Activated carbon

[sulcata1619]

Anybody ever just put a little carbon in their filter socks? I have always had my carbon in a bag under the outflow of my sock box. I was just curious if there is a more effective method (other than using a reactor)

 

[northbay-reefer]

The only problem is your sock will be dirty in about 4 days and your carbon can go another two weeks or so. If you are going to do that I suggest you put the carbon in it's own filter bag and then throw the carbon bag into a sock.

 

[lokii_37]

You could put one filter dock inside another. Put your carbon in the bottom one so uou only have filtered water running over your carbon.

 

[Reef Bass]

Too cool for a reactor huh? Too conventional and functional?

 

[coralfarmer]

Don't use the stuff in my reef tanks.
I don't see the point with water changes and good protein skimming. Unless you are removing medication. I have had plenty of people report to me that bleaching incidents occured after they added a fresh batch of carbon to their system. If you are going to add it use about a 1/2 cup per 100 gallons.
Here is an interesting article on activated carbon and HLLE. This isn't the reason why I don't use carbon but it is something to think about.
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-06/sp/index.php

 

[northbay-reefer]

Don't use the stuff in my reef tanks.
I don't see the point with water changes and good protein skimming. Unless you are removing medication. I have had plenty of people report to me that bleaching incidents occured after they added a fresh batch of carbon to their system. If you are going to add it use about a 1/2 cup per 100 gallons.
Here is an interesting article on activated carbon and HLLE. This isn't the reason why I don't use carbon but it is something to think about.
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-06/sp/index.php

That's old James, they confirmed that carbon doesn't cause HLLE.

 

[coralfarmer]

Tom, Here's more I'll even put the link to the research article it costs $25 to download it. http://www.coralmagazine-us.com/content/activated-carbon-hlle-smoking-gun-found
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/blog/activated-carbon-affirmed-as-causative-agent-for-hlle-disease
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/08997659.2011.608608

 

[Reef Bass]

I've been using BRS ROx (a dandy carbon) at a rate of a cup for roughly 150g water system, a little more than James' recommended 1/2 cup per 100g. I have not had any issues with HLLE though my fish load is very light.

I hear James' recommendation to use it for specific applications, like removing meds. That makes a great deal of sense.

I started running carbon when things were heading downhill as a "maybe there's something in the water I should attempt to extract by a method in addition to water changes." In hindsight, what I was probably noticing was the impact yet to be discovered aefw were beginning to have. And I was very happy to have carbon online when my heater tube broke / exploded / opened.

I suppose I could now be considered someone who runs carbon 24/7. I ramped up with it (started with quarter cup, then half cup, then finally full cup).

YMMV.

 

[coralfarmer]

Ken, Good point I forgot about your heater, having the carbon online probably helped out and mitigated a bigger disaster.

 

[Reef Bass]

I'd have to agree. The majority of my acros survived, though not happily. Could have been much worse.

 

[sulcata1619]

Thanks for all the ideas.