I am debating this and was wondering if anyone does not run carbon on their tanks. My tank is fairly new and so far no signs of any problems and the water params are where the should be. I thought of running a reactor with phos/carbon but now I am not sure if it is necessary. The last test I did showed no phosphate or nitrate or ammonia. My last two tanks I used it but couldnt really see a difference. All water is RODI with 0 tds and I do bi-weekly water changes. Any thoughts on this?
who does not run carbon?
- Thread starter frags75
- Start date
JetCat USA
In Memoriam
once in a blue moon i do, but 99% of the time i don't.
SaltyBoG Water
New member
I have a 29 gal bio cube http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1228133
i run carbon all the time. I have those half carbon half pad stuff.... why shouldn't you run carbon?
i run carbon all the time. I have those half carbon half pad stuff.... why shouldn't you run carbon?
I threw a bag of carbon into my sump when I first set up my latest tank. Once the water cleared, the carbon was removed. Unless something goes seriously wrong, I don't anticipate on using carbon on the system again. I have found that putting carbon on a healthy running system is all but useless; just my observations.
Mavrk
New member
Re: who does not run carbon?
I would still run the phosban reactor with phosban (or similar product). Phosphate leaches out slowly from rocks and substrate and can get caught up in any algae you have. This give you a false 0 reading.
As for the carbon, I believe in running it in small amounts for short periods of time. What I am doing is running phosban (actual PhosPure) in the reactor. Then when it is time to change the phosban, I put in carbon for a day or two before I put the phosban back in. I change my phosban monthly (if you use more it can last for a few months, but I like to run carbon once a month).
Before my reactor, I would run a few Tablespoons of carbon once a week for 12-24 hours.
I would still run the phosban reactor with phosban (or similar product). Phosphate leaches out slowly from rocks and substrate and can get caught up in any algae you have. This give you a false 0 reading.
As for the carbon, I believe in running it in small amounts for short periods of time. What I am doing is running phosban (actual PhosPure) in the reactor. Then when it is time to change the phosban, I put in carbon for a day or two before I put the phosban back in. I change my phosban monthly (if you use more it can last for a few months, but I like to run carbon once a month).
Before my reactor, I would run a few Tablespoons of carbon once a week for 12-24 hours.
dascharisma
New member
Same here. I have never really noticed a difference with or without. I run it if an SPS RTNs and I am trying to absorb its toxins, but I don't really know that it is effective.
Brad
da1jewfish
New member
once in a blue moon. Unless your trying to remove treatment, it shouldn't be necessary. It usually removes some trace elements and I rather that not happen in a reef. Fish only- I could see using it. However in my FW tank it runs 24 hours.
thanks for the input guys. I think I will stay away from it for now. As for the phosgaurd I havent seen any rise in the reading on my test kit. I keep my fuge on a reverse light cycle and it is pretty full of cheato and a few mangrove stalks. I beleive this to help control the phosphate as well as any nitrate.
