Carbon in Reef tank?

[diver0077]

I have heard and read different opinions on putting carbon in your filter on a reef tank. Is it good to do or not? I am currently using it in my 29 gal. reef tank.

 

[fungia]

i use it with no problems. some people say it causes lateral line disease but i never see it or read any science about it. carbon does a very good job taking out the yellow in my water.

 

[investigator1]

I run carbon 24/7 in my nano because it is subject to unseen extremes, and I have leather corals.

 

[kanapino]

It depneds on where you put it and what you plan to use it for. In a filter, with a high flow rate, I wouldn't put it in there for more than 3 weeks to remove some organics and toxins that corals like to give off.

But if you want to like I do, as a food source for denitrifiying bacteria(those in the process of nitrate to nitrogen) put it in a slow flow area of your sump and let the biofilm develop. The bacteria will then use the carbon as a food source in doing the nitrate to nitrogen process. But this must be a very porous carbon, like the one from Julian at Two Little Fishes.

Yes, leaching can occur this is why I have three bags and every 5 to 6 months I change one bag and put new carbon in it.

Brian

 

[Brandon1]

It depneds on where you put it and what you plan to use it for. In a filter, with a high flow rate, I wouldn't put it in there for more than 3 weeks to remove some organics and toxins that corals like to give off.

But if you want to like I do, as a food source for denitrifiying bacteria(those in the process of nitrate to nitrogen) put it in a slow flow area of your sump and let the biofilm develop. The bacteria will then use the carbon as a food source in doing the nitrate to nitrogen process. But this must be a very porous carbon, like the one from Julian at Two Little Fishes.

Yes, leaching can occur this is why I have three bags and every 5 to 6 months I change one bag and put new carbon in it.

Brian

Interesting. I havent heard this. Where did you get this idea? How do you know it works? Does anyone else agree or disagree?

 

[kanapino]

It's not my idea. The idea is about 15 zears old or so.

It is the same system presented and still used by those following the method from Peter Wilkens. He was doing it that way for at least 15 years or so.

That's why I said the carbon must be porous and comes from Two Little Fishes because Julian is the American distributor of the carbon developed by Peter Wilkens.

Brian

 

[Anonymous]

I'm a bit confused by some of this. As far as I understand, nitrate is only converted to nitrogen in a low oxygen environment--a substrate as small and as porous as activated carbon wouldn't achieve this. Also, as far as I know activated carbon is simply elemental carbon; I don't know what bacteria could use this as a food source, and why it would be necessary to achieve these results.

Do you have any books or articles you've seen this written in? This all seems very interesting.

 

[kanapino]

As far as I understand, nitrate is only converted to nitrogen in a low oxygen environment

That's right. That's why I said in the sump or filter chamber where the flowrate is really slow(only applies to former). If you put enough bags of carbon on top of eachother the upper layers will eat up the oxygen(oxic environment) and the lower layers will be in a zone of low or no oxygen(anoxic).

If I explain exactly how I use I think most on this board would flip out. But I'll do it anyway. First, I use a trickle filter system with the infamous bioballs, this is my oxic or oxygen rich zone. This is followed by my zone of carbon bags. This is my zone of anoxic or low to no oxygen zone. Here is where the nitrate is converted to nitrogen gas. The added advantage by using carbon is a food source for the bacteria because neither the zone will function for denitrification without a source of carbon.

But this can also work in another area of the tank where there is a low flowrate, such as a corner in the sump.

I think Peter Wilkens wrote about this in his first book? I will call him tonight and ask him where he wrote it and then I write more about it tomorrow.


Brian

 

[diver0077]

The reason I questioned it is that some say that it would nullify any mineral additives. Is this true?

 

[kanapino]

The reason I questioned it is that some say that it would nullify any mineral additives. Is this true?

Yes, it will reduce but not nulify some trace elements. I anyway am adding every week Coral San or Combi San I vary this from time to time. I think Julian just sells the Combi San in the states. I know I can?t even get Coral San here in Switzerland I get it in Franc and of course over connections here.

By the way, to continue with yesterday about what book it was written in Unfortunately it wasn't detailled in the second book from Peter Wilkens with activated carbon but the prinicples of reduction are good documented. It is written about in an earlier magazine called "Das Aquarium" in German by a researcher. As soon as I find it and get it I will try to post it here translated as a link to the pdf.

Brian

 

[diver0077]

thanks