Who Uses Carbon Filtration?

[sanjosereefer]

Do any/most of you use carbon filtration? I've heard a few different things about carbon for saltwater: not needed for saltwater, b/c of protein skimming, use it but only for a short time period, too much can deplete "good traces" out of the water.

I use carbon for my freshwater tanks, but never thought it was necessary for salt.

Do you folks use it...and if so, how do you use it? Fluidize it? ...Just for a few days a month? etc...

 

[dots]

Its not bad to run carbon all of the time, most do...its added insurance against chemical warfare in the tank. Especially if you are running a mixed tank with SPS, LPS, softies as you say you are. The softies are VERY toxic and will kill the sensitive SPS. In your case, I would recommend carbon 24/7 changing out every month and running a skimmer, with regular water changes to stay off any problems in a mixed garden tank.

 

[Elite]

I run 24/7. The water much clearer after I replace carbon.

 

[Ti]

carbon don't stop

 

[otterpop510]

what brand carbon do you folks like to use? anything in particular?

 

[joecos]

I use Kent Carbon in a HO canister filter. I replace it every 2 months.

Works great, it defenitely clears up the water.

 

[trmiv]

I run Walmart Regent carbon in a phosban reactor, 24/7. Walmart regent is the exact same thing as Black Diamond carbon by Marineland (even says made by Marineland), which is one of the best carbons on the market. I actually used to use Kent Reef carbon until I found out the pelletized carbons are vapor phase carbon, and don't do that great of a job in water. The Black Diamond/Regent works much better.

 

[Paladin]

trmiv, do you use two media in your phosban reactor, like phosban and carbon? And if you do, do you change the carbon more often than the phosban? How much do you put of each? And do you find that you're still getting great results by mixing them?

 

[Ti]

Matrix carbon is a winner in my book!

 

[trmiv]

Yea, I mix them together in one reactor. I change them about every two weeks, maybe once a month if I get lazy. I think it works fine mixing them together.

 

[sanjosereefer]

So Black Diamond and Matrix seem to be 2 good brands. They don't leak phosphate back into the water, correct? Also, it sounds like it's okay to use it 24/7. My water is "clean" and doesn't smell...it's just not that clear look where the fish appear to be floating in air.

 

[Vincerama2]

I avoided carbon and any filtration other than the skimmer on the premise that I would be filtering out planktonic life (ie freed food). I use carbon after using pest control stuff (Flatworm Exit, Chemi clean).

I didn't even think about mitigating chemical warfafre! My tank is pretty mixes, SPS, LPS, softies. Maybe I should run carbon too. (I have the excellent Ehiem 2213 cannister filter!)

V

 

[Litespeeds]

I started to use Kent carbon but only use it about 3-4 days before I remove it. I figure I would only use it once in awhile depending upon how the water looks when I do a water change.