filter queston

[califishdude]

i got afluval 304 with the sponges and all the stuff came with with. my one side i have three compartments. the bottom one has charcoal, second has a chemi-pure and third has bu round tubes. my chemi pure is done i just havent threw it out yet , it has almost 2 months left, all the sponges are good, but my question is do i need to keep on replacing the charcoal for a reef tank.

 

[michaeltx]

I dont know anyone really recomends useing carbon continuosly on a reef. reason IMO it can also take out a lot of the trace elemants that you want to keep in a reef tank. most people run carbon a few days a month and not the rest of the time
Mike

 

[califishdude]

could i just add a cup full and keep it in there, i usually only change my carbon every three months or so anyways.

 

[up north hermit]

califishdude,
You can occasionally use carbon with no harm. What is your need for the carbon? Is it to keep your tank crystal clear? First determine., "why am I using this?"
I would not suggest leaving in a small amount for three months. #1 the carbon will probably become non-effective by that time, #2 the carbon could start leaching back into the aquarium what it has taken out, and #3 it will become a detritus collector and become a factory for producing nitrate--the bain of a swf hobbyists existence.
Bottom line: use once in a while for water discoloration and remove or leave in longer but change (or rinse) frequently.
My humble .02
Barbie

 

[quazi]

my chemi pure is done i just havent threw it out yet , it has almost 2 months left,
What does this mean? If it is "done" how can it have 2 months left?
Anyway, I would not run carbon all the time. Run Polyfilters 3-4 days a month as a precaution. Polyfilters are nice becuase they change color, and will not leach back. If you put a polyfilter in your filter or sump for a couple of days, and it does not change color, then things are in good shape. If it does change color, then you know you have some issues to deal with. And the color will help you identify what the issues are...

 

[califishdude]

i mean when i bought it the women said i need two cans, when the owner came back and he said i actually only needed one can for six months, afetr the first six months over, i removed it and i just went ahead and added the second can and i have 2 months left, i had a problem with my flame angel so i added it to help it.

 

[bacardibombillo]

I HAVE 2 FLUVALS ON DIFFRENT TANKS! BEST THING IS REMOVE THE CARBON THERE IS NO NEED FOR IT... I HAVE HAD ONE TANK FOR 1year AN A HALF AND THE OTHER FOR 9 months. THE OLD 403 AND A NEW 404, THEY ARE FANTASTIC... ALL U NEED IS CALLED, (BIO MEDIA) AND (PRE-FILTER AMMO REMOVER) AND THE SPONGES. U LEAVE IN FOR VERY LONG TIME AND U DONT NEED TO REPLACE IT AT ALL ASK ABOUT IT AT LFS. PUT (AMMO REMOVER) ON THE BOttom (BIO MEDIA) IN THE MIDDLE AND (SPONGES ON TOP) I HAVE ONE REEF SET UP AND ONE AGRESSIVE SET UP WITH THIS COMBINATION OF FILTER MEDIA AND GREAT IT HAS BEEN FOR ME GOODLUCK!!!!!!!!!!!111

 

[califishdude]

thanks, ill get some the next time i feel like messing with the tank. the sponges on top are you talking about the little round things came with the tank, if so do you ever replace them? how often do you replace the other stuff.