charcoal filter & salt water tanks

[jjlittle]

My lfs's all state that charcoal filters etc are no good in salt water tanks what is you take on this?

 

[jjlittle]

are they only good for short trerm use ?

 

[ophiura]

I am assuming you mean activated carbon?
In this case, carbon is typically not run 24/7, it is run as a polishing sort of thing, or when you have concern over organics, or to remove medication/odor/discoloration. But it is not run all the time.

 

[ctgretzky9]

I posted thi in another thread but...
I use carbon 24/7, but i have a canister and wet/dry. I feel i need it to help with things since i have no skimmer, fuge, sump etc.
I am getting a skimmer in the next week or so yay!

 

[jjlittle]

So it is something one would use to remove odor, medication, or to clear up water on a temporary basis. Good to know thanks

 

[ctgretzky9]

yes, exactly. The ones who use it on occasion, they use it to "polish" up the water.
It does remove medications, thats why they say on the ones i have seen to remove the carbon.
I am still after all this time, looking for info regarding carbon's removal of trace elements. I can't seem to find any research on this. Since I use it 24/7, due to the filtration I use, I am wondering about the harm it may possibly do vs. the advantage of it helping out the nitrate factory of a canister and wet/dry. Nothing I have ever seen will commit to it taking out trace.

 

[ophiura]

Well, theoretically, protein skimers also remove trace elements. So like use of something like a polyfilter or other resins, I probably wouldn't dose and then add a fresh thing of carbon or a polyfilter or something...which might be somewhat counterproductive. But the question of the carbon and trace element thing is a pretty active debate.
Its generally not run all the time because in theory if everything is running well, it should be needed all the time.

 

[wax32]

I run mine all the time. I have two socks containing 1/8th of a cup of it in a small HoB filter and I change one sock every two weeks. Keeps my water clear.