PALE SPS!!! BRS gfo and carbon maybe?
- Thread starter pusanpa
- Start date
CaptiveReef
LED FULL SPECTRUM REEFER
Just run Phosban in a reactor
Just run Phosban in a reactor
I stopped using carbon, and only run Phosban in a reactor, it made a major difference with my tank! After reading Martin Moe Jr's book I decided to make the change.
CaptiveReef :reading:
Just run Phosban in a reactor
I stopped using carbon, and only run Phosban in a reactor, it made a major difference with my tank! After reading Martin Moe Jr's book I decided to make the change.
CaptiveReef :reading:
penfold2
Member
Why do you think the carbon removal made such an improvement? I've never heard any real downsides to carbon use before.
It strips the nutrients from the water. I have seen the same thing in my tank.
dahenley
New member
what reactor were you using for Carbon / GFO
if it is a BRS Dual, then that can be a problem as well. (you should never combine the two, or run in a dual reactor. they require different flow rates and you can get ill effects if you tumble carbon)
secondly, like mentioned. certain carbon can remove a lot from the water.
if it is a BRS Dual, then that can be a problem as well. (you should never combine the two, or run in a dual reactor. they require different flow rates and you can get ill effects if you tumble carbon)
secondly, like mentioned. certain carbon can remove a lot from the water.
penfold2
Member
When most people talk about corals suffering from lack of nutrients, they're talking about inorganic nutrients (phosphate and nitrate). From what I've read, GAC is good at removing organics, but bad at removing inorganics. I don't know if low DOC could harm corals, but I think a lot of GAC problems are due to increased light levels from clearer water.
There are some downsides to mixing them, but it can definitely be done. Here's a good video on it.
<iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/yba8hkQ6WC8?rel=0" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" width="560"></iframe>
pusanpa
Active member
I have always been mixed them together in phosban reactor.
Why is it problem if you tumble carbon?
dahenley
New member
+1
a friend of mine tumbled carbon in a BRS dual reactor (tumbled it because you should tumble GFO for best effect)
(dual reactors rely of the same flow through the first chamber as the second. you cant adjust that if its a single in single out reactor.)
thus by tumbling GFO, his carbon tumbled because of the flow. it actually made all his carbon powder and his skimmer was pulling black out for weeks. his tank and corals suffered and almost died because of this.....
im no expert. but i have seen ill effects.
it was a 180 gal tank. and he was running a 4' tall Life Reef skimmer. (that skimmer can pull the crap out of the fish haha so it was working hard to pull carbon out of the water column)
LoJack
New member
Here is the link to one of the articles for those that are interested.
http://www.coralmagazine-us.com/content/activated-carbon-hlle-smoking-gun-found
http://www.coralmagazine-us.com/content/activated-carbon-hlle-smoking-gun-found
blackthunda77
New member
I never had a problem with daisy chaining carbon and GFO in reactors. I have 2 TLF reactors daisy chained. First is the carbon (Deep Blue brand), then is the GFO (TLF Phosban) I set the correct amount of flow to get the GFO tumbling and its never enough to get the Carbon tumbling in the first reactor.
Feed feed feed. But watch thoes nitrates. Anything above 10 is bad for sps imo. By the way I use gfo and use macroalgae like chaeto to keep NO3 at bay. Above is right about the dual reactor. Gfo light tumble, carbon no tumble. Carbon will scrape against eachother and create dust which will irratate corals. That's why you rinse it before use. I don't use carbon though. Id only use it for chemical warfare etc.
Alk swings are the worst. Make sure you ALWAYS test what your dosing for first. Dosing should be in this sequence 1:mag 2:alk 3:ca. Calcium and alk resist eachother and mag and calcium will react together as well but calcium seems to be the worst so that gets dosed last. Just my 2cents
CaptiveReef
LED FULL SPECTRUM REEFER
Carbon
Carbon
As dr. big said trace elements as well as vital nutrients are removed constantly ! Running a good quality GFO in a reactor at a slow flow rate 24/7 is the best way. A reef tank or community setup should not be maintained with the use of carbon, with an established tank I only really deal with phosphate buildup, I have a very large skimmer, do small regular water changes, and run GFO, and I dose with C- Balance which adds trace elements.
Having removed carbon from my filtration made a major difference! I saw the results within a week, encrusting corals are spreading as well as SPS.
Thanks, CaptiveReef :beer:
Carbon
As dr. big said trace elements as well as vital nutrients are removed constantly ! Running a good quality GFO in a reactor at a slow flow rate 24/7 is the best way. A reef tank or community setup should not be maintained with the use of carbon, with an established tank I only really deal with phosphate buildup, I have a very large skimmer, do small regular water changes, and run GFO, and I dose with C- Balance which adds trace elements.
Having removed carbon from my filtration made a major difference! I saw the results within a week, encrusting corals are spreading as well as SPS.
Thanks, CaptiveReef :beer:
