How do you run carbon?

Thanks that deff helps. I did notice a tinyy bit of ammonia once when I tested, unless it was an error with the test because I havent seen it ever since that one time.

Ive also head that you can just wrap a bunch in like bridal netting and possibly through it into my overflow box??

 

Good information. UncleJed

 

Where would you put carbon in your sump?

 

If it were me, i would set up a media reactor. I don't think you want all of your water passing through carbon at one time because it may filter out good things like pods I may be wrong though.

 

In my larger tanks I use a Phosban Reactor filled with carbon and a MJ400 powerhead. In my smaller tanks I place it in a bag in a low to medium flow area so the carbon is not agitated too much which grinds it to dust. I change it more frequently in the bag since they tend to plug up.

 

Carbon absorbs metals , chemicals odors ...and allkinds of organic nastiness. Gelbstoff - is a "yellowing" of the water that builds up over time from living things. Carbon will remove this and you may even not notice it's there until some carbon removes it and makes the water clearer.
It can be run in a mesh sock in a high flow area or a reactor for better results. I won't run a tank without it. Mainly to neutralize any smell.

 

im thinking about running carbon as well, my water is clear also but like you have particles that float around in the water column and i have this annoying what i call "junk" that loves to sit at the surface and it REALLY annoys me, i cant get it to come out, after water changes its still there and my skimmer cant seem to get it. So i cant wait until i get ahold of some carbon and see if that "junk" goes away

 

i have a filter sock over the output of my HOB skimmer, i have to wash my sock about once or twice a week because it gets really brown and gross, would i be able to put carbon in the sock, and just change out the carbon when i clean the sock?

 

Yes, most who use it that way use a fine mesh (micron) bag.

Thanks.

If in a mesh bag, it should be put before the return chamber.

 

Carbon might help but really the only way to get rid of surface scum is to add an overflow that skims the surface and is fed directly to your skimmer/sump.