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07-23-2008, 07:21 PM
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#1 (permalink)
| | Feather Duster
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 210
|  Carbon; ammount/frequency, etc
I'm running a 100 gallon tank, mostly leathers and softies. I read plenty of stuff here and elsewhere saying that carbon is good for clearer water and for removing toxins the various softies can produce.
I've also read not to run it continuously, but I don't remember why.
I've placed some in a nylon stocking inside the filter sock my skimmer dumps into. (The filter sock is there just to trap bubbles that would end up in the display.)
So here's the question(s).
How much carbon (one cup? two cups?) for 100 gallons?
How often should it be changed out?
How much 'down time' between treatments?
Is carbon re-usable?
I appreciate the help.
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07-23-2008, 07:30 PM
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#2 (permalink)
| | Aiptasia Anemone
Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Weston, Florida Age: 29
Posts: 585
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I don't think you can really OD on Carbon.
I change mine evry time i clean the filter (about once a month).
No down time, run it constantly.
I reuse mine every once in a while, but it's said that once it's done it's done, so I guess the answer to this one is NO
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75gal hex, 2-40w T12 48", odyssea 48" 4x65w PC's w/ lunars, 50lbs LR, 80lbs LS, gold banded maroon clown, dog faced puffer, juvenile blue angel, 2 dominoes, 1-4 stripe damsel, yellow watchman gobie, lawnmower blenny, mano, purple chromis, striped grouper, mexican turbo, astrea and red foot snails, striped, red and blue legged hermit crabs, coral banded shrimp, white and purple bubble coral(very little), red and green mushrooms, orange gorgonian, candycane
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
Tanks, No Thanks. We Free Dive! | |
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07-23-2008, 07:31 PM
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#3 (permalink)
| | Bikers are a dying breed!
Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Elizabethtown, IN Age: 40
Posts: 3,967
  
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I change mine out once a month and run about 3 to 4 cups in a reverse flow substrate reactor 24/7 365 days a year.
Don't reuse it! _________ Scott 265g (Peninsula)
3x400w MH's, 4x95w Actinics, AAT Lunar Lights, OM 4-way CL, PM Bullet 3 Skimmer, DelZone Eclipse 1 O3 Generator, WavySea Plus for return, AAT Kalk Reactor, KNOP Ca Reactor w/PM Second Chamber, TradeWinds Chiller, ACIII Controller, Oceanus ATO, PM PO4 Reactor, 75g Sump, 30g Fuge Born March 5, 2007 Parameters My 265 Gal. Tank Thread   | |
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07-23-2008, 07:34 PM
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#4 (permalink)
| | Gnarly Old Codfish
Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Silverdale, Washington Age: 59
Posts: 4,777
 
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Don't know if we are going to get a general consensus about use of carbon...
Here is how I use it...
About 1 cup in filter bag on one of the returns.
Use 24/7
Rinse out carbon bag every water change.
Change to new carbon when wife starts to complain of living room smelling like a tide flat....
Kind of carbon another big factor....Have used different kinds. Right now Kent Marine.
In a softie dominated tank, carbon is a must...
Good luck. _________ AG "125," AquaC EV 180, 30 gal sump, "SCWD", 80 lbs LR, CoralSeaLife "Moonlite" Hood, PFO 250W HQI Mini-Pendant (SPS HQI 14000k bulb)
12 Gallon NanoCube - 24w stock PC 50/50 light "...nothing good ever happens fast in a reef tank, only bad things happen fast..."
- MIKE PALLETTA - (2008 Reef log) ("OmarD"/"Scott") | |
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07-23-2008, 07:38 PM
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#5 (permalink)
| | Aiptasia Anemone
Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Weston, Florida Age: 29
Posts: 585
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Quote:
Originally Posted by omard  Don't know if we are going to get a general consensus about use of carbon...
Here is how I use it...
About 1 cup in filter bag on one of the returns.
Use 24/7
Rinse out carbon bag every water change.
Change to new carbon when wife starts to complain of living room smelling like a tide flat....
Kind of carbon another big factor....Have used different kinds. Right now Kent Marine.
In a softie dominated tank, carbon is a must...
Good luck. |
I run mine in my canister filter, and i rinse or replace every month.
never had the smell yet, but I've been using Kent as well and it's been working good. | |
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07-23-2008, 07:53 PM
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#6 (permalink)
| | Aiptasia Anemone
Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Kingston, NY
Posts: 563
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I replace mine once a month, whether I think it needs it or not. Better safe than sorry. I use about 1/2 a cup for my 38 gallon.
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38 Gallon (restarted 6-14-08 ). 30lbs LR, 40lbs LS, 10g sump/fuge with Caulerpa and Mangroves, Current 4x39w T5HO lighting, 2 Koralia #1, AquaC Remora. 2 small colonies of polyps, Cleanup crew (50 Dwarf Ceriths, 16 Florida Ceriths, 10 Nassarius Vibex, 14 Blue-leg Hermits, 1 Limpet).
20 Gallon. 15lbs LR, 20lbs Crushed Coral (replacing with LS), 65w Current PC lighting, SeaClone 100 (replacing with a Remora), Skilter 250, 2 Powersweep 212's. | |
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07-24-2008, 12:54 AM
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#7 (permalink)
| | Coral Banded Shrimp
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 387
Karma: 186
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I also change mine about once a month, I fill up a third of my reactor and leave it running 24/7. Like most things it is more cost effective to buy in bulk. Great stuff, wouldn't leave home without it!
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80gal with live rock (35kg/70lbs), 30gal sump, refugium with live rock, chaeto and DSB, Bullet-1 skimmer, Fluidized Reactor, T5 lighting (6 tubes), 4 x Koralia 3's. | |
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07-24-2008, 09:01 AM
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#8 (permalink)
| | Feather Duster
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 210
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Quote:
Originally Posted by omard
Change to new carbon when wife starts to complain of living room smelling like a tide flat....
| You can't be serious!
I lived a good portion of my life around tidal flats. As objectionable as some people might find it, for me it is the smell of home.
But you were joking, right?  | |
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