook up the reactor every couple weeks... any special carbon i have to use? or can i just go to petsmart and use there marineland activated carbon and throw that in the reactor? thanks again.

The Marineland black diamond carbon is actually pretty good stuff. Why are you planning to not use it 24/7?

Keoki18 · 04/03/2016, 01:20 PM

IME when I used carbon on a 24/7 basis I lost a bit of color in my SPS colonies. Removing the carbon seemed to boost the color once again. This is only anecdotal information and I have not looked into the exact cause of this event. I never utilized carbon after this because its just another thing to mess with and my other filtration methods have kept my water parameters in check. This being said, I know plenty of aquarists that run carbon 24/7 with great results.

04/03/2016, 08:04 AM	#1
yankeeslover Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Posts: 109	Best way to run carbon... Reactor or Canister filter? 75 gallon mixed reef tank about 8 months running....currently running a eshopps hob 100 skimmer... I do not have a sump.. yesterday I purchased two small Sinularia leather frags.. I went against my norm and purchased without researching. I read lastnight that these can be very toxic and kill a tank.. I am not sure if I should get rid of them or as some say to just run carbon or if the skimmer is enough? my tank is full of small zoas and lps corals. My question is, if I run carbon what is the best way to run it? I do have a two little fishies reactor that I do not currently use.. I just didn't like the extra equipment laying in my tank(pump,hoses).. I was also considering purchasing a small canister filter to run the carbon... being that I already own the reactor is this a decent way to run carbon? if so, do I just run the carbon 24/7? how often do I change? what kind of carbon do I put in the reactor? do I fill it? I'm sorry, I'm so new to all this.. thanks for helping..

04/03/2016, 09:06 AM	#3
ca1ore Grizzled & Cynical Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Stamford, CT Posts: 17,319	A cannister and a reactor are functionally the same thing, just that the former has an integrated pump. Either will suffice. I run carbon 24/7 on my system because I'm keeping softies, LPS and SPS in the same system (plus I run an ATS, so carbon is helpful in removing any yellowing from the algae). __________________ Simon Got back into the hobby ..... planned to keep it simple ..... yeah, right ..... clearly I need a new plan! Pet peeve: anemones host clowns; clowns do not host anemones! Current Tank Info: 450 Reef; 120 refugium; 60 Frag Tank, 30 Introduction tank; multiple QTs

04/03/2016, 09:12 AM	#4
yankeeslover Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Posts: 109	Thanks if I do run carbon.. i wont run 24/7, so makes sense just to hook up the reactor every couple weeks... any special carbon i have to use? or can i just go to petsmart and use there marineland activated carbon and throw that in the reactor? thanks again.

04/03/2016, 09:21 AM	#5
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	If you don't run it 24/7 you will have to throw it away between uses because the water will become stagnant. You will end up wasting 99% of it that way. I have used carbon both ways - IMO, the reactor is a much better choice just because it is easier to clean. __________________ 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

04/03/2016, 09:30 AM	#6
ca1ore Grizzled & Cynical Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Stamford, CT Posts: 17,319	Unsuspecting hobbyist: I'm looking for a cannister filter to run carbon Marketing genius: (strangling sound> Unsuspecting hobbyist: What? Marketing genius: You don't want to run a cannister, you want to run one of these ..... Uh ..... Reactors! Yeah, reactor! Unsuspecting hobbyist: looks just like a cannister. Marketing genius: oh, no completely different. It's clear plastic and cost way more, so it must be better. Right! Unsuspecting hobbyist: oh, right. (Sounds of 'evil woman' playing on the radio) __________________ Simon Got back into the hobby ..... planned to keep it simple ..... yeah, right ..... clearly I need a new plan! Pet peeve: anemones host clowns; clowns do not host anemones! Current Tank Info: 450 Reef; 120 refugium; 60 Frag Tank, 30 Introduction tank; multiple QTs

04/03/2016, 09:02 AM	#2
Keoki18 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Plainfield IL Posts: 314	Sinularia sp do have the potential of releasing toxins, however I wouldn't be concerned with this fact. Typically a system that has good filtration and is well managed with the placement of coral colonies will never see a problem. Leather corals usually only affect other colonies that are situated within a very close proximity to them. I have plenty of sinularia sp growing right next to LPS and SPS for years with little to no complications. so don't stress.. That being said, I would rather use a reactor so you could control the flow to what you would like. Both are viable options though. I personally do not use carbon but would recommend not running it all the time. Maybe use it once every couple weeks for a 48 hour period.

04/03/2016, 10:05 AM	#7
Drae RAIDER NATION! Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: City of sin... Posts: 3,476	^^^^^ too funny. I actually lol'd a little bit at this one. Haha

04/03/2016, 01:20 PM	#9
Keoki18 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Plainfield IL Posts: 314	IME when I used carbon on a 24/7 basis I lost a bit of color in my SPS colonies. Removing the carbon seemed to boost the color once again. This is only anecdotal information and I have not looked into the exact cause of this event. I never utilized carbon after this because its just another thing to mess with and my other filtration methods have kept my water parameters in check. This being said, I know plenty of aquarists that run carbon 24/7 with great results.