Do you use carbon?

[becky913]

Do you use carbon in your reef tank?

 

[40 galons]

i used to use it all the time but here lately i havent been adding it , it make my water clearer looking

 

[rainbowsix]

yes I highly suggest it. I put 2 bags in the containers of my canister. Should always use it.

 

[ledzep fan]

You shouldn't use too much carbon in a reef aquarium, only when needed. Carbon pulls out too many Trace Elements that the corals use up. This is just my 2 cents but I would not over do it with the carbon.

 

[geckopsu]

Is it recommended to use carbon for a reef system if you have a sump with a skimmer and a refugium containing chaeto and miracle mud? Nitrates are steady at 0 without carbon.
My thinking is the same as LedZep on this subject.

 

[stanlalee]

I use it for the 1rst few weeks after I start a tank up and thats it. Dont want to pay for and change something every month or two when I can get by without it.

 

[ledzep fan]

Originally Posted by GeckoPSU
Is it recommended to use carbon for a reef system if you have a sump with a skimmer and a refugium containing chaeto and miracle mud? Nitrates are steady at 0 without carbon.
My thinking is the same as LedZep on this subject.

There is no need to use carbon on your reef gecko if you have all of that. Carbon with just pull those elements out from water changes or adding trace element chemicals. So I think your fine.

 

[stanlalee]

the only thing I think carbon is good for with reef tanks is clearing up yellow water but I have a UV and with my old tank becuase of lighting you couldn't tell the water was yellow except during water changes when you poured it out.

 

[geckopsu]

Cool, Thanks. Always wondered about carbon. Great poll Becky!

 

[triga22]

I run it for 1 week every month. My corals are fine.

 

[becky913]

Originally Posted by 40 galons
i used to use it all the time but here lately i havent been adding it , it make my water clearer looking
So using the carbon made your water look clearer?

 

[puffer32]

Originally Posted by Becky913
So using the carbon made your water look clearer?
A good water change works also, plus adds elements to your tank where carbon takes them out. I do not use carbon unless there is a problem. On one of my tanks i have a HOB but its filled with LR instead of carbon.

 

[becky913]

This hobby is confusing. The guy from the LFS that helped me set it up never mentioned carbon. Well then I start chatting to another LFS man and he looked at me like I am nuts. Said I needed carbon and a phosphate filter media thing. I really am not sure what to do.

 

[eastland]

My tank has been established for over a year now, I ran carbon last week after fighting red flatworms and lost some prized tankmates (my yellow tang & flame angel). I didn't understand carbon at the time, I ran a carbon filter from my freshwater days that hangs on the back. It didn't help much. After that, I read up a little on it. I ended up going simple, I took all the old carbon filters from my freshwater days (some were new leftovers), stripped out the carbon, ground it up, placed it in an old sock, and rinsed it well. (I was doubting it would do anything anyway...except maybe harmful stuff) Anyway, I placed sock with the pulverized carbon in the water, over the tube that empties into my refugium. I was amazed at the results the following day, my water was crystal clear ! I will now run it for 24 hours every 3-4 weeks going forward. It was easy to see the difference.

 

[coral keeper]

I don't use carbon in my reef tank.

 

[kirkland]

I use carbon occasionally, not on a regular basis. When I want the water to be sparkling clear or I suspect corals have been fighting, then I'll run carbon for a day or so.

 

[becky913]

Originally Posted by Eastland
My tank has been established for over a year now, I ran carbon last week after fighting red flatworms and lost some prized tankmates (my yellow tang & flame angel). I didn't understand carbon at the time, I ran a carbon filter from my freshwater days that hangs on the back. It didn't help much. After that, I read up a little on it. I ended up going simple, I took all the old carbon filters from my freshwater days (some were new leftovers), stripped out the carbon, ground it up, placed it in an old sock, and rinsed it well. (I was doubting it would do anything anyway...except maybe harmful stuff) Anyway, I placed sock with the pulverized carbon in the water, over the tube that empties into my refugium. I was amazed at the results the following day, my water was crystal clear ! I will now run it for 24 hours every 3-4 weeks going forward. It was easy to see the difference.
Thanks! That is exactly what I was going to try. I just dug out my old freshwater carbon!