Skimmer and carbon, can/do you use both?

Hi,

I just wanted to know if any of you use carbon and have a skimmer. I've heard that carbon can make the skimmer go a little crazy.

I have a 75 gal tank. It's my first large tank. I only have two fish and I already feel I'm overfeeding them...because I used to have a 10 gal reef with 2 clowns. So I'm used to smaller feedings.

I just want to make sure I'm not polluting my tank. I do have a fuge in my sump, but I've noticed that there is flake food in my fuge at times. The flake doesn't sink into the water, I wish it would because some of it goes down the overflow.

So I guess back to my question. Do you think I'm doing okay with just a reef octopus 150 skimmer and a fuge with chaeto?

 

Yes. Some people (not me, not yet anyways) turn off their pumps when feeding for that reason.

 

Yes I think you're ok.

Get a different food type, sinking pellets, mysid, cyclopeez...

You can do it both ways. A skimmer is much more efficient at removing DOC.

I use Carbon to clarify the water and remove any contaminants.

 

Thanks, I feed my fish frozen and cyclopeez falke. My water is clear, but seems like it may have a yellow tint. My DT glass has a greenish hue to it and my walls are a yellow wheat color. I was just thinking if I should but some carbon in.

 

Sounds like to you need to clean your glass with a mag float. I have a BRS carbon reactor and skimmer.

 

I remember reading where carbon is basically exhausted after just a few days. I quit running it a year ago and haven't noticed one single difference.

 

I just searched at it seems you're right. Hnm

 

No, the glass is greenish. Even when the tank was empty. My glass is spotless. My mag float is great.

 

Ok I am confused, sorry. Is the water tinged green or yellow? If so than just run some carbon, to see if that works.

If you still have tinged water, feed less, cut back on photoperiod for a couple days and see if that helps.

 

Not to say you are wrong, but everything I have read has said the correct amount of carbon for a given tank size should be effective for between 2 weeks and 2 months. Can you find where you saw this as I usually change mine out once every 4-8 weeks.