Activated Carbon

[Erich T.]

Hello All ,
Just got my 90g tank up and running. Any downside to using activated carbon in the sump? Will it remove beneficial minerals etc from the water? Using Tropic Marin Pro Reef Salt.

 

[PharmrJohn]

Yes, running carbon can deplete the system of trace elements and minerals. I'd only run carbon if there was a specific need for it. Are you considering it as a filtration method? Or did you put a raw shrimp in the tank to start the cycle and it smells bad?

 

[cloak]

You can probably achieve the same results without it.

Is the water yellow in that white bucket?

 

[Erich T.]

Water is fine right now. About 3 months old. Dry rock and sand. No algae.... Dr, Tims and Fritz... Thanks...6 fish...1 anemone...1 Clam

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I don’t think GAC is going to cause any noticeable effect in trace elements relative to other sources and sinks. I recommend a good quality material such as ROX 0.8 run 24/7.

I don’t think it binds trace elements directly to any significant degree. It binds organics and some organics have bound metals. The same effect relates to skimming.

 

[vcnt]

Water is fine right now. About 3 months old. Dry rock and sand. No algae.... Dr, Tims and Fritz... Thanks...6 fish...1 anemone...1 Clam

A nem in a 3 month old tank? Hows that doing>

 

[Stacykirk88]

Yes, running carbon can deplete the system of trace elements and minerals. I'd only run carbon if there was a specific need for it. Are you considering it as a filtration method? Or did you put a raw shrimp in the tank to start the cycle and it smells bad?

Question my tank is 6 months old, 75 gal with a sump, filter socks and a skimmer. Recently the water has started smelling like what skimmer detrius smells like. I have noticed some cyano or black algae popping up in one corner(I siphons some out but there's still some there) but also Coraline is starting to form. I do a water change every 2 to 3 weeks of 15 gallons. Is the smell normal or is it due to overfeeding or lack of circulation? I don't have any power heads yet just the two returns. Parameters are: PH 8.2, Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0, and Nitrate is 80. I know Nitrate is high so I am dropping down my feeding. All I have is an API kit my phos and nitrate Hanna testers got chewed up by my dads dog and I haven't replaced them yet. Any advice would be helpful all fish, inverts and corals( softies and a gsp) all doing ok.

 

[PharmrJohn]

Well, sounds like there's a specific need. My wife would REQUIRE me to run carbon. And I'd do so. Check out the thread Randy's thoughts on trace elements. It's a great overview on the subject.

 

[Spare time]

Imo every tank should run either bituminous or rox carbon.

 

[Pod_01]

I believe too much GAC may not be a good thing. I run 2 tablespoons per 60 gal in a filter cup and change every 4 weeks.

 

[Erich T.]

A nem in a 3 month old tank? Hows that doing>

The Nem is doing just fine. Thanks