GFO question

[Sdoutreefer]

So I run GFO in my system and have been reading up on others who also run it, and it seems most everyone runs carbon with it. Is this something I should be doing? I dont 100% understand the use of carbon other than it makes the water very clear.

 

[m88a2]

it does that and also helps absorb some unwanted chemicals that may have leached into your system. As for if it's "needed" it all depends on the many factors of your tank. recently i have drasticly cut the amount of Activated Carbon/GFO and it has done wonders for my tank. Best to not use enough and add more later than too much and watch corals melt. Nowadays I tend to run less amount wise and control the flow threw the media until I get desired results

 

[AZDesertRat]

I run carbon and GFO in separate reactors. They have different useful lives and different flow requirements so its best not to mix them together or you end up throwing one away before it is exhausted or stretching one out past its useful life. Carbon works by adsorbtion nor absorption, just a friendly FYI I learned recently myself.

 

[Sdoutreefer]

So is running carbon a necesity? Im new to using reactors. Upgraded from a 12g nanocube... I did run chemi pure elite in a media basket tho. Is running CPE a better idea than running GFO+Carbon? Or is it completely different?