Carbon Filtration

[vanquish]

What are the advantages and disadvantages of running carbon in a reef system? My experience in FW was that one should always run carbon—period. With SW I have heard conflicting views… Right now I have a mechanical hang-on-back filter running Cuprisorb (copper absorption) and a protein skimmer. I add PurpleUp and Kent Iodine for my xenia, mushroom and buttons. Will adding carbon to my filter hurt my system by removing these elements? Or is it advisable to use it for its benefits? Also, how many people here actually run carbon?

 

[vanquish]

bump

 

[milomlo]

IMO I don't see any disadvantages of running carbon. I run carbon 24/7 and change it at least once a month

 

[vanquish]

Originally Posted by milomlo
IMO I don't see any disadvantages of running carbon. I run carbon 24/7 and change it at least once a month
What do you keep in your tank though? Is is FO, FOWLR, Reef?

 

[hardcrab67]

Most recommend against it, but if you use it for chemical filtration it should be used sparely. I have used the Reef Carbon by Seachem in the top of my sump for the first couple of weeks after I cycled the tank. Along w/ phosphate chips in the bottom to remove any chemicals. After 5 days remove both or they will do more harm than good. The carbon strips the trace elements out that the reef needs and the chips will leach the phosphates back in to the water. I am thinking of using Chem-Pure for a chemical filtration bag in the sump if my phosphates rise. R/O didn't remove the phosphates,so I'm buying water for now. Hope this helped.

 

[vanquish]

Yes see thats what i'm talking about. It will take out trace elements along with toxins, so i guess then the answer is to just use it when you have a reason to? Not recomended for a stable tank then?

 

[milomlo]

I have a reef. Everyones opinions on this and other things will be different.
I use phosban for my phosphates and I also use SeaChem carbon. Like I said I run my carbon 24/7 and I do weekly water changes. As long as u change ur media as needed you should be good. JMO

 

[vanquish]

Originally Posted by milomlo
I have a reef. Everyones opinions on this and other things will be different.
I use phosban for my phosphates and I also use SeaChem carbon. Like I said I run my carbon 24/7 and I do weekly water changes. As long as u change ur media as needed you should be good. JMO

I think youre probably right too. doing a water change every week would replace lost trace elements as well. I guess its just a matter of style then, like cc vs sb or whatever.
Any one else have any ideas about this?

 

[acrylic51]

No disadvantages to running carbon......Just remember that it does need replaced......Carbon is more effective if you run it in the "active" mode instead of what I call the "passive mode". When I say "active mode" I mean forcing water through the carbon instead of the "passive mode" which means to let the water run over the carbon......You'll be utilizing more of the carbon in the "active mode"

 

[vanquish]

Ok so that makes two in favor of running carbon and one against. Any one else care to weigh in?

 

[acrylic51]

Originally Posted by hardcrab67
Most recommend against it, but if you use it for chemical filtration it should be used sparely. I have used the Reef Carbon by Seachem in the top of my sump for the first couple of weeks after I cycled the tank. Along w/ phosphate chips in the bottom to remove any chemicals. After 5 days remove both or they will do more harm than good. The carbon strips the trace elements out that the reef needs and the chips will leach the phosphates back in to the water. I am thinking of using Chem-Pure for a chemical filtration bag in the sump if my phosphates rise. R/O didn't remove the phosphates,so I'm buying water for now. Hope this helped.

Carbon won't strip needed elements from the system. Are you using just and RO unit or RO/DI unit? You can solve things by adding the additional canister to the RO unit to make it an RO/DI unit