Activated carbon a necessity?

[alexanderthefishlover]

I liken reef spec carbon but bituminous or rox carbon is better than the coconut shell that makes reef spec. I usually put extra carbon.

Where can I buy it in Canada? All I see is from the US? Is it by reef endurance? That’s what I’m seeing the name called? And then bulk reef? Again all in the USA? I’ll probably just stick with reef spec

 

[landlubber]

Buy some tangs and do some tests to put your mind at ease.

I've been keeping fish for 40 years. The past 10 have been SW and this topic continues to come up but is always answered with a "i think carbon does this" or "that might only be with continuous use" i'm just asking for clarity here.
By the sounds of your response that seems to bother you a little for whatever reason but if you look I actually asked Randy who has scientific backing to his responses, i can't help it that others chimed in.
So while i'm greatful for others experiences and they're valued, at the end of the day i'm really not looking for ambiguous responses or bs and am really trying to find information that either proves or debunks this while not putting my tangs through undue stress.
Hope that helps

 

[Dburr1014]

By the sounds of your response that seems to bother you a little for whatever reason but if you look I actually asked Randy who has scientific backing to his responses, i can't help it that others chimed in.

Honestly, I'm not bothered at all.

I sincerely thought you were stressing about knowing the answer and personally don't really think anyone has a definite answer. I thought maybe you can put it to rest but I understand your reasons not to hurt your tangs.

I can point you to @Jay Hemdal who can probably help you understand where and why this keeps coming up. I think he may have a post on it somewhere.
Here is one that popped up with the search button on the top right of your screen. It contains a link to the subject.


Thread 'Tang HLLE Carbon related?' https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/tang-hlle-carbon-related.1036402/


Have a nice day!

 

[landlubber]

Honestly, I'm not bothered at all.

I sincerely thought you were stressing about knowing the answer and personally don't really think anyone has a definite answer. I thought maybe you can put it to rest but I understand your reasons not to hurt your tangs.

I can point you to @Jay Hemdal who can probably help you understand where and why this keeps coming up. I think he may have a post on it somewhere.
Here is one that popped up with the search button on the top right of your screen. It contains a link to the subject.


Thread 'Tang HLLE Carbon related?' https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/tang-hlle-carbon-related.1036402/


Have a nice day!

My apologies. i more than likely misread the intent behind your post. i'll definitely investigate the link provided and appreciate the insight.
Again, sorry if i ruffled any feathers.

 

[Dburr1014]

My apologies. i more than likely misread the intent behind your post. i'll definitely investigate the link provided and appreciate the insight.
Again, sorry if i ruffled any feathers.

No worries.... At all, really.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I used it in my tank when my nitrates were around 100. After a few weeks of use, they got down to a more manageable level.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

just curious, i've read a correlation between GAC and HLLE in Tangs.
Any possibility that there is truth to this?

This has been shown to have strong correlation in two studies; one that I did and one published a month earlier by Disney. Here is a synopsis of my paper:

Head and Lateral Line Erosion (HLLE)

This article discusses studies performed regarding head and lateral line erosion in captive fishes. Specifically, carbon use and nutrition as they relate to this syndrome.

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

this is what i've always found as well. The key word being "possible".
i'm looking to conclusively put tthis to rest.

It is seemingly true that GAC can sometimes contribute to HLLE. I recommend ROX 0.8.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

In freshwater cichlids, FHLLE is caused by parasites and malnutrition. Maybe there is similarities for saltwater too.

Correct, with cichlids, HLLE is caused by flagellates, Hexamita/Spironucleous. I've always been able to control with with oral metronidazole (if caught early enough). However, back in the 80's we took a deep dive into this at a public aquarium I worked at and found that while we could find similar flagellates in the guts of marine fish (they seem to be normal gut fauna and only cause disease when their numbers increase) metronidazole never seemed to stop the progression of this in marine fish.

There is a related syndrome known as "epithelial thinning" that is seen in freshwater and brackish fish, where the skin on the head just gets thin. This seems to be related to heavy metal ions in the water.