More questions...

[john1979]

I've been doing a lot of research on the web since starting my tank (just over 2 months ago), and I have some questions I'm hoping you all can clear up. I really appreciate the help.

1) I'm running carbon and GFO in a canister filter. Should I be using the filter pads as well? What about filter floss? Do they help or hurt the tank in the long run.

2) With the carbon and GFO, how should I prepare it? I have heard that I should just rinse it in tap water, or RO/DI water, or soak it overnight? Or does it matter?

3) Finally, how much carbon should I use? Can you use too much? I should say that my wife's only on board with this tank as long as it's clean. I guess she grew up with lots of gross algae-filled tanks! Whenever I put in fresh carbon, she comments the next day how great the water looks. Would more carbon keep the water clear longer, or does it not work like that?

Thanks everyone!

 

[reefboarder]

In regards to the rinsing, I put in fresh carbon and gfo into my reactor and run the first 5-10 gallons into a bucket, typically until the water runs clear and then another gallon or two for good measure then replace with fresh salt water. This will help to ensure that none of the dust from either of the medias find there way into your water. I am under the impression that more isn't really better when it comes to these, and that a smaller portion replaced more often will be more successful in the long run. As far as the pads or floss they will help filter out larger particulate and will do as they are intended but can become a potential source for nitrates and should be cleaned/replaced often, I use a filter sock on my drain line and it usually gets changed at least once per week if not every 4-5 days.
Hope this helps a bit, and im sure that more will chime in and provide their opinions and experiences.

 

[tmz]

1) The fiter pads in a canister can gather lot's of crap and need frequent cleaning or they will leach out nutrients.
2)Just rinse it ,preferably with ro water till no dust comes out.
3)1/2 cup (ie, 4 oz) per 50 gallons changed 1x per month for granalted activated carbon.

 

[john1979]

Thanks everyone for your help. One last question...

Would using more than 1/2 cup per 50 gallons cause any problems? Would you have to change the carbon less, or would it just not work as effectively?

Thanks again!

 

[oneradtek202]

i think that the common idea is to NOT overuse carbon. its beneficial, but i believe there is such a thing as too much of a good thing in that case. For example some people have seen HLLE in tangs from overuse of carbon.

From what ive read, that is. Im sure TMZ will have more valuable info.

I only run about 1/2 a gallon of water threw the reactors when i change my media out, and never seen any negative effects. i would say theres no need for a 5 gallon rinsing, but everyone has their own ways of doing things. If it works for you, then its fine lol thats what ive always said

 

[oneradtek202]

As for how carbon makes water "clear".

carbon is a very porous material, with tiny microscopic holes of channels in the surface of it. any microscopic particle that is in the water column that comes upon the carbon will get caught in the carbons holes or channels and holds it there. This makes teh water very clear. watch Bulk Reef Supply's activated carbon videos for a visual understanding sometime. kinda cool

 

[reefboarder]

I should have been more specific about the amount of water used to rinse, I way overdo it because that's how I start my water changes, I do 20-30 gallons weekly and use about enough carbon and gfo for a75g tank on a system volume of about 125g and change the media every two weeks, this is just what floats my boat and it happens to work out that my medias get rinsed very well. on an unrelated note since I have started the rigorous water changes my two part dosage schedule has decreased significantly.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[tmz]

Granulated activated carbon(gac) is a matrix of micro channels . In a reef tank it attracts and binds organic compounds that tend to be repelled by water(hydrophobic compounds) such as fats , nitrogen gas, humic and fulvic acids and others including some that discolor the water and some that may be toxic . It may also remove some iodine.
It also adsorbs compounds from the air; so once its dried and exposed to air for a long period of time it's pretty well exhausted . Further once put in water and dried some of the channels may collapse.
All in all it it is the most effective means we have to lower total organic carbon in a reeftank by adsorbing some types of organics. Elevated total organic cabon can be very harmful. Skimming also removes organics but less efectively than gac. Some ofthese organics may encapsulate toxic metals .nitogen and phospahorous too.

The 1/2 cup per 50 gallon changed monthly is the recommendation given by Boomer for bituminous or lignite carbon on the Reef Chemistry forum. If Rox 8 is used only 1/3 cup is needed. He is very knowlegeable , particularly about gac. It is a standard followed by many of us. Obviously, not every tank is the same ,so it might clog requiring some kneading weekly or might exhaust sooner or later depending on the condition of the tank but the !/2 cup pr50 gallons it a pretty good starting point.
Many corals produce most of the organic carbon they need via photosynthesis where they link up Hydrogen and CO2 to form carbohydrates. Different types of corals need variable amounts of supplemental organic carbon acquired by food or in some cases, like xenia and anthelia ,for example, absorbtion from the water plays seems to play a role . So strtipping the water of organics is not always best and using too much gac may be harmful to certain corals.

HHLE, head and lateral line erosion(hole in the head disease) sometimes occurs in marine fish. The causes have been debated for a long time and range from water quailty to nutrition to granulated activated carbon. Recently a study was published linking granulated activated carbon to HHLE. But the study has some problems. Very high amounts of dust from unrinsed lignite carbon were used in the tanks where the HHLE occured. Other carbons under less dusty conditions did not cause it. This suggesto me that it's the dust not what granulated activatedcarbon may remove from the water that relates to HHLE. Consider: , GAC adsorbs orgaincs; bacteria eat organics. A fish covered in carbon dust embedded in it's slime coat could easily have trouble and develop lesions from the bactteria ,the irritation or even viruses that might develop .
So it's pretty clear that rinsing is important. Using a harder bituminous carbon like Rox 8 vs a softer dustier lignite lprobably helps lessen the chances for carbon to grind to dust in a reactor.
Back to HHLE.
High levels of carbon dust have been associated with it.
Nutrition is always important via a varied diet.
I' suggest Water loaded with excess organic carbon might also be causal factor as some of those organics might settle on the fish So not using well rinsed gac to help reduce toal organic carbon might actually contribute to HHLE. Just a little counterpoint.

 

[GMaquarium]

I run activated charcoal and gfo on most of my aquariums and think its an important component of filtration. Have noticed something interesting about hhle recently. Since the study came out I decided to work on reducing any potential, future problems with it as well as fixing the problem in three tanks where we have fish with hhle.

Sorry if I am going away from main topic.

Three unrelated aquariums in different locations. All had a bag of carbon and gfo hanging in the sump. Two aquariums are reefs and one is an aggressive fish only set up. Fish are rusty dwarf angelfish, hippo tang and spotted grouper.

Although I have always rinsed carbon before adding these three fish in different tanks have it. These aquariums do not have elevated nutrients, not fed poor quality or same food or have much fluctuations in chemistry or temp.

What puzzled me was the fact that all three tanks had other fish and all other fish were fine. The reef tanks both have tangs that look perfect. The fish only tank has another related grouper that looks perfect. The only common denominator I noticed on all three tanks (after spending much more time watching these tanks than I normally do) was all three fish were getting picked on. Although I can not say that hhle started on those fish because they were bullied, but I do know that stress can harm on many levels.

I think hhle is caused by a number of factors other than carbon dust, unless healthier and less stressed fish can cope with it better. Gonna start paying much more attention to this.