How long does it take for activated carbon to clarify tank?

[arking_mark]

Has anyone ever tracked how fast a carbon can clarify a cloudy/discolored tank?

I'm using 32oz of Rox 0.8 activated carbon on a 105gal system through a reactor with roughly 120gal/hr flow.

 

[Timfish]

I can't say I've ever timed it but I expect GAC to at least make a noticable difference overnight, say 12 hours. There are variables and depending on what's making it cloudy GAC may not have any impact.

 

[outhouse]

depends on why the tank is cloudy to begin with. fixing this issue first should be priority before using carbon.

 

[arking_mark]

depends on why the tank is cloudy to begin with. fixing this issue first should be priority before using carbon.

The tank is 9 months old and only uses roller mat and a part-time skimmer.

Looking through it lengthwise, it seems to be less than clear with a slight off white tint.

It also seems to have quite a bit of floating dust. This may be due to the DSB (Figi Pink), sand sifting gobies, and 50x tank flow.

I was thinking about getting a UV sterilizer to help with clarification but thought I see how well activated carbon would help.

 

[Ranjib]

Carbon should do its magic within 12 -48 hrs at max

 

[arking_mark]

Carbon should do its magic within 12 -48 hrs at max

Thanks.

 

[outhouse]

Yep agreed, throw some carbon at it

 

[homer1475]

I add fresh carbon when the tanks starts to get that low tide smell, and starts to get that yellow tint to the water. I run rox 0.8 in a reactor @ 1tbs per 10G. I can visually see it getting clearer in a few hours, and the low tide smell is gone by 24 hours.