Re using old carbon media

[Seasonedreefer]

Ok long story short. I was doing some tank maintenence and decided I wanted to put My MR1 media reactor back in my sump. The reactor had some chemi pure in it from the last time it was in use. I didn't think it was even close to being exhausted since I only used it for a couple weeks. So I decided to rinse it and reuse it while also adding some new. I always rinse my media before re introducing it. It cut my foam head down in my skimmer as to be expected when using carbon. But now I have a couple fish laying on there side struggling to breath. Any insight? Could it be the old carbon i reused introducing yuckie stuff back in my water? I tested my params and everything is the same as it was before I put the reactor back in. and if this is so wouldn't the new stuff i added just pull it right back out?

 

[thewackyreefer]

I dunno, but i've let some stuff sit in a reactor for a couple weeks that wasn't running and man did it get nasty.

Did you test for ammonia?

 

[boehm742]

Is adding the reactor the only thing you did before the fish started going down?

 

[Seasonedreefer]

I dunno, but i've let some stuff sit in a reactor for a couple weeks that wasn't running and man did it get nasty.

Did you test for ammonia?

Is adding the reactor the only thing you did before the fish started going down?

Yes and yes

 

[Seasonedreefer]

I also stirred my sand bed but I do that evertime I do a water change. and it is a shallow sand bed I doubt it's retaining anything. I would say the depth is 1/2 inch

 

[gparr]

Time for some fresh carbon and a water change, and I'd hurry.
gary

 

[Seasonedreefer]

Done and done! Lets keep our fingers crossed :squigglemouth: On a side note the corals all look the same. They always have great polyp extentsion! What ever it is it's not affecting them. Knock on wood. I also threw in some Poly filter hopefully that will also help pull it out what ever IT is.

 

[stedfast82]

why??