Carbon, A nutrient trp or not?!

[elekamit]

Well, after reading about a lot of people using carbon I want to start using it as well, I am tired of my water having huge particles in it.

The question is, how do i start using it?
I heard that carbon absorbs all nutrients, trace elements, etc...

Is that so?
if that is true then how do people leave their carbon 24/7?

please shed some light on this matter

thanks

 

[elephen]

Carbon does absorb most stuff in the water. Most people run fresh carbon for around 3 days and then remove it because it can become a detrius trap.

I have heard of others who just change out their carbon every week. I run a reverse flow fluidized reactor chamber filled with carbon and replace the carbon every week.

 

[BrentN]

I don't think carbon is going to help with the "huge" particles you mentioned. A filter sock or some other mechanical filtration method needs to be used. My carbon stays in 24/7, I swap it out for fresh every couple weeks or so.

 

[elekamit]

BrentN, u said:

"My carbon stays in 24/7, I swap it out for fresh every couple weeks or so."

doesn't it absorb all of your trace elements?, and how come it doesn't become a "detrius trap"?

 

[elekamit]

?

 

[Lo0seR]

I heard it was only hard on iodine, not so much on the other trace elements.

 

[swashbuckler]

not as bad as you think.....it does far more good things to the water (reducing DOCS and allowing more light penetration) than the "bad" things

 

[elekamit]

the question is, what ARE the bad things it does and what is the best way to avoid them.

There many mixed advice.
1 guy says it is best to change the carbon every 3 days so it won't be a detrius trap, but another guy is running his carbon for weeks before he changes it...

 

[wtac]

Personally I run carbon 24/7 in a HOB A'Clear 300 (easier than stooping into the sump...LOL) where it's rinced weekly (detritus will hamper ad/absorption) and changed monthly. Yea there is some detritus but nothing compared to the same amount of substrate when I gravel vac at 2 spots (every 2 weeks).

Ideally, chem media should be in a fluidized chamber. This minimizes detritus from collecting b/w media particles. Sure it's a "detritus" trap per se but IMHO, we're splitting hairs as the amount of detritus in the media by volume is no different, if not less if maintained regularly, that what is in the sandbed and behind the LR pile.

So the amount of detritus trapped in a cup of carbon compared to what is trapped in the system as a whole...

...doesn't seem significant in the grand scheme of things to me.

As for the bad things carbon does...well, it's an indiscriminant ad/absorbant. For all the good stuff that it takes out, it also takes out the bad stuff. If you do regular water changes/supplementation, IMHO, it's a non-issue as it's MUCH easier to pollute than it is to make it clean. How/if you do it is a decision you'll have to make .

JM2C.

 

[elekamit]

Ok, so let's say I decide to start using carbon. do u have any recomendations as to which carbon rand to use, and how often to change/clean it?

p.s.
Is it good to put it in a "phosban reactor"?

 

[Reefdaddy1]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6499741#post6499741 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by elekamit
Ok, so let's say I decide to start using carbon. do u have any recomendations as to which carbon rand to use, and how often to change/clean it?

p.s.
Is it good to put it in a "phosban reactor"?

Phosban would be good if you have Phosp[hates in your water, But if you used RO water I would not recoment it right now.

 

[elekamit]

I meant is it good to put carbon in a phosban reactor?

 

[imsqueak]

elekamit, and all; it's handy if you at least fill out your profile so it lists the basics of what you are running.

I don't run carbon. Have never on my 300g but have on my 55. IMO it should be run to remove stuff that has been "dumped" into your tank. ie a anemone got sucked into a pump, fish died in small tank, etc. I run filter socks on my overflows and an MR2 skimmer as my filtration. I change the sock as soon as the water starts overflowing over it's top (almost daily). I also use ozone in my MR2 to help but I wouldn't recommend ONE unless you have an ORP monitor too.

 

[elekamit]

So u are saying filter socks are the way to go?

How do you put them on an overflow?

I always thought you attach them to the drain to your sump.

 

[swashbuckler]

a superb brand of carbon and the most widely used here on RC is Marineland Black Diamond. it really works better than many other carbons.