Is Carbon Really Nessecary

onecansay · 03-20-2008, 01:26 PM

I am wrestling with using carbon in my sump/refugium. The water looks clear to me. Is there some benefit beyond more clarity?

some call me frank

coral reefer · 03-20-2008, 01:47 PM

Carbon removes many impurities, many that we cannot see. Toxins from soft corals, dissolved organics and inorganics, "Glebstoff", pollutants, respiratory waste just to name a few. Yes, carbon does remove some of the beneficial traces that we add to our tanks, like iodine and iron, but carbon can be a very key ingredient in the overall health of your livestock, water and amount of light entering your water!

baugherb · 03-20-2008, 01:51 PM

I ran carbon in my nano. But for only 3 days every 2 weeks...

onecansay · 03-20-2008, 01:52 PM

Thank you for the reply.
I was then thinking of using my old Ehiem 2215 cannister filter for transport. Is there a chance of too much carbon and if so do you have any thought on how much? 70 gallons of total water in main tank and sump/fuge. Also how often to change carbon?
come call me frank

ReefSparky · 03-20-2008, 01:56 PM

In a word, yes.

Beneficial bacteria utilized in biological filtration get rid of inorganic wastes such as ammonia and nitrites, and protein skimming seems to handle many dissolved organics; but inorganic compounds accumulate with no real means of export other than water changes.

There are other organics not controlled by protein skimming, like organic acids, phenolics, proteins, carbohydrates, hormones and antibiotic compounds. Activated charcoal plays a big role in adsorbing these items; and when you remove that charcoal from your canister or media reactor, so goes those substances.

There have been arguments on both sides with the extremes professing "never use it" to "never be without it." I've always used carbon, even in the days when nuisance algae ruled my tank. Even though carbon didn't seem to fight the algal battle for me, It's always kept my water crystal clear, and for some reef keepers who spend bundles on lighting--and would like that lighting to reach the tank inhabitants, it's reason enough.

onecansay · 03-20-2008, 02:04 PM

Thanks once again for input. RS, I will be using the canister filter only for carbon, drawing from front of Sump and discharging in return cavity. Herb has said he only runs it on occasion. If I fill the canister with carbon, is that too much to run 24/7?

some call me frank

target001 · 03-20-2008, 02:17 PM

i dont use carbon on my tanks ....

to much trouble in the past

ReefSparky · 03-20-2008, 02:18 PM

If you're running carbon in an active setting like a reactor or canister filter, you're getting the best bang for the buck, as opposed to throwing it in a filter bag and letting it sit passively in the sump.

I put the directed amount of phos-ban or similar phophate absorbing media in my Kent Phos-Reactor, and fill it the rest of the way with carbon. I run it for 90 days before changing the whole shebang. I'd say the amount of carbon that fits in the reactor on top of the phos media is about 1.5 cups, or if you're into the metric system (which I'm not all that familiar with), it's about as much as your two hands cupped together could hold.

This amount seems to work well for me. I can't find any faults with the arrangement.

aquaboy · 03-20-2008, 02:38 PM

i use carbon bi weekly, 1 week carbon, 1 week micron cartridge............

gazog · 03-20-2008, 02:58 PM

I use a magnum 350 run 3 different carbon cartridges in it for all three tanks. Run it 2 day on each tank so I run it for 2 days every 4 days.

Then rinse carbon out in RO water and tie it up in a sealed bag till the next time I use it. I have been doing this from when I first put stuff in my tanks,

I can tell when I don't use it, especially on my frag tank. Which has allot to do with the fact that there is a high concentration of all kinds of corals in there.