CheMicaL WaRFarE & CArboN????

[OcEaN-BluE]

He can you guys give me your opinIons on the use of carbon in a reef tank?

I have a 225 Reef with a 30gal plumbed inline to hold different incompatible species and to open the door for me to house a variety of things.

I Have everything from SPS, LPS, and Softies (like toadstools, Kenya Tree, Xenia, Finger Leather, Shrooms, Etc) together in the big tank. In the 30 gal I have a pair of clowns hosting Bubble Tips with and mostly soft leathers and Gorgonia and two small LPS. O, and a Yasha Hase Goby.:spin3:

The deal is, I run carbon to minimize to effects of chemical warfare in the tank. At least that is my main aim. What are you guys' opinion about carbon. Benefical? Or, not worth the effort? Is it that bad at stripping trace elements? How many use it, how many do not, and why/why not????????

 

[OcEaN-BluE]

Nobody?

 

[ducklabdad]

I always run carbon specifically for the reasons that you state.

Carbon is certainly not going to hurt, and it makes me feel a little better as I am running a heavy load of softies!!

 

[luckyfish]

I run carbon 24/7. I wish I could be more help than to say I saw a thread here on RC that concluded carbon did not in fact strip out a significant amount of trace elements. I can see an improvement in water clarity when I change it out. Consistently changing out the carbon is also important as I have read if left too long it can become counter productive. Are you running a skimmer in addition? Hopefully more will chime in, I know some folks run carbon for certain periods of time rather than continually.

 

[OcEaN-BluE]

Yes I am running a Octopus 300? I think. (the 2 foot tall model.) Also have alot of biological filtration-6" DSB in sump and 5" DSB in the 30gal, mangroves, and cHateo.

 

[ihavtats29]

carbon also polishes your water making it crystal clear

 

[VitalApparatus]

wow I never considered carbon scrubbing my calcium levels...is that true?

 

[RicksReefs]

carbon has little to no effect on most minerals not of an organic nature.

 

[MrRyanT]

I run GAC 24/7 and change out twice a month. I know its probably a bit overkill changing it out that often, but I have 3 different types of leathers and zoas, so I figure I need it to help protect the other corals I have.

 

[OcEaN-BluE]

Hey Ricks Reef... What do you mean minerals not of an organic nature? Can you give me example of ones that are and ones that aren't and for what reason? I know that one definition of "organic" means to be chemically made up of carbon compunds. However, I still do not understand which minerals would be and which wouldn't if that's the definition of organic that your refering to. Thanks

 

[OcEaN-BluE]

Vital Apparatus: i never heard much about carbon stripping calcuim or alkallinty from the water but other trace elements like the ones mostly not tested for in ordinary test kits like strontium and iodine and others that I do not know much about. But, I am not sure. I am uneducated in this area about exactly the role of these elements in the water of a reef tank other than just to mimic the exact make up natural seawater. I do not know what advantage these elements are for and if you guys can help me understand please do. Maybe I should start a new thread.

 

[MarineFlake]

I would suggest that running a plain filter material will accomplish clearer, polished water. Carbon soaks up what carbon soaks up, its not a selective material targeting only the bad things we want it to remove. From my experience, unless there is some reason to use it, like any other additive outside of normal water changes, its best left on the store shelf. ; ) As for your specific situation, I would think water testing would reveal the effects of your use of carbon. And if that isn't enough of an on the fence answer, I am also a firm believer in if ain't broke, don't jack with it. If you have been using carbon regularly and your tanks in shape, why sweat it now.
GL!

 

[OcEaN-BluE]

Carbon soaks up what carbon soaks up, its not a selective material targeting only the bad things we want it to remove. From my experience, unless there is some reason to use it, like any other additive outside of normal water changes, its best left on the store shelf. ; )


Well what exactly does it soak up? what good things? that's what I want to know.

 

[luckyfish]

Here is a pertinent article:
http://joejaworski.wordpress.com/2008/05/09/does-a-reef-tank-need-carbon/

 

[luckyfish]

Here is some light reading on organic compounds:

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-10/rhf/index.php

 

[OcEaN-BluE]

Those are perfect arcticles about the subject. thanks Lucky.

 

[luckyfish]

You're welcome.