carbon filter or not to carbon filter?

[evenkeel]

I was told by my lfs, that running a carbon filter 27/7 may harm some corals and anemones. Now, talking with others, I found that many people with corals and anemones run carbon filters 24/7. Does anybody out there have an opiniun one way or the other. What am I saying...of course someone has an opiniun...let me have it!

 

[thomas712]

I think it depends on what equipment you have. If you have enough live rock, live sand or DSB, protien skimmer and other good filtration then you might not need carbon more than a couple of days per month.
If you have for example lets say a tank that has Crushed coral and an Undergraval filter then I would run carbon 24/7 changing it every week, as well as doing weekly water changes.
I tend to agree with Kip that carbon is used up fairly quickly and depretiates rapidly, but this really depends on what your water quality is.
It also depends on if you use the carbon in a passive way or agressive way.
I am one that uses it 24/7 or a bag of chemi- pure up to a month without changing it.
Thomas

 

[evenkeel]

thanks, any other opinions?