mantisman51
Active Member
I read a really great piece by Bob Fenner. He said that he suspects that a lack of minerals and elements are the biggest culprit-iodine specifically. I have always used carbon unless treating the water for something. From reading several of the writers at Mr Fenners website, I can now understand how the carbon would deplete the minerals and trace elements from the water column, as that is what carbon is for. Carbon "soaks up" the bad elements like heavy metals and chemicals that are bad for fish and in the same way, in theory, remove the good minerals and trace elements, as well. I have run my 125g reef with and w/o carbon and when using carbon, the water is clearer and and the fish look brighter. I do, however, change the water (10-20%) every two weeks and I add Kent Marine Essential Elements every week. Poor nutrition is the most mentioned cause of HLLE. I noticed the vast majority of the people who mentioned it (at Fenners site) were feeding, primarily, brine shrimp. So, it does appear to be a lack of nutrients and elements more than too much of something. I've never had HLLE, even with my carbon use, but from everything I read, a varied-high quality diet and water changes should keep it at bay.
