Do I really need carbon in my filter?

I have a 54 corner tank with the 305 fluval canister and aquac remora pro skimmer. I just hired these guys to clean my tank every 3 weeks. They said i really dont need the carbon pads in my filter. Is this fine? Thanks

 

yes carbon isn't necessary, some people use it some don't. I didn't use it for the longest time in my reef, I put some in recently(because I bought some for my goldfish tank) I don't notice any difference in the reef, since it runs relatively clean anyway.

 

I didnt use it for a while, but since i put my reactor back on the tank the water has been clearer......id say keep it going...

 

My opinion is that if you have a tank of mixed, softies, LPS and SPS corals

then carbon is very beneficial in helping to reduce the possibility of a build up of toxins / chemical warfare type emmissions from corals fighting for territory in your reef tank

Steve

 

I use a big chunk of carbon to "clear the air", seems to do a great job picking out large particulate.

My brown bar goby has a personal war with my being able to see my tank.

 

my LFS claims that carbon in reef tanks takes away "micro-nutrients" necessary for corals.

 

Carbon is known to extract Iodine out of salt water, amongst other things
but typically most artificial salts have higher values than are found in nature

with routine water changes, you can easily off set any negatives created by carbon (replenishing)

and the positives for me, outweigh the perceived negatives

Steve

 

there is certainly a ton of debate on just that subject. I've been reading a lot on it, but at this point still lean toward using it.

 

Carbon is one of the best things you can do for your tanks stability and water quality. It removes the yellow cast to the water often found in saltwater systems for one and keeps the toxins down that many corals secrete. I would'nt run a tank without it, its cheap insurance.

 

+1

I have personal experience with this. I ran no carbon for a few months, and was ok. Then I added some chalices (big colonies, not frags), and within 2 weeks, my torch and frogspawn started retracting. Other corals started to do this about a week later. I added some carbon in a reactor, and within 3 days, everything was back to normal.

I noticed the difference in water clarity along the way, too. One thing that peole don't realize about those yellowing agents is that they don't only yellow your water, but they also are known to hinder the growth of SPS!