Activated carbon

[Madonia]

Hi guys. I put some activated carbon into a media bag and put it in my tank last night.

what are the pros/cons of activated carbon in a reef tank?

anybody experience great results with regard to water clarity?

any horrible results after addition of carbon?

how much to use in a 32gallon biocube? (No dosing instruction)

theory on activated carbon removing important trace elements- true or false?

thanks!

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

Welcome to R2R! I've had good luck with activated carbon helping to create crystal-clear water. I've never had any issues as long as I use high quality carbon. I dose trace elements and aminos/carbohydrates, so I can't comment on it removing good stuff.

 

[Madonia]

I was told that there isn’t a need to dose trace elements if you use ‘all inclusive’ salts such as Red Sea- is this true?

 

[zoalander1]

I was told that there isn’t a need to dose trace elements if you use ‘all inclusive’ salts such as Red Sea- is this true?

Yes and no?? higher quality salt could have more trace elements than others. The rule is if you don't test for it, don't add it. I wouldn't focus on adding elements right now if your starting out. Focus on keeping up with water changes and watch how your corals react day to day. learn what they look like when they are happy. Try to keep your tank as consistent as possible. As time passes you might begin to notice things aren't looking as happy or maybe are not growing as fast. Then I would start testing things to see if your lacking in something.

 

[ScottR]

I was told that there isn’t a need to dose trace elements if you use ‘all inclusive’ salts such as Red Sea- is this true?

Most salts replenish all the trace and major elements but as a tank grows (corals and other inhabitants) your need for replenishment is greater. Many people do zero water changes or don’t change frequently so they need to dose what was lost or used.

 

[Madonia]

Most salts replenish all the trace and major elements but as a tank grows (corals and other inhabitants) your need for replenishment is greater. Many people do zero water changes or don’t change frequently so they need to dose what was lost or used.

But where does it go when it’s ‘lost’?
I understand corals utilize elements, but aside from that, is there a major area of escape for trace elements that come in the salts that we use?

 

[DangerDave]

But where does it go when it’s ‘lost’?
I understand corals utilize elements, but aside from that, is there a major area of escape for trace elements that come in the salts that we use?

It’s not really lost. It’s being taken up and used by the coral to grow, and stored in the coral and it’s skeleton.

 

[Madonia]

And for the most part, there’s not a salt on the market that has enough trace elements to sustain a mature reef without dosing additives?

 

[Madonia]

And for the most part, there’s not a salt on the market that has enough trace elements to sustain a mature reef without dosing additives?

Until, at least, the next water change...perhaps every 2 weeks?

 

[Madonia]

Yes and no?? higher quality salt could have more trace elements than others. The rule is if you don't test for it, don't add it. I wouldn't focus on adding elements right now if your starting out. Focus on keeping up with water changes and watch how your corals react day to day. learn what they look like when they are happy. Try to keep your tank as consistent as possible. As time passes you might begin to notice things aren't looking as happy or maybe are not growing as fast. Then I would start testing things to see if your lacking in something.

What trace elements..and what salt...do you use?

 

[ScottR]

But where does it go when it’s ‘lost’?
I understand corals utilize elements, but aside from that, is there a major area of escape for trace elements that come in the salts that we use?

I’m not good at explaining this stuff but here’s an article on precipitation in our tanks and why.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-07/rhf/index.php

 

[ScottR]

It’s not really lost. It’s being taken up and used by the coral to grow, and stored in the coral and it’s skeleton.

Also invertebrates, algae, and other creatures will use these elements as well. Even if we don’t keep corals, these same elements would eventually get used up. Not as quickly but there must be some form of replenishment.

 

[BeejReef]

Think of it like taking a multivitamin. It's not life or death.
In the beginning, with a handful of frags, it's no concern whatsoever using a quality salt.
If anything, you'd be much more likely to deplete a trace element aggressively running a refugium during the first 6 mo to a year. ICP tests have gotten pretty cheap. If you want to be methodical, send one in after your tank has been up for a month and send another at the six month mark. A lot of us (me.. lol) didn't have the foresight to get a baseline reading on a new setup.

 

[Sabina]

I like using activated carbon. Just happened to finish a video about it. Maybe it can help

 

[saltyhog]

I've been using GAC in a reactor for about 8 years. I've been running it 24/7 (due to a toxic strain of dinos) for over a year and changing it often. My ICP test has shown normal amounts of trace elements without any dosing. I do 25 gallon water changes in an approximately 160 gallon total water volume every two weeks or so.

 

[ScottR]

I've been using GAC in a reactor for about 8 years. I've been running it 24/7 (due to a toxic strain of dinos) for over a year and changing it often. My ICP test has shown normal amounts of trace elements without any dosing. I do 25 gallon water changes in an approximately 160 gallon total water volume every two weeks or so.

Out of curiosity, what strain do you have? I’ve had before and each strain had different effects.

 

[Eleni18]

I love activated carbon. I always have a mesh bag with it in my skimmer's media chamber, no reactor. I think it does a great job keeping the water really clear and removing all sorts of potential nastiness.

 

[saltyhog]

Out of curiosity, what strain do you have? I’ve had before and each strain had different effects.

Yikes, what strain have I not had!

Actually I've only had ostreopsis and amphidinium in this tank (coolia in my nano). Amphidinium isn't a problem in my tank, just makes the sand look bad. Ostreopsis on the other hand killed almost all my SPS. It was seemingly most toxic as it was dying. Even though I haven't been able to see any evidence when just looking at the tank for quite a while, I will occasionally see a couple of cells when I look at a slide of my biofilm (usually off my MP40 cover) and if I don't change my carbon fairly often my SPS get stressed.

 

[ScottR]

Yikes, what strain have I not had!

Actually I've only had ostreopsis and amphidinium in this tank (coolia in my nano). Amphidinium isn't a problem in my tank, just makes the sand look bad. Ostreopsis on the other hand killed almost all my SPS. It was seemingly most toxic as it was dying. Even though I haven't been able to see any evidence when just looking at the tank for quite a while, I will occasionally see a couple of cells when I look at a slide of my biofilm (usually off my MP40 cover) and if I don't change my carbon fairly often my SPS get stressed.

Osteoporosis has killed a few nests of mine Been there, done that.