25 years and counting and never an issue using carbon. I run small quantities 24/7/365 and change it when I remember.
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No I have not heard this. If your water is so dirty that running carbon allows that much extra light suddenly that it's bleaching your corals then I suggest you up your WC schedule.See that is why I heard that it kills Zoanthids and Chalices.
It makes the water Less Yellow allowing more Light Killing these two types of Corals.
I have also heard that the reason was that the Carbon pulled the good stuff out of the water too as well as the bad.
And that Zoas and Chalices like "Dirty" water hence killing them from Carbon.
Have you guys heard this as well?
And per your other post too much light won't kill zoas, just makes them shrink down tiny.
Carbon does make the water super clean but that won't kill them, just make them not grow very fast.
However nutrient stripping can occur if you let the water get real dirty then dump the whole jar of carbon in the tank instantly taking it all out of the water. You can do the same thing with GFO and that will kill softies quick.
And yes acans, zoas and chalices like a tank with a tiny bit of phosphates and nitrates in it. But having none of any won't kill them. And your other corals like stony ones HATE phosphates and nitrates. So it's better to have none.
This is my tank. 90% softies.
The rest acros and montis.
Everything is loving life. 0 nitrates 0 phosphates and over skimmed big time. And I have a GFO reactor running around the clock.
Did you not use it because you were worried about negative effects from using it?
The color and clarity in your tank is amazing
No I have not heard this. If your water is so dirty that running carbon allows that much extra light suddenly that it's bleaching your corals then I suggest you up your WC schedule.
My water is crystal clear and my zoas and chalices are fine under very intense lighting in an SPS dominated tank.
What are your parameters? Hard to diagnose coral death without the baseline stats
I do large weekly water changes and never skip a week.
I also change my Carbon every week.
And I still have plenty of Acans and Chalices Dying.
It sucks because those are my two favorite Corals.
You guys have any tips on keeping them?
Low flow, med to low light and lots of food. Are you sure they aren't stinging each other? Sometimes certain corals just don't like certain tanks.
A few years ago I had load of acans and chalice's in my 210 and they were quite happy. Now Acan's dont like my tank and I haven't bought any big name chalice's because I'm trying to keep SPS dominant. IME Chalice's are hit and miss for me anyway. They will be fine for months and then suddenly die off over just days or weeks. The same holds true for me with zoa's.
Nitrate at 0 can cause problems with LPS, I have my nitrate at 5-10, phosphate at .09-.12. By saying acans and zoos like dirty water, we mean they like the nitrates and phosphates. Coral color and food comes from Zooanthelle algae. Algae needs nitrate and phosphate. Not having enough n and p to feed the algae means the corals arent eating, so they fade as the algae dies off, and eventually die off too.Temperature 78
Salinity 1.025
PH 8.2
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0
Phosphate - Have to Check that.
Calcium 450
Magnesium 1350
Alkalinity 8
Is there anything else that you need to know.