Should I add carbon to my filter?

[Nanorock1970]

So first off, I know the eyes are rolling. Not using a sump but a canister filter but everything has been running well for a year and a half with little issue. I make sure to rinse out my filter media pads every other water change in salt water.

So the question is I have in the top chamber just filter media(filter pad) second chamber I am using Boyd Enterprises ABE16743 Chemi-Pure Elite for Aquarium, 11.74-Ounce. I have also added seachem purigen (100ml) to this tray and also filter pad. In the last chamber I have Seachem matrix 500 ml with filter pad on top.

Oh 56 Gal tank if you have not been on my tank build.

Just starting to move from a FOWLR tank to mixed reef softie tank. I have had some Zoas for about a year and now I am adding some mushrooms, currently two frags I just put in 3 weeks ago.

Other things to note. Nitrate hovers 5-10 PPM. Not running a skimmer. I change 5 gal of water a week.

1. Should I add some sort of carbon to my filter
2. How much should I add if so
3. Keep it in all the time or for some sort of maintenance cycle (I have seen something where folks put it in for a week out of the month)

Thanks in advanced....Not Sure if this was the thread for this or chemistry or IDK....

 

[Webslinger]

i run carbon maybe once a month for a few days

 

[X-37B]

I did not run carbon for the first 8 months on my tank.
I now run 1 cup rox 0.8 in a small reactor on my 120.
My water has never been clearer.
Big difference.

 

[Phycodurus]

i don’t run a slimmer either & i also use a canister filter for the sake of holding/running chemipure. i believe activated carbon is already a component of chemipure elite but i see no harm in adding a small mesh bag of straight activated carbon in that chamber periodically to polish the water.

your nitrates are at a reasonable level IMHO. i wouldn’t go trying to lower them further.

i follow marc levenson’s recommendation of 1/2 cup per 50G. adjust the ratio accordingly.

 

[Nanorock1970]

i don’t run a slimmer either & i also use a canister filter for the sake of holding/running chemipure. i believe activated carbon is already a component of chemipure elite but i see no harm in adding a small mesh bag of straight activated carbon in that chamber periodically to polish the water.

your nitrates are at a reasonable level IMHO. i wouldn’t go trying to lower them further.

i follow marc levenson’s recommendation of 1/2 cup per 50G. adjust the ratio accordingly.

I guess part of the question is the potential for “chemical warfare” in my tank now that I am adding softies to it. I feel my tank is fairly clear or nothing that I can tell. I have reef friends say it is very clear for the setup I have. Anyone have some further in-site? I’m up for adding it but more of should I be doing it because I’m adding coral that I have not had in my tank till now.

 

[Phycodurus]

i’m aware of the chemical warfare aspect but i think that’s primarily softies vs. LPS/SPS corals rather than among different types of softies.

sounds like yr tank is very stable. thumbs up!