how important are carbon reactors
- Thread starter 505titan
- Start date
gill again68
Active Member
Well I am currently in discussion with my LFS guy on this. I am currently running a GFO, due to phosphates and not knowing what may be keeping them on the rise, but the LFS guy says run carbon when you "need to". That being said he said always run carbon when your doing house work such as painting or other chemical work. Some people run carbon when their water turns yellow. Some people worry that carbon takes to much out of the water. I am not educated enough on the subject as of yet.
natclanwy
Active Member
I run carbon in my tank 24/7, there really is very little in the way of cons in doing this as long as you are diligent in performing water changes and regularly changing out the carbon. Carbon does absorb some of the trace minerals out of the water but they are easily replaced if you are doing regular water changes, and if you don't change the carbon regularly it can begin to leach phosphates into the water.
Carbon performs several functions, it absorbs toxins released by corals or other organisms in your tank, it also absorbs organic pollutants, and it helps keep the water crystal clear.
Carbon performs several functions, it absorbs toxins released by corals or other organisms in your tank, it also absorbs organic pollutants, and it helps keep the water crystal clear.
geoj
Active Member
Originally Posted by natclanwy
http:///forum/post/3216187
I run carbon in my tank 24/7, there really is very little in the way of cons in doing this as long as you are diligent in performing water changes and regularly changing out the carbon. Carbon does absorb some of the trace minerals out of the water but they are easily replaced if you are doing regular water changes, and if you don't change the carbon regularly it can begin to leach phosphates into the water.Carbon performs several functions, it absorbs toxins released by corals or other organisms in your tank, it also absorbs organic pollutants, and it helps keep the water crystal clear.
I would like you to say more about this “leaching phosphates”, because I have always had new carbon give off phosphate and thought after some time would stop?
http:///forum/post/3216187
I run carbon in my tank 24/7, there really is very little in the way of cons in doing this as long as you are diligent in performing water changes and regularly changing out the carbon. Carbon does absorb some of the trace minerals out of the water but they are easily replaced if you are doing regular water changes, and if you don't change the carbon regularly it can begin to leach phosphates into the water.Carbon performs several functions, it absorbs toxins released by corals or other organisms in your tank, it also absorbs organic pollutants, and it helps keep the water crystal clear.
I would like you to say more about this “leaching phosphates”, because I have always had new carbon give off phosphate and thought after some time would stop?
stanlalee
Active Member
I use carbon in a reactor for supposed water clarity. I say supposed because I cant and dont expect to SEE the difference and never have in 15yrs of on and off use but I know for a fact it binds yellow and color pigments (video dimenstrations are easy enough to come by these days) and who knows what else. I have the reactor for GFO but I have so much extra room the carbon is just there because it can be. Quality carbons leach an insignificant amount of phosphates. there are enough available data on that as well.