Benefits of carbon? - Running carbon 24/7?

B

blaze422

Premium Member
[I'm confused...I understand that dropping a bag of carbon into your sump for a while to remove particles in suspension, but I have read many thread talking about running carbon 24/7....can anyone explain? TIA ???]
 
[Being a reef beginner myself, I would have to ask if there is a wrong method to using carbon. In searching the Web, there are those that say use 24/7, use on limited basis, use in small amounts, and do not use at all in a reef aquarium. Each person that gives different advice may have a picture posted of their beautiful reef tank to back up their advice. Confusing!

I am using carbon based on the Kent Marine Reef Carbon product instructions which states "best results will be obtained by using any carbon for only 3 days per month or so. (This is because any carbon will continue to remove trace elements long after it is totally plugged with organics.)". Since it is in Kent's best interest for it's customer's to use carbon all the time, but they state use only 3 days out of 30, seems the best advice to follow for now.

Right method, I do not know.]
 
[I for one have been using it 24/7 from the beginning. At first using it in a media bag and putting it in a high flow area. Now I use a Phosban reactor and another type of home made flow through filter. I think using some type of flow reactor is better than just a bag in the sump. But I think anyway of getting the water to flow through some carbon is better than nothing. If you really want to read about carbon there is a ton of information about its use. I looked up a couple of threads on ReefCentral that discussed carbon. Two are on the Chemistry forum and two are from Anthony Calfo's forum.
Carbon-chemistry forum 1
Carbon-chemistry forum 2
Carbon- Calfo's forum 1
carbon- Calfo's forum 2]



Edited By Rick on 1103997486
 
[thanks...I see there really isn't a consensus...If Randy has questions, then I think I will use it 12/3.5 ( as opposed to 24/7) LOL..I crack myself up...
Actually, FWIW...I think occaisional carbon makes more sense with optimal skimming, circulation etc...and perhaps more frequent..(24/7) carbon if system underperforms.]
 
[Well I did click on Marc's link and it went to that site. But if you click on the home page it does not work. I guess there is a store there but some thing is strange about their address.]
 
[Rick, I read Farley and he said he rarely uses carbon and believes it removes trace elements (bad)

I rarely use it as well!

Unlike most I use the Jaubert method (with half rate skimming)though; so my water changes are not as often as most. When I make a change to the tank I run active carbon. Like I just removed live rock about 60lbs and reaquascaped. I used active carbon for three days. I had a cyanobacteria out break so I used chemi-clean. Let it work 3 days then active carbon and a water change!

Active carbon only last three days. According to Scott at Pet o' Rama the carbon we used is recycled usually being used in the aerospace industry. Additionally, he stated he was trying to get higher grade carbon that last 7 days.]
 
[Many people use it in reefs to maintain optical clarity in the water, allowing more light to penetrate to the corals.]
 
@Marc wrote:
[Here is yet another article about it. [url=http://www.pets-warehouse.com/carbon.htm]Running Carbon - Why?[/url]] said:
[This link is still working now, but it might not have worked when you tried it.

I really need to just take this page and put it on my site because who knows when it will disappear!]
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[Brian in all of the threads I have read about carbon on Randy's forum I have never read where he said it was detrimental. And if you read the thread started on 12/9/04 about carbon in his forum you will read where he uses himself.]
 
[Rick, your right I didn't read where he said it was detrimental... I am not suggesting it's a bad thing just exspensive and I am not suggesting not to use it just do so sparingly to offset cost.]
 
[I also am not a big fan of running carbon. When I do run it it is for a few days then I throw it out. Carbon is proven to remove Iodine at a high rate and ALL carbon will leach phosphates, no matter what it says on the box.]
 
[I will let everyone know that the brand Walmart sells is the same carbon as the Black Diamond brand. I use it 24/7 and change it out every two weeks and it costs me per year about $100. Not much in the overall costs of a big reeftank.]
 
[@TealCobra wrote:
[I]@Rick wrote:[/I][quote="I will let everyone know that the brand Walmart sells is the same carbon as the Black Diamond brand. I use it 24/7 and change it out every two weeks and it costs me per year about $100. Not much in the overall costs of a big reeftank. said:
I hope the mad rush for that carbon doesn't cause a price increase! LOL. That stuff is great and 1/2 the cost of Black Diamond. BTW, for those that are looking for this brand Rick is referring to, you may have to go to a Super Walmart to find it."]
Hard to believe that neither of you have a name for this "black diamond" carbon.

I feel like I am looking for imitation scents!

How are we to know if we get the "good carbor" or just the "carbon that our wal mart carries?"

And, on the subject of iodine and light, I run carbon 24/7. I started when my mainreef tank was a bit over a year old. I was having yellowing of the water, which is completely absent now that I run carbon.

In fact, much of the coralline on my upper rocks bleached out after I started to run carbon (which reminds me that I need to post a WTB: high-light coralline!)

I now perform water changes every month instead of every 10 days. I change my carbon out monthly as well. The carbon is held in a media bag within my CPR backpack skimmer.

My less frequent water changes are the result of better husbandry and less bioload, but carbon is definately beneficial IMHO. I fact, I can tell when the carbon needs replacement by observation of my livestock, and can also see the tang perk back up a day after I replace the carbon (even without a WC).

I have never read about the Iodine issue. Hard to know if this is harming me or not. I have bought some Potassium iodide (salt) and have dosed to occassionally. Just have not had the time to titrate to an effective daily dose. I will note the carbon relationship... hard to justify changes what works for me. YMMV

-- Patrick]



Edited By spectre on 1104779593
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