Activated carbon in your reef

Tommy's Reef · Apr 9, 2018

Which brand do you use?
Are you using a reactor?

LEOreefer · Apr 9, 2018

BRS carbon rox 8.0
And I use it with a BRS dual reactor with carbon and GFO

CMO · Apr 9, 2018

Tried both rox 0.8 and Triton carbon. I prefer the larger size of Triton carbon. It doesn't get embedded in the sponges of the reactor like rox which is messy and annoying to me.

120reefkeeper · Apr 9, 2018

Aquaforest carbon. I also prefer the larger size in a reactor. Works great and the price is right! [emoji6]

Mark Derail · Apr 9, 2018

Somebody clear this up for me. Why use AC at all? I started this DT in Aug 2017, mixed reef, 50g DT and 35g sump.

I don't see a need for AC - I have plenty live rocks in DT and in sump. Also cheato over miracle mud (live mud) in one of the chambers. A skimmer rated for 200g (why so big? I broke it in the store and had to buy it and repair it). I clean the skimmer twice a week, gunk gets thick. Lots of coraline and green algea on glass, though sump makes a difference.

This combined with the "cure all" biweekly large WC (usually 40 gallons).

If I wanted near-zero WCs and more automation, I would consider it. Right now, it seems easier for me to simply burn through 65$ of salt mix every second month.

I thought the only point of carbon would be the make the water clearer.

Since I consider myself now being a "3" on the "10" scale of being a pro-reefer, please chime in guys. Much appreciated.

120reefkeeper · Apr 9, 2018

Think of Carbon as a chemical sponge, corals play chemical warfare in order to compete for more space or food or whatever it is that corals consider to be threats, carbon removes many of these chemicals that other forms of filtration can not. As with any sponge, it can only absorb so much, hence changing it is part of the maintenance if you use it. It also makes the water clear for better light penetration.

Tommy's Reef · Apr 9, 2018

120reefkeeper said:
Think of Carbon as a chemical sponge, corals play chemical warfare in order to compete for more space or food or whatever it is that corals consider to be threats, carbon removes many of these chemicals that other forms of filtration can not. As with any sponge, it can only absorb so much, hence changing it is part of the maintenance if you use it. It also makes the water clear for better light penetration.

Thanks guys.
This is the reason I am going to start using it again, I have a bunch of high end zoas, and half close up or shrivel up. No deathes. Just not opening correctly. And I haven't used carbon in 7 months or so, so I feel there is something in the water they don't like possibly, and carbon can help get it out? I used in the past Marineland carbon for my reef. I'm looking for something better though, I use aquaforest salt so imm try there carbon.

Tennsquire · Apr 10, 2018

I've used Seachem Matrix Carbon for years and have been happy with it.

Greybeard · Apr 10, 2018

White bucket test... or, in my case, big white slushy cup test.

Fill a white container, or clear container sitting on a white surface, with tank water, you need 10" or so of depth, look from the top down, and compare to fresh tap water.

If the bottom of the cup looks yellow, you need carbon

I end up running a cup or two of cheap GAC in my BRS reactor for a few days once a month or so.

Water changes can eliminate the need, but skimmers won't, and macro algaes can make the problem worse.

This doesn't address the 'chemical warfare' aspect... I've heard the theory, and don't necessarily disbelieve it, but my own experiences don't really back it up, either.

mtraylor · Apr 10, 2018

BRS carbon rox 8.0 in a reactor 24/7 365.

Greenstreet.1 · Apr 10, 2018

Esv ran at all times changed once a month

DSC reef · Apr 11, 2018

We've been using red seas reef spec carbon. So far so good, very clean. No reactor, just a bag in the sump.

Lonely reefer's · Apr 11, 2018

Mark Derail said:
Somebody clear this up for me. Why use AC at all? I started this DT in Aug 2017, mixed reef, 50g DT and 35g sump.

I don't see a need for AC - I have plenty live rocks in DT and in sump. Also cheato over miracle mud (live mud) in one of the chambers. A skimmer rated for 200g (why so big? I broke it in the store and had to buy it and repair it). I clean the skimmer twice a week, gunk gets thick. Lots of coraline and green algea on glass, though sump makes a difference.

This combined with the "cure all" biweekly large WC (usually 40 gallons).

If I wanted near-zero WCs and more automation, I would consider it. Right now, it seems easier for me to simply burn through 65$ of salt mix every second month.

I thought the only point of carbon would be the make the water clearer.

Since I consider myself now being a "3" on the "10" scale of being a pro-reefer, please chime in guys. Much appreciated.

+1 I see no different in my tank if you keep with wc I stop using it many years ago
Lest is more IMO

NS Mike D · Apr 11, 2018

120reefkeeper said:
Think of Carbon as a chemical sponge, corals play chemical warfare in order to compete for more space or food or whatever it is that corals consider to be threats, carbon removes many of these chemicals that other forms of filtration can not. As with any sponge, it can only absorb so much, hence changing it is part of the maintenance if you use it. It also makes the water clear for better light penetration.

^ for this reason, i view it like insurance.