X
x22
Guest
I have a hot magnum 250 and was wondering how often I would have to replace the carbon in the canister? Thanks
bang guy
Moderator
Nobody has answered yet so I'll give my $0.02 worth 
You WILL get opinions different from mine so you'll propably need to judge for yourself.
I've found that GAC is effective for about 2 days in a saltwater tank. I'm not a big user myself. I keep a bag around only for emergency use. Occationally I will use it to remove the green tinge that Caulerpa gives off.
I don't recommend changing it every 2 days though. If you want to use it regularly then I suggest you use it for two days and then throw it away. A month later, use it for two days again.
You WILL get opinions different from mine so you'll propably need to judge for yourself.
I've found that GAC is effective for about 2 days in a saltwater tank. I'm not a big user myself. I keep a bag around only for emergency use. Occationally I will use it to remove the green tinge that Caulerpa gives off.
I don't recommend changing it every 2 days though. If you want to use it regularly then I suggest you use it for two days and then throw it away. A month later, use it for two days again.
jedininja
Member
I agree with bang guy. I wont run carbon continuously. I believe that it removes the unwanted and the wanted. So I run mine for 2 days out of every month and I run new carbon each time. Then I also have it for emergencies such as death in the aquarium or if somehow something gets in the water that I dont want in there. Those cases don;t really come up, but just in case.
X
x22
Guest
thanks, the reason im asking is my coral beauty died and i keep the carbon in there all the time. I have no clue what happened. It had ich but I have been hypo'n the tank and the coral beauty has lost all spots and looked healthy again. I have the SG at 1.009, PH 8.2, nitrites and ammonia 0 so i have no clue what happened. The clown is acting weird too, wont eat.
jlem
Active Member
Good carbon won't leach contaminates back into your tank and the deep pores of Carbon ( I use Magnum ) provide a exellent nitrate reducing enviroment. One of my books recommends changing every 12 weeks 1/3 the amount to keep a supply of nitrate reducing bacteria in the Carbon to seed the new stuff. I personally change my 4oz of Carbon monthly and have noticed no ill effect to my tank. I have lots of live rock and a very established tank that only gets fed every 2-3 days. when I would go 6 weeks without changing carbon my umbrella leather would not open as much after the 4 or so week so I changed to monthly filter cleaning and carbon replacement. I thing that carbon works longer than 2 or so days butt it all depends on the rest of the tanks ability to clean its self. People ued Carbon for decades for months on end without any noticabl negatives effect so I think that lots of the anti Carbon is to young to take to the bank quite yett.
jedininja
Member
Carbon will last longer than 2 days, but what I am saying is that is all I need to have the water crystal clear. But after the 2 days I do not see a big advantage. And I am not sure about waiting up to a few weeks. I've noticed that in the past when I did run carbon all the time, many of my trace elements/additives would deplete at a much faster rate. If you were diuligent with your water changes and whatever additives you want to use, then I see no harm in running carbon for a few weeks at a time.