Chemiclear blue is just activated carbon with a synthetic resin that adsorbs chemicals.
Go to the drugstore and by some fish oil capsules. Unscented, no garlic,etc.
That mille is amazing! May I ask where you acquired it and it’s name? It is very pink and your acros have great polyp extension.Chemi-Pure Elite every 5 months.
Why can you not have a UV sterilizer if you have snails?
So, by this reasoning, if I carbon dose with vinegar as well as add amino supplements, am I just throwing money away?Granular Activated Carbon, or GAC, comes in a few different forms each with varying levels of effectiveness. For the difference between the types of GAC, click here for a BRS video (also check out the associated videos on the right, e.g. "How to Get Pristine Blue Water...". By now, or by watching those videos, you should have 95% of your own answers, but to give you personal answers and what I do is this: I run BRS ROX GAC in a reactor (recommend Spyglass from Avast Marine) pretty frequently. I only turn it off when I'm adding amino acids, foods, even chemicals I want to keep around longer than one pass through the sump.The reason is that GAC, and ROX especially are amazingly good at binding whatever they can in the water column and holding on to them. I would recommend running it in a reactor if you want to see maximum effectiveness, however, putting it in a bag in an area of high flow would be effective as well. I do both, one tank is an AIO too small for reactors, so I have a bag in the back, another tank is 135 and can support a reactor, so that's where it is. I am running mine 24/7 at the moment for a specific reason, but how often you run it depends on what you are trying to achieve: if you just want to have much more clear water, running it for 5 days or so every month will suffice. If you are trying to neutralize coral toxins, say, leather coral toxins, then you should run it all the time. There are numerous advantages: crystal clear water, elimination of toxins, from livestock or other sources, removal of organic wastes and heavy metals, removal of organics that can break down into nitrates, and help in keeping water clean for larger sized tanks. That helps keep water changes down so 10% weekly is manageable. It is also super effective if one is using ozone: it removes the ozone molecule, or I should say, neutralizes ozone before it reaches the DT. It also helps neutralize ozone produced oxidants (OPO's) that could be harmful to livestock in the DT when running ozone.
Disadvantages: A lot of people say it removes "the good stuff", so I hope this doesn't come across personally, I know where you picked up that term and that probably on this forum. Personally I really do not like non-specific statements like that. What is the definition of "good stuff"? In most cases, people are referring to amino acids, or red sea reef energy, or vitamins added to food, or medications, or something that was purposefully added by the reefer. That is the definition we will use here. Using that definition, yes, GAC removes "the good stuff" as well. But the solution for that is simple. Turn off your carbon reactor or take the bag out of the sump every time you add something you think will benefit your tank, at least for as long as you want the good stuff to stay in your tank. So the major disadvantage is more of a PITA thing than a *true* disadvantage. Now you see why a reactor also begins to make more sense. Instead of getting your hand and arm set, it's pulling a plug out of a power strip. Even better is with concomitant use of a controller, such as Neptune Apex, where you can use your cell phone to turn the reactor off while you add your amino acids.
Here is a link to a great basic article that should conclude the post with one exception: GAC as a causative agent for head and lateral line disease (HLLE)
At this point, you should have a good idea of the what, is, how, why, why not and uh-oh of GAC. You have all the information you need, but in case I missed something, I hope that someone comes behind me and adds to the post. There is a bias towards the use of GAC frankly. I use it as well as many other people. There are reactors that exist just for GAC. So there is something really positive about it, you just need to find that out for yourself, and I think running that 1/4 pound would be a great way to start learning. For the amount to run, think along the lines of 2 cups per 50 gallons.
Cheers,
Lloyd
Could be. My reactor is on a controller and runs for 2 hours each night while I sleep.
Thats not true, you can quote sources but, im going to say false, please drop real knowledge not just assumptions thanks....
I thought that was a rather curious statement to make as well.
Well I was told this many years ago in relation to canister filters on freshwater tanks
In that canister filter context, I agree. It is the septic system of the tank. A pretty stinky place.
I think every system is different and you could possibly be right with your situation, thank you for bringing this to my attention so I was able to look into something I didn't even think about before.
But I still do as I said in my original post, and yes there is anaerobic build up (good call)but very minimal to the point that it is unable to effect the system, and mine in particular is a stream 5" from water surface that gasses off most before it enters the sump. I dont believe that the cons of the build up out weigh the need for occasional GAC use to keep water clarity and not to strip the system to much, and the ability to add/subtract time or flow of course is a great option. I've had the best results like this. And if it does supply some ammonia my corals love it
No I'll pass.
Ok, go buy some Continuum Aquatics Bio Viv HUFA which is fish oil in a fancy reef safe bottle at about 10x the price. Either way it's good for fish who in nature eat fish and algae, not pellets or frozen food.
I don't see the need for carbon. That's just me. My fish have been doing fantastic. No need to change anything.
I'll probably chuck a bag in the week before christmas so all the family can go wow over the tank
Crystal clear water no odor I run mine with a small pump and carbon reactor
