Using carbon that’s turning the filters black

[Impala67]

Hey guys so I just started using carbon and I rinsed it thoroughly until the black water became clear. Well today I was cleaning the pipe and the sponge that’s on the overflow to prevent fish from getting in to the sump and it was covered in black slime!!

That’s the water after I rinsed off the sponge/pipe the tank water is perfectly fine but the filter sock the sponges everything is black. The coral is just fine in fact it’s looking better since I started the carbon.

This is the carbon I’ve been using it’s says it safe for both fresh and saltwater. I don’t know what I’m doing wrong but I want to get down to the bottom of this immediately!!

 

[Garf]

Hey guys so I just started using carbon and I rinsed it thoroughly until the black water became clear. Well today I was cleaning the pipe and the sponge that’s on the overflow to prevent fish from getting in to the sump and it was covered in black slime!!

That’s the water after I rinsed off the sponge/pipe the tank water is perfectly fine but the filter sock the sponges everything is black. The coral is just fine in fact it’s looking better since I started the carbon.

This is the carbon I’ve been using it’s says it safe for both fresh and saltwater. I don’t know what I’m doing wrong but I want to get down to the bottom of this immediately!!

Is the carbon tumbling, when water runs through? It must not, as it grinds it up into dust.

 

[Impala67]

Is the carbon tumbling, when water runs through? It must not, as it grinds it up into dust.

See that’s just it, it’s not grinding up it’s barely in the water current. And at this point I’m not sure what to think!

 

[Garf]

See that’s just it, it’s not grinding up it’s barely in the water current. And at this point I’m not sure what to think!

You just got it in a mesh bag then?

 

[Impala67]

You just got it in a mesh bag then?

Yes I do is that correct?

 

[Garf]

Yes I do is that correct?

Well, you can and I certainly have before. It’s probably more effective with forced flow though.

 

[Impala67]

Well, you can and I certainly have before. It’s probably more effective with forced flow though.

Ok I will do that, but why is it turning my filter black?

 

[Garf]

Ok I will do that, but why is it turning my filter black?

Perhaps you should try a pelletised version of carbon, see if it stops.

 

[Impala67]

So I have realized it’s actually everywhere it’s covered my rocks, my overflow, my return jets, my lps and sps coral, my power heads what do I do? Will it go away or will I have to scrub it off?

 

[Sean Clark]

I have used the same carbon before and had to rinse it a lot before it would run clear and ready for use. I use the ROX 0.8 carbon now.