how does one run carbon?

[Zestay]

so.

my tanks been running a while now and everythings fine. im just curious as it seems like some people say running carbon is a good thing. some dont comment either way?

my LFS sells a filter pad for 7 dollars thats black and called a carbon filter. is this the only way to " run carbon" ?



should i just place this in my sump baffles? ( not that i have a reason to run it )

what would be the reasons to run carbon?
what would be the reasons not to.?

 

[zisbell]

I run carbon in a magnum canister filter every once in a while to clean up the water(clarity). So the carbon pad is not the only way to run carbon, the kind I use is the size of pellets. The only downfall I 've found to running carbon is it tends to raise your PO4 (phosphates) in your tank, not good for a reef tank. There are some out there that run carbon 24/7 and have no problems but my $0.02 is to use it every once in a while.

 

[tk1360]

you can get one of those filter media bags from the LFS and toss in somewhere in your sump. Just remember as mentioned it may raise phospates and make sure if its going to be a long term thing that you change the carbon in the filter bag.

 

[sjj80]

Use chemi-pure in your sump where there's good flow, chemipure is guaranteed phosphate free and now they have a chemipure that is supposed to function as a phosphate remover as well. It comes already in a filter bag and you just place it wherever it will get the most water flow through it.

Carbon is used for diff. reasons, to clear up cloudy water, to deter coral chemical warfare, to aid in cleaning the water, and the list goes on. It's always good to have on hand.

 

[ljsreptiles]

I just put carbon in a nylon bag, and put it where there is good flow in the sump.

 

[drummereef]

I run my carbon in a small hang-on aquaclear filter. I just put it in a media bag and place it in the filter. I don't have a sump in my system.

 

[michaeldaly]

I run granular activated carbon in a filter media bag in my overflow,