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DVadar 
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Joined: October 29 2002
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 Topic: Activated Carbon
Posted: March 24 2003 at 10:38am |
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Just wondering if anyone is using activated carbon in their tank. I use about 3 oz. of it, changed every month in my tank.
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Sarnack
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Joined: August 20 2002
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Posted: March 24 2003 at 2:07pm |
I run carbon 24/7 in the output of my skimmer. About 2 cups in a mesh bag, changed every month or two.
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John Fletcher
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Posted: March 24 2003 at 2:17pm |
I just started using it in my reef tank, about 2 cups also in a mesh bag.
John Fletcher "ReefAquarist"
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sjlopez39
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Posted: March 24 2003 at 8:42pm |
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My Emporer filter has compartments where I place 2 cartridges containing activated carbon. Though the activated carbon only remains activated for mabe 3 weeks at best I only change the filters out roughly every month and a half. Originally I was just trying to be frugal. Julian Sprung mentioned in his lecture to the WMAS that you shouldn't run activated carbon all of the time in a reef aquarium.
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Keep your hands and arms inside the tank and enjoy the ride!
Steve
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jfinch
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Posted: March 24 2003 at 9:47pm |
I've use GAC when the water clarity suffers. It does a good job clearing the water column.
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Mark Peterson
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Posted: March 25 2003 at 4:52pm |
Here is my understanding of the subject gleaned from all the WMAS guest speakers over the last 8 years.
Activated Carbon, Protein Skimming, and Algae Scrubbing (algae growing in the sump) all do essentially the same thing. They take organic molecules/compounds out of the water.
The reason we use skimming is that it is cheaper than carbon and does not color the water as does algae scrubbing (depending on the type of algae)!
The reason we use algae scrubbing is it is more fun than carbon or skimming, but is does leave a slight yellow-green color most people don't even notice.
Carbon used 24/7 is not wise. It strips the water of so many nutrients that it has been linked to lateral line disease in fish.
Mark's 2 cents
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jfinch
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Posted: March 25 2003 at 5:34pm |
Even if you don't mind the slight yellow-green tint in the water, your lights will deliver more "photons" to your corals with crystal clear water.
There are aquariasts who claim to use carbon 24/7 without problems (devils advocate again :) ). I don't because I think it's a waste of money. Then again Mark could be right...
If you inject ozone in your skimmer, you should, imo, always run the skimmer effluent through a carbon bed.
Jon's 2 cents
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Flaz
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Posted: March 25 2003 at 6:22pm |
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I run about a cup of Activated Carbon for several days each month, mainly because I don't like the looks of yellow water....
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Jeff Hite
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Posted: April 02 2003 at 5:23pm |
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I run carbon for about 24 hours at a time twice a month. Get rid of that yellow tint and lets the light penetrate the water better.
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ewaldsreef
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Posted: April 05 2003 at 3:04pm |
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I am planning on running a seperate cansiter filter for carbon and running it on a timmer so it only runs about 50% of the time. I dont know how well this will work but I will find out.
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