spsfreak 
Copepod
Posts:22
 | | 03/20/2007 3:51 PM |
| I am just wondering what everyone else thinks about the use of activated carbon. I have always seemed to have the most success when I ran carbon 24/7/365 and changed it out on a monthly basis. I know that some people only recommend to use it 3 or so days at a time. I have read in some places that carbon strips too many of your nutrients and in others that it really doesn't do anything but remove coloring agents. So what is the feel here? Scott | | | |
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DalaiTom
ReefChat Staff
Goby
Posts:119
North Central Texas
| | 03/20/2007 5:17 PM |
| | I have run carbon 24/7 in the past. I am not currently using carbon but most certainly will again sometime in the future. When I do so, I will run it 24/7... until I feel the carbon is used up. | |
May you all be well and happy.
210 mixed reef with 90 gallon sump/fuge
22 gallon frag tank
20 gallon Mantis tank | |
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spsfreak
Copepod
Posts:22
| | 03/20/2007 5:23 PM |
| | I totally agree with you. I just see so many positives when I run carbon 24/7. Never really seen negatives at all. | | | |
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Serk
Chromis
Posts:55
Rowlett, TX
| | 03/20/2007 6:16 PM |
| ESPECIALLY if you're running a mixed reef (Softies + SPS) IMHO carbon, changed frequently, is mandatory...
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Brian
150G Oceanic RR up since 9/2000
2x10G display refuguims
55G display refuguim
20G Anemone tank
2x50g Anemone Prop System
---Never ask a geek "Why?", just nod your head and slowly back away...
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Glenn
ReefChat Staff
Goby
Posts:141
Keller, Texas
| | 03/20/2007 9:13 PM |
| The thing about running carbon 24/7-365 is when you don't change the carbon it becomes a nitrate factory
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5y5tem 0verload
ReefChat Staff
Goby
Posts:114
Fort Worth, TX
| | 03/21/2007 4:31 AM |
| | I've always run it 24/7, but probably wasn't changing it out as often as I should. I now use 1 cup of media in the reactor and change it out weekly at the same time I change my phosban. | |
Click my image for a graphed history.
Come Chat with Us! | |
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Glenn
ReefChat Staff
Goby
Posts:141
Keller, Texas
| | 03/21/2007 8:17 AM |
| | That is a good plan Jeremy, How often do you change your phoban stuff | |
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slallen
ReefChat Staff
Moray
Posts:301
Flower Mound, TX
| | 03/21/2007 8:55 AM |
| | That reminds me. Time to change mine out. Probably should find PhosBan in bulk somewhere and save a few bucks. | |
Click my stats for a graphed history.
Come Chat with Us! | |
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Glenn
ReefChat Staff
Goby
Posts:141
Keller, Texas
| | 03/21/2007 9:19 AM |
| | been told Rowa is the best, anyone seen any info on this | |
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spsfreak
Copepod
Posts:22
| | 03/21/2007 4:21 PM |
| | so do any of you guys actually use a phosphate reactor? Ive never used one, and have heard they are really pretty good. | | | |
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Glenn
ReefChat Staff
Goby
Posts:141
Keller, Texas
| | 03/21/2007 6:43 PM |
| | yes i have one, thinking about getting a second or a third | |
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5y5tem 0verload
ReefChat Staff
Goby
Posts:114
Fort Worth, TX
| | 03/21/2007 7:15 PM |
| | I've got 2 phosphate reactors. One with Carbon and one with Phosphate media. I've got a total of 250G of water. I use 1 cup of carbon and 6 heaping table spoons of phosphate media. I change the media out weekly in both. The phosphate media that I'm using now I got for free in a raffle. It's called PHOSaR HC by Reef Pure. I like it alot. I noticed a significant reduction in nusicence algae after the 2nd to 3rd week. I have a large bucket of TLF Phosban that'll I'll be using after this small Reef Pure container is gone. | |
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Come Chat with Us! | |
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spsfreak
Copepod
Posts:22
| | 03/21/2007 8:03 PM |
| I think I am gonna order one. Is there any reason why I couldn't add carbon and rowaphos or the like in the same reactor? It seems like it would be completely fine, but I wanted to make sure. I didn't realize they were so cheap. It's rare to find something so cheap in reef supplies lol. | | | |
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Glenn
ReefChat Staff
Goby
Posts:141
Keller, Texas
| | 03/21/2007 8:11 PM |
| | you can as long as your changing them out on a regular basis. Carbon will be used up faster than the rowapphos. | |
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aiko670
Copepod
Posts:24
| | 03/21/2007 9:48 PM |
| I run them in separate reactors. I change the phosban monthly and the carbon every two weeks. I don't think running them in the same reactor would work well. You don't need a lot of flow for the phosban if you tumble it too much it breaks up and gets in to the tank.
I would never run a tank with out carbon and like serk said it's a necessity in a mixed reef. Softy's don't play well with SPS! | |
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Aquadude
Copepod
Posts:18
| | 03/22/2007 9:44 AM |
| | I use carbon. As others have stated, the tank looks better with activated carbon. I use two Two Little Fishes reactors, one for my Ultralith rocks and the other for carbon. I run about 2 cups on my 100 gallon volume and change it monthly. | |
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RCBruce
Copepod
Posts:24
Baton Rouge Louisiana
| | 09/04/2007 9:28 AM |
| WOW. First week here and already getting good ideas for my next project. Never thought of putting my carbon in a reactor. I always used media bags in my sump. I am a firm believer in carbon. I am curious about everyone changing phosphate media on a regular schedule. Is this about when you see phosphate levels rising, or is it just convieniant to change on a regular schedule? | |
http://www.reefchat.org/Ron | |
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slallen
ReefChat Staff
Moray
Posts:301
Flower Mound, TX
| | 09/04/2007 3:58 PM |
| | I think it varies. For me it is jus more convieniant. In some cases you may want to even change it out more frequently. We have one member that was changing it every 3 days or so to assist with a problem he was having. Keep in mind when measuring, with phosphate test kits there are two types. I forget which one it is that the kits do not measure. So you could still have a phosphate problem and no be able to measure it. | |
Click my stats for a graphed history.
Come Chat with Us! | |
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RCBruce
Copepod
Posts:24
Baton Rouge Louisiana
| | 09/05/2007 6:09 AM |
| So how do you know if you have a phosphate problem if it can't be tested? I have no red slime or hair algae. (of course I have a mimic lemonpeel tang that thinks hair algae is caviar) | |
http://www.reefchat.org/Ron | |
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Ashlar
ReefChat Staff
Goby
Posts:144
| | 09/05/2007 3:44 PM |
| Organiphosphates are the one that can't be tested without a $400 test kit (or access to a lab.) It's so expensive becasue there are 10-15 different reagents because of all the different forms it can take.
Every tank has phosphates- it's one of the basic building blocks of life- Carbon, Nitrogen (nitrate), and Phosphorous (phosphate). You run into trouble when you have phosphates that aren't being taken up out of the water as fast as they are introduced. (testing positive for phosphates)
Even if you test zero for phosphates, if you have cyano, bryopsis, or other nuisance species, a phosphate absorbing media can help starve these nuisance species. | |
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