How often to change carbon (25 gal lagoon)

GrumpyDaddy68

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Hi all,

I'm new in the hobby and I have one AIO 25gal lagoon that is being running for a little bit over a year now. It's been FOWLR for a while (2 clowns and a small angelfish); but I just added a small black widow anemone.

I am using Chemi-pure carbon packs; I have always used 4 (22 gr) packs.

However, I don't know how often I need to change them.

Any recommendations for my bioload?

Thanks,
 

BlennyTime

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I usually don’t run carbon unless there’s a specific reason I’m doing so. There shouldn’t be a need to run them all the time.
 
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GrumpyDaddy68

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I run it to keep water clear... that was what i was told.
What would be the reason to run it in the first place then?
I could remove it, it it is not of use.

thanks,
 

BlennyTime

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I run it to keep water clear... that was what i was told.
What would be the reason to run it in the first place then?
I could remove it, it it is not of use.

thanks,
As with most things in the hobby, experiences are mixed and there is no definitive answer. Some run carbon all the time to remove impurities and clarify the water. Others only run when needed, under the theory it’s absorbing trace elements that corals need or leaching phosphates into the system.

Examples of when I run it are when a coral/fish dies, or when I notice the water is cloudier than usual.
 

ReefPig

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I maybe run carbon once every couple of months, sometimes more frequent if yellow water, "fishy smell" or ICP results showing metals etc.
A few people run it all the time, my opinion is this is complete excess and absolutely not needed.
Carbon is pretty much useless after a week, most people think 3 days is the peak, and then it trails off after that.

When I do run it, I run it for 3 days.
 

vabben

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I run BRS ROX carbon in my system 24/7. Change it out with every other water change.
 

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