to carbon or not to carbon

MOJOREEF here is a quick one for ya...do other later

 

OK Mojoreef,

This stuff looks like it meets your recommended specs



Would this be good for initial use?

Noted in instructions:

Rinse well prior to use in fresh water.

Use only 3 days a month.

PS: Forsale on Ebay:

Ebay: KENT MARINE Reef Carbon 4.5 lbs

Rgds,

OmarD

 

nope

 

@ Mojoreef,

If "nope" is your response to my last post, please explain. - if to another please ignor the below.

Generally people share information at this forum. If you want to keep some kind of "secret" - I for one, would like you to ask you to keep to yourself about it in the first place.

Would have expected a more complete answer from someone who brought up the information that generated a serach for answers on my part & who at least initially presented himself as such an "experienced" practictioner of this art.

May not be your intention, but that is a pretty abrupt and I find a "condesending" response.

OmarD

 

Omar I gave a few comments(of what I thought) were pretty detailed. I also gave some details on a pretty simple test that folks could to, to test thier carbon themselves. I also posted that I did not want to really recommend one based on a brand name (everytime I do I get a bunch of manufactures pandering me).
With the info and test procedure I gave you dont need me, its a simple test or a simple phone call to the manufacturer to see if it meets the requirements.

Well......lets just leave that one alone and caulk this up to a misunderstanding, unless I am mistaken?

To the product you posted
Kent carbon contains low ammounts of phosphates, it says they dont leach but that is hard to believe, so a simple test as I discribed above will answer that question. It also says that it contains very high levels of Iodine, I had also mentioned that high levels of Iodine can lead to saturation and build up problems. So when I just look at the label you have posted it leads me to a quick reply. It looks like you have this product, just do a quick test and you will know on the P. A quick call to Kent will answer the balance of the points I covered. just ask for the MSDS sheet if you have to.

Just for future sake Omar. Alot of the old timers like myself and the popular reefers or experts will tell folks products to use. 9 times out of ten, they are endorsing the product based on being paid. I have been offered many times to join that group but have always avoided and I will continue to. Nobody needs me or any of these folks to tell them what to use. They DO need to have the information that can lead them to make an educated choice. This is why instead of me saying use joe blows carbon, I have given you the tools to make the call yourself. The biggest problem with this hobby (as I am sure you know) if all the bogus and ancedotel evidence that plagues the hobby. This goes for additives, filtration, system concepts and so on. it confuses people and leads to many mistakes. Everything is not mystical, its pretty black and white as long as you are informed enough of the inner workings of each and everything you choose to use or go with. I would perfer to help you become informed rather then to give you my personal opinions.

Anyway sorry for the long post, maybe it will balance out the short one

Mike

 

you can also test the carbon to be safe. Do a normal phosphate test and drop a piece of the carbon in if it leaves a blue trail its no good

 

THANKS Mojoreef,

"Balances" Great. !

Rgds,

OmarD

(understand other "comments" also )

 

Knowlege is power!
    Please mojoreef do you know of any other simple tests that could help to alleviate some of the problems we all encounter with our tanks?
    I for one supplement my tank every day with an iodine but have never tested for it. What would happen if you had iodine build up problems what are the problems?
                                                 Thanks for any help!

 

Mason you should never add anything to your tank unless you know that you need it. Everything in Salt Water is in its exact portion, this is what folks to as in balance. if you take things out of balance you are screwing some other part of the mix out.
Iodine is a strange bird, in natural sea water Iodine comes in both organic and inorganic forms and cycles between the two. In the organic form it is iodide and iodate, studies have shown that phytoplankton, certain macroalgae, xynia can absorb ammonts of it also.
Most folks use Lugols. It is made up of I and I2. Thier is alot of debate that the I2 is an antibacteria compound and might screw up your tank. But that also has not reallly been proven either.
For me I havent seen enough scientific study that has proved to me that it is worth addition to my reef.

MIke

 

That's interesting Mike. Do you have a link for Lugol?