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 Posted 2/4/2006 8:51:04 PM |
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| Hello, I am in the habit of running carbon. I just bought some and on the MD site, it advised to just run 3 days a month as it starts to become counter productive that quick. What are your thoughts on this? Thanks in advance
300 reef in wall with dsb
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| Posted 2/4/2006 9:33:53 PM |
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| it depends on the tank or the needs of the inhabitants... but I will not mince words here: the advice in inaccurate IMO for typical aquarium applications. I advise full time carbon use and to be changed in small portions weekly instead of larger portions monthly. Water quality is far better for it and water clarity is more steady rather than the tint and clear shock of monthly use. The caveats about carbon taking out "good elements" from water are bunk too. Corals and fishes also take good elements" out of the water too... but we don't leave them out of aquaria 24-28 days per month  You are going to have to replenish exhuasted aquarium water with ot without carbon use. I use carbon 24/7 and change it weekly... using Knop brand or Marineleand Black Diamond if anyone cares to know 
. Anthony Calfo
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| Posted 2/5/2006 7:54:43 AM |
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What are your thoughts on the best method to use with carbon? I was thinking of using it in a reactor, e.g. the Phosban 150, only with carbon...I've seen people claim to do that, but that doesn't seem to be ideal for your recomendation of a small amount changed weekly.
jds
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| Posted 2/5/2006 10:00:40 AM |
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yep... agreed. A flow through canister is ideal, but I just use a colander/strainer catching some effluent stream (such as output of a skimmer) or I just use and easy to service cheap little powerfilter that is easy to swap media fast and cleanly. It makes the small weekly swaps a breeze.
.Anthony Calfo
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| Posted 2/6/2006 6:40:38 AM |
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I run about a handful of carbon 24/7 in a small mesh bag in a turbulent area of my sump, right next to the overflow hose. The carbon takes up only about 15-20% of the area available in the bag, so it is quite "loose" to allow for flow. I change it about every 2 weeks, or maybe a bit more often. Sound ok?
--Randy
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| Posted 2/6/2006 6:47:04 PM |
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Randy... your use of carbon here is termed "passive" (versus "flowthrough") and is not optimal use of the media, but is not bad either. It will help reduce color in the water and odors as well. Aquarists that do not want to have carbon take out "too much" (assuming its possible... not likely) use it passively.
.Anthony Calfo
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| Posted 2/6/2006 7:45:13 PM |
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I guess it would be more effective to tie the bag right onto the skimmer output, so the water flows thru it more aggresively. It will be a pain to change it out, my sump is pretty tight as it is. I will give it some thought.
--Randy
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| Posted 2/6/2006 8:09:30 PM |
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I'm running carbon in a Phosban reactor. Some of my corals were a bit shocked the next couple of days after I started -- I am guessing light shock. I have nice clear water already (no yellow tinge in the water change bucket at all), but I guess the water clarified even more.
It's one way to get your money's worth out of the carbon. No channeling, and no bits getting worked harder than others.
Don't count your gobies before they've metamorphosized.
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