Carbon use 24/7 good or bad?

[Tybond]

I have put a carbon filter on my reef for the first time in it's life due to yellow water and am considering running it full time.

Can I run the carbon 24/7 changing it out with fresh carbon each month?

I have a magnum 350 and set it up to only run the carbon container without any filter sleeve. I figure the filter sleeve might cause problems I just don't want.

Anyone else run carbon on their reef full time??

Thnkx
ty

 

[chris_alvarez]

Aloha! 8)

:arrow: Yes, you may use the carbon 24 hours 7 days a week I recommend using 36 ounces of carbon per 50 gallons of salt water. Countinues of use is fine and it is what is recommend. 8O However, choosing the right carbon is important. Mysterious ailments in fishes, such as head and lateral line errotion sometimes linked with activated carbon. :twisted: Since some carbon are very porous substrate nitrifying and denitryfying bacteria will quickly will colonize it. If you use large amount of carbon, replacing all of it every 6 months or so, could affect the denitryfication potential of the aquarium when little substrate is use. It's better to replace 30% with new carbon and rinse the remaining 70% with sea water. Good luck! :evil:

 

[Osama]

In my 180g reef that has been uo for 2 years; I only use carbon for 3-4 days only when I am moving stuff around, fragging, cutting etc. to remove any noxious elements that may be generated by the defensive mechanism of the animals. Continuous use of carbon could deplete trace elements faster and you would need to keep an eye on your chemistryto replenish such elements via adding trace elements and or more frequent water chnges

 

[SPC]

I run it in my reef 24/7.
Steve

 

[Joe Kelley]

24/7 8O

 

[esmithiii]

I run mine a month on and then a month off.

Ernie

 

[Tybond]

Thanks so much for the replies!

I might try 1 month on, 1 month off to start.

Also thanks for the heads up on choosing carbon.

What brand do you guys use?

I guess I figured Carbon was Carbon??

ty

 

[Marcosreef]

I use Two Little Fishies Hydrocarbon. Also Kent Marine's Reef Carbon is very good. You can't go wrong with either IMHO. Regards, Marco

 

[SPC]

Ty, I use Black Diamond by Marineland.
Steve

 

[Anonymous]

What Steve said. Sometimes I run it for a week and out for a couple. Basically I am inconsistenet with it. Black Diamond is one of th better brands.

 

[Tybond]

Thanks guys!

I'm off to the LFS!

I appreciate all the help and info you guys/gals share with others.

Ty

 

[slojmn1]

I tend to run it for 4-5 days at a time when I think of it or when I am doing a lot in the tank and feel it could use the "cleaning". I have read mixed opinions about the length of time it is recommended to run it. Some say 24/7 others say just a few days at a time. See what works best for you

 

[sally1]

For those of you who are running carbon 24/7...how often do you change the carbon and put in fresh carbon. Thanks.

 

[TopNotch]

Chemi-pure 24/7. Replace every 4 months

 

[SPC]

Once a month for me Sally.
Steve

 

[Mouse]

24/7, but i hate to do it. Its just that ive decided to go skimmerless recently and i wanted a safety net. But considering i was using a Seaclone i dont suppose ive actually affected the systems running that much by removing it. :wink:

 

[geo]

I run 8 ounces of black diamond in a magnum HOT filter (sounds like a marineland plug). I am using 400 watt iwasakis and if it is not in there the tank will look yellow. FWIW the "regent" brand carbon at wal mart is the same thing as black diamond and a bit cheaper.

 

[danmhippo]

Chemipure. I use it whenever I see water turning yellow-----ish.

 

[Tybond]

Thanks for the heads up geo!

I noticed a lot of similarities between regent and the magnum and emporer series. I will check out the carbon. (wonder if their the same company in a round about way)

Ty

 

[geo]

sure is, made by marineland, packaged for wal mart.