Carbon?

I havent ever used it but I am wondering if after the tank crash I had and doing a few water changes if I should consder it. I know some use it and some dont. I have a kind of tint to the water. I have tested the water parameters and everything is back to normal other then the alk is bordering low but still ok. I lost a handfull of fish whit the crash. Will running carbon be ok in the reef and with the corals?

 

I don't think it can ever really hurt anything. Some don't run it because it absorbs food nutrients.

 

I had my tank actually crash today due to a sea apple and I just got back from LFS and they suggest ALWAYS running carbon, you can get a filter bag and a plastic bottle of carbon and fill it up and tie and put it in your filter, thanks to Av8 who btw everyone.. RULES. +1

 

I think carbon has a time and a place. It can be benificial to lower amonia spikes and kinda polish water but don't think it should be run all the time. If you are haveing a problem then you must address problem before trying to bandaid it. If trying to get out of a jam use it but don't rely on it. But I like to run things a bit cheeper and natural then most. good luck

 

I run it all the time ,always have. You just have to make sure to change it out every now and then.

 

It works great at removing pollutants, contaminants and unfortunately good things as well, such as trace elements anfd liquid foods. Carbon and also using vodka will help to remove DOM and nitrates especially! Has to be replaced religiously to avoid the stuff the carbon originally removed bing leached back into your water. It is best to add small amounts frequently. Also as this is happening, ypu have to be careful because the amount of light reaching your corals will increase possibly causing a problem with bleaching!

 

I run it 24/7 in a reactor and I run a bag of it on the discharge of my skimmer to catch any O3 residue that is left. My Elegance usually tells me when I need to change the carbon by not opening up all the way when the lights come on.

 

It's interesting that your coral can give you indications. That's part of the joy of this hobby. I've always used carbon in my tanks but I'm hearing more talk about reefers that are prefering not to. Me, I just started learning about the reef end of the hobby the past 8 months so I can't speak with authority on the subject. The fellow that sold me his 65 gal set up only had a phosphate bag in the sump. He's never used it and he moved up to a 140 gal reef. That's the thing about this hobby, we're always learning and it's ever changing.