Carbon

[fishgills]

Just wondering who uses carbon 24/7, since i have had my tank up which is going on 10 years iv'e been using it 24/7, what do you guy's/gals do. In my tank there's lots of chemical warfair going on.

I run carbon one week a month.

fishgills, how often do you change the carbon??

[fishgills]

Hi, i use Black Diamond carbon and change it out once a month, iv'e been doing that since day one. I believe some other carbons will leach it back out into the aquarium.

[B Mead]

I've been doing the same. Black Diamond...Should I use the other insert that comes with my canister?

[fishgills]

I've been doing the same. Black Diamond...Should I use the other insert that comes with my canister? I don't have a canister i use a filter bag filled with lots of carbon for my 125 it's in my ecosystem, i don't see why you can not use it, it can't hurt.

[Doctor_Reef]

I run carbon 24/7...I use Kent reef carbon and have never had an issue...I change it once a month and keep my water changes scheduled to make sure that the trace elements are doing well...

Hi, i use Black Diamond carbon and change it out once a month, iv'e been doing that since day one. I believe some other carbons will leach it back out into the aquarium.

From what I read Black Diamond is a GOOD carbon!! Some carbons will leach phosphates but I don't think BD will.

[cich1]

i use black diamond as well i like it because its not as dusty as some i've tried, if you have alot of chemical warfare as you say i see no reason not to run it all the time

[2639]

Carbon does more than suck ammonia out I'm guessing? What benefits does carbon have, what disadvantages does it have?

[Doctor_Reef]

Carbon will take out dissolved organics, other toxic chemicals that are accruing in the reef, coral chemical warfare...just understand that you need to change it regularly...I always change my carbon at least once a month...But I run mine 24/7 if you don't do that you will be changing more frequently...The down side is that carbon will also take out some trace elements... but your skimmer does that also...so do your water changes and you will be ok running carbon...I feel much better off then not running it!!! MHO....

[2639]

Don't you mean if you DON'T run carbon 24/7, you will be changing more INfrequently? Typo?

[Doctor_Reef]

No ... I meant what I said...if I were not running it steady but removing every week or so and putting carbon back in lets say every other week...I would be changing the carbon more frequently because I wouldn't use the same carbon that I removed from the tank!!!

Running it 24/7 I only change it out once a month! :)

[2639]

I see. That makes sense now.

[fishgills]

I agree with Doctor_Reef.