IMPORTANT STUDY - PLEASE READ - Relationship Between Activated Carbon & HLLE
- Thread starter sg1838
- Start date
Capt_Cully
Active member
Gary M talked about this quite a ways back. As I recall it was a discussion about the various ways to run carbon. The end point was, rinse it, for starters. Second, if its in a reactor, gentle tickling is preferred instead of high water volume. i.e. use an MJ 400 on your Phosban Reactor vs an MJ 1200 to keep your carbon from being morselized and placed into solution, where it is potentially harmful to your fishes.
sg1838
New member
Well, it's a little more than that. Lignite is a big no-no. You absolutely should rinse your pelleted carbon, but even then fish that are generally susceptible to HLLE showed trace affects of HLLE with the use of rinsed pelleted carbon. The big unknown here is whether the quality of the pelleted carbon used at the Toledo Zoo was of the same "high quality" that is used by the typical reef hobbyist. The general feeling is that since the zoo buys carbon in bulk that the quality is lower than what is purchased by the typical reef hobbyist, but I'm not sure that is a valid conclusion (i.e. how do we know that we're simply not purchasing the same carbon at a higher price in fancy packaging and being told that it is "high quality"?)
Maybe this is jumping to conclusions, but if I had a fish from one of the species listed (which I don't) and I cared about whether that fish remained healthy, I'm not sure that I could continue the use of carbon after reading this article. But, if nothing else, I would most certainly use it sparingly, would rinse it extremely thoroughly, and would not use it in a high-flow reactor.
Maybe this is jumping to conclusions, but if I had a fish from one of the species listed (which I don't) and I cared about whether that fish remained healthy, I'm not sure that I could continue the use of carbon after reading this article. But, if nothing else, I would most certainly use it sparingly, would rinse it extremely thoroughly, and would not use it in a high-flow reactor.
Gary Majchrzak
Team RC
old thread
there are older. Much older
IME diet and carbon fines are two leading causes of HILLE/HLLE
there are older. Much older
IME diet and carbon fines are two leading causes of HILLE/HLLE
Gary Majchrzak
Team RC
I run GAC (granular activated carbon) "actively" in a TLF reactor.
If I have the money I'll get ROX, otherwise I use the Marineland carbon MO sells.
If I have the money I'll get ROX, otherwise I use the Marineland carbon MO sells.
Gary Majchrzak
Team RC
low riderr
New member
i run the out put line from my carbon reactor into a 25 micron filter sock.this helps , i no longer find black particles in the sump after i change out my carbon.
Thanks for the study. Perhaps fines adsorb some organics and stick them on the fish where bacterial activity or viral activity is enocurage as the organics breakdown..
Personally , I have used gac (Rox 8) ,virtually dust free,. I have 6 surgeon fish; some for 8 yrs; none with HHLE. I feed them well.
Despite the pause this article gives me , I'll continue to use gac since I don't believe there is a more effective way to manage the total organic carbon(TOC) than gac. I also think the amounts of unwashed dusty lignite were significantly higher than common practice.
Personally , I have used gac (Rox 8) ,virtually dust free,. I have 6 surgeon fish; some for 8 yrs; none with HHLE. I feed them well.
Despite the pause this article gives me , I'll continue to use gac since I don't believe there is a more effective way to manage the total organic carbon(TOC) than gac. I also think the amounts of unwashed dusty lignite were significantly higher than common practice.
Eastamherstbias
New member
Does it affect clown fish? I received a PM from a guy who claimed he saw a picture of my Latz clowns and they have it and he was just giving me a heads up.
Gary Majchrzak
Team RC
I've seen HLLE in Clownfish before but I've never worked with Latz.
Based on this picture alone I couldn't say that your young fish is definitely showing signs of HLLE.
I've reversed HLLE in fishes by eliminating carbon fines, providing a good (rotational) diet and providing an optimal environment.
Frozen broccoli florets and frozen orange sections can be fed to many fishes (Tangs and Rabbitfish especially love 'em) and these two items contain vitamin A which helps heal HLLE. Clownfish aren't likely to take orange sections but will usually take to small crushed up broccoli florets that have been frozen.
(I've heard that "Rod's Food" contains broccoli and/or carrots? If so, that should be a good food to feed a Clownfish)
Based on this picture alone I couldn't say that your young fish is definitely showing signs of HLLE.
I've reversed HLLE in fishes by eliminating carbon fines, providing a good (rotational) diet and providing an optimal environment.
Frozen broccoli florets and frozen orange sections can be fed to many fishes (Tangs and Rabbitfish especially love 'em) and these two items contain vitamin A which helps heal HLLE. Clownfish aren't likely to take orange sections but will usually take to small crushed up broccoli florets that have been frozen.
(I've heard that "Rod's Food" contains broccoli and/or carrots? If so, that should be a good food to feed a Clownfish)
Gary Majchrzak
Team RC
Last edited:
Eastamherstbias
New member
Thanks Gary, They came that way and no other fish show signs so I will try to get them to eat frozen brocolli and maybe squeeze an orange over the food. I feed them well now and rotate their food. Maybe it is nothing but I want them to be healthy.
Gary Majchrzak
Team RC
you might want to keep temps on the cooler side of things (75-78F) for Latz.
Only run carbon and/or GFO if necessary- and then only in small amounts that have been well rinsed.
Only run carbon and/or GFO if necessary- and then only in small amounts that have been well rinsed.
Eastamherstbias
New member
Apex keeps everything 77.5-78.0 at all times. I am really consistent with the basement sump. I will pull the carbon, I did not cause the problem but I don't want to make it worse.
Eastamherstbias
New member
Well the tang/foxface love broccoli. The clowns are not a fan of their food tasting like citrus. I really don't think they have HLLE. I have read all of the research and seen pictures of what it looks like. I have even seen pictures of the latz in the breeder's home. They all have that squiggle in the white part of the first ring. I think I am treating something that I don't have.
Gary Majchrzak
Team RC
bump
jeremyjoslin
New member
Tagging along. Thanks, Gary, for the advice on broccoli. Will add it to the regimen as I work on my new tangs with HLLE.
edit: BTW, no carbon in my system. Can't recall if previous owner did though.
edit: BTW, no carbon in my system. Can't recall if previous owner did though.
I think the broccoli andother vergetables is a great idea. I think running dust free gac is a fine practice too, since it removes organic carbon which may feed pathogenic microbes or cause other issues. I've always run it 24 /7 on my system with 6 healthy surgeon fish.
I wish you well with those fish. I doubt they'll recover their fin structures but should improve in a peaceful environment with good water quality and a nutritious diet. Nice work.
I wish you well with those fish. I doubt they'll recover their fin structures but should improve in a peaceful environment with good water quality and a nutritious diet. Nice work.
Similar threads
