Canister Filter and Reef

[ballinwhiteboy]

I have a 20 gallon long tank with a flame angel and 20 lbs LR and 3" of LS/aragonite. I am currently using a 300 gph canister filter with a bag of carbon that is in 24/7. Soon I am going to get my first corals and I was wondering if I should keep the canister filter? If so, what should I do about the carbon? Thanks

 

[vkesu]

Many people don't use carbon it seems but we have used carbon 24/7 for about 4 years with a full reef and fish tank. I have several hard and soft corals. I actually think it helps keep the water clean because when they are moved at any time and they release their toxins into the water the carbon clears it out quicker. IME IMO Mine is a heavy feed 72 gallon w/125#lr and 1-2"cc.

 

[nm reef]

Different systems are filtered in any number of a varity of ways....personally I run carbon in my system about every 2 weeks for approximately 48 hours.........it does sort of polish up the water.....but I'd refrain from keeping it in 24/7............

 

[burnnspy]

My water is perfect and crystal clear, I run no carbon or filtration in my reef.
www.spyreef.homestead.com/home.html
BurnNSpy

 

[josh]

I also don't use carbon, well I did once when I had a major upset due to bad RO water. You can get a polisher for the water to put in the canister. Seachem makes a good one called purigen. HTH
Josh

 

[vkesu]

The last 1 1/2 yrs. we've also used kc tap water in our tank. I feel the carbon is an extra benefit to us because of this. I haven't had any algae outbreaks in a long time. When I firt switched over I did but we clean it out and it has been taken care of by my cleaning crew since then.