Active carbon with Marine aquarium

[ReefFresh]

Hi people
Do you use actuve carbon in a reactor with your marine aquarium?
Does it recommended?

Thanks!

 

[lespaul339]

I use it. Keeps my water crystal clear. Corals seem to like it too. I don't believe the hype that it causes LLD in fish. There's no proof to that.

 

[ScienceRulez]

While my situation is unique and could be considered extreme, yes I use carbon. I have 2 reactors an change it out ~4 weeks. I don't know what LLD is but I like that it helps to absorb all the stuff that children can put in the tank from their hands.

 

[Sk8r]

I don't unless I know there's been a problem it could address.

 

[downbeach]

Here's some reading:

The good:

http://www.hallman.org/filter/gac.html
http://www.fishlore.com/activated-carbon-aquarium.htm
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ca/volume_7/volume_7_1/carbon.html
https://joejaworski.wordpress.com/2008/05/09/does-a-reef-tank-need-carbon/

The bad:

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/blo...ted-in-inducing-head-and-lateral-line-erosion
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/blog/activated-carbon-affirmed-as-causative-agent-for-hlle-disease
http://www.coralmagazine-us.com/content/activated-carbon-hlle-smoking-gun-found

The ugly:

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/blog/kent-marine-issues-recall-for-reef-carbon

I have used GAC in my aquariums all my life, and believe that if you use a good quality, i.e. ROX 0.8, run it in a reverse flow through a reactor to eliminate any grinding that may occur, it can be very beneficial to a marine system.

 

[lespaul339]

I don't know what LLD is

Lateral Line Disease or Erosion

 

[jsspallina]

Run Rox 0.8 activated carbon tucked tightly in a reactor.

 

[lespaul339]

I actually use Catalytic Carbon. It's pretty high end. I work in water conditioning so I get it free from the place I work. Sometimes I will blend it with activated carbon in a 50/50 mix.

 

[Dmorty217]

I don't use it since it has been proven to cause HLLE and hole in head in tangs and angels due to the carbon dust.

 

[lespaul339]

Actually it hasn't been proven that it causes HILLE, thats just speculation.

 

[ReefFresh]

How do you wash the carbon before using? Do you use very hot water for couple of hours or just RO water?

 

[downbeach]

I used BRS reactors, and would turn them on and run SW through them while doing a WC. I was using ROX 0.8 and it would run clean after about a gallon of water.

 

[ReefFresh]

What are all those acronyms man?!

 

[Ogi]

I use it and run the return line straight into a filter sock to catch any particles, water is crystal clear everything is happy.

Brs bulk reef supply
Sw salt water
Wc water change
No idea what rox is , maybe a type of chemical or brand haha.

 

[heathlindner25]

Actually it hasn't been proven that it causes HILLE, thats just speculation.

I've seen it happen first hand on angels and tangs in a 400 gallon system. The employee put a rather large bag of carbon in the system without rinsing it. All the fished started pitting up the very next day! It was unbelievable how fast it happened. The boss swore that if he lost the Emperor or the Sohol he was going to close the doors

 

[Ron Reefman]

I use to run carbon in a reactor and GFO as well. But I got tired of screwing with the reactors and changing out the carbon and GFO. My nitrates and phosphates were low so I decided to quit the GFO. I saw no difference in the 2 tanks. A couple of months later I decided to drop the carbon on a trial basis. And again, I saw no change in the tank. Water is still crystal clear.

Why run stuff you don't need?

 

[downbeach]

BRS reactor
ROX 0.8 GAC

SW = Salt Water

WC = Water Change

 

[ReefFresh]

How do you wash the carbon before using? Do you use very hot water for couple of hours or just RO water?

 

[Jade5051]

Rinse until it runs clear in warm tap water. Should use RO water.

 

[downbeach]

I would just swivel the output hose into a bucket and run the reactor until it ran clear. Best done during a water change, since you're going to replace that water anyway.