Do you run carbon year round?

[Fishfishfishfish]

I'm curious how many of you established and experienced hobbyists use activated carbon in your filtration year round.

For example, I have a big bag of carbon in my sump that I clean every month, and change out every 3 months. As I mature into the hobby I am realizing that this is maybe doing more "harm" than good as it possibly negates the coral additives I am using (Red Sea A-D).

If you suggest only running carbon when necessary, when do you deem a situation necessary, and what would you suggest to newer hobbyists who have been running carbon do in terms of pulling it out? Just... pull it out? Or would gradually decrease the amount of carbon running?

I would appreciate any insight you guys have on this. I am already planning to pull it out of my freshwater planted tank this weekend as I have discovered (after much research) that carbon actually greatly reduces the potency of iron additives in fresh water.

 

[andrewkw]

There is always carbon in my reactor but it's really only effective for a few days. After that it's basically useless. I typically change it out about monthly.

 

[sghera64]

I run Rox 0.8 three days each month. I use about 76 gm in. 180 Gal system. I toss the carbon into the lawn after three days of use.

 

[Mastiffsrule]

I run Rox 0.8 three days each month. I use about 76 gm in. 180 Gal system. I toss the carbon into the lawn after three days of use.

+1

Usually after 3 or 4 days the carbon is spent. I usually do a monthly dose. Unless you see an issue or concerned about contaminates in the tank

 

[Scrubber_steve]

+1

Usually after 3 or 4 days the carbon is spent.

What empirical evidence do you have to support this assertion?

 

[Waters]

I use Rox in small amounts, changing frequently. It is run in a reactor 24X7.

 

[Hermie]

I have been thinking about carbon effectiveness the past few days... Selectivity and all that... I can see how cleaning it with hot water every few days is a decent idea, to remove some biofilm, but I wonder really what's the best way to implement carbon in a tank...
It's got to be to use some 100 micron filter to prescreen the water before it hits the carbon... I mean, if we are just sticking carbon in a bag or after a large pore prefilter, won't anything bigger than 1um simply clog up the carbon and prevent heavy metals etc from adsboring onto it's surface? There's got to be an ideal way to use carbon and I don't think it's as simple as we make it out to be.

• What's the best size prefilter for carbon?
• Is it worthwhile to rinse carbon with hot water after its been in use for a few days?
• As a corallary, what's the best way to extend the life of carbon?
• Another necessary question, what are we using carbon for?

 

[Scrubber_steve]

• What's the best size prefilter for carbon?
• Is it worthwhile to rinse carbon with hot water after its been in use for a few days?
• As a corallary, what's the best way to extend the life of carbon?
• Another necessary question, what are we using carbon for?

I run mine through a gravity fed reactor, use filter floss

I pull the reactor apart once a week, flush the granules clean, then soak in boiled RODI water for half an hour to kill bacteria.

Using it to remove excess dissolved organic compounds, primarily the yellowing molecules.

I run a slow flow through, & change mine every month

Here's some reading

Granular Activated Carbon, Part 1: Modeling of Operational Parameters for Dissolved Organic Carbon Removal from Marine Aquaria
By Ken S. Feldman,

Granular Activated Carbon, Part 2: Modeling of Operational Parameters for Dissolved Organic Carbon Removal from Marine Aquaria
By Ken S. Feldman