Filter

I am using a filter that hangs on the back of the tank, it uses carbon cartridges, i was talking to a buddy who has several freshwater tanks, and he said he didnt think that i was supposed to use carbon for filtering in a saltwater aquarium.

My question is, will it work with a few fish when i get to that point or am i hosed from the get go... and do i need to buy a new one now.

Or can i wait till the initial investment is paid for and then upgrade the pump when i get to that point. And what should i upgrade too?

 

Many people use carbon on salt water tanks. Here is an article with a bunch of info on filtration:

http://www.3reef.com/forums/reef-aquarium-articles-how-tos/all-about-sumps-filters-fuges-79852.html

 

carbon - 24/7 on a salt water tank for me

what should you upgrade to if you go to a reef set up

you can always run that HOB with carbon in if you want, you can also use it for other chemical media , if you dont have a sump and thus location for reactors
things like GFO , Purigen, Chemi pure, etc - chemical filtration media designed to help with parameter problems - many work better in reactors but they will still work in mesh nets in HOB filters IME

you need to rinse it in old tank water regular - when you do water changes , otherwise stuff gets trapped in there and decays and adds to nitrate levels

the good thing about not using them for biological filtration purposes is that you can go to town on the cleaning of them, without fear of bacteria die off issues

when you do go reef, you need plenty of rock and lots of water movement
and your biological filtration is taken care of without the need for any filter with bio media in
combine this with a good skimmer and you have the basis of a Berlin reef tank

then you can look at sump/fuge combos which brings about the ability to run carbon and other chemical media in reactors ( plastic bottles that water gets pumped through)

Steve

Steve