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that Fish Guy
03/25/2013, 08:44 PM
So I have always used Carbon in all of my aquariums both Saltwater and Freshwater.

I have never noticed any problems.

I was listening to a PodCast and heard about Corals Crashing and Dying due to too much Carbon.

After hearing that I an now considering stopping all my carbon use.

How dangerous can carbon be?

Do you guys use it or no?

downbeach
03/25/2013, 08:58 PM
I've run it in a reactor 24/7 for years. You may be referring to this article:
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/blog/kent-marine-issues-recall-for-reef-carbon
This company had a bad batch, which contained some heavy metal.

Here are some reasons for using it:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ca/volume_7/volume_7_1/carbon.html
http://www.fishlore.com/activated-carbon-aquarium.htm
http://www.hallman.org/filter/gac.html

Sk8r
03/25/2013, 09:31 PM
It helps a lot with softies or FOWLRs or a mixed reef to prevent problems. Not so much with LPS or SPS.

shonc182
03/25/2013, 09:57 PM
Here are some reasons for using it:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ca/volume_7/volume_7_1/carbon.html
http://www.fishlore.com/activated-carbon-aquarium.htm
http://www.hallman.org/filter/gac.html



Three great articles on carbon.

that Fish Guy
03/25/2013, 10:39 PM
I've run it in a reactor 24/7 for years. You may be referring to this article:
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/blog/kent-marine-issues-recall-for-reef-carbon
This company had a bad batch, which contained some heavy metal.

Here are some reasons for using it:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ca/volume_7/volume_7_1/carbon.html
http://www.fishlore.com/activated-carbon-aquarium.htm
http://www.hallman.org/filter/gac.html

They were not speaking of any specific brand but just generally speaking. They made no mention of any "Bad Batches"

that Fish Guy
03/25/2013, 10:40 PM
It helps a lot with softies or FOWLRs or a mixed reef to prevent problems. Not so much with LPS or SPS.

How does it help with Softies and FOWLR but not with LPS/SPS?

Bigcefa
03/25/2013, 10:48 PM
It can help any tank that statement isn't accurate

reefer91
03/26/2013, 12:00 AM
How does it help with Softies and FOWLR but not with LPS/SPS?Sk8r was referring to the fact that in LPS/SPS tanks there is not alleopathic chemical warfare going on for the most part. It can be useful in those tanks, but not in the same manner or of the same significance as a tank full of corals releasing toxins into the water to compete with the other corals.

Bad softies... bad.

downbeach
03/26/2013, 06:41 AM
They were not speaking of any specific brand but just generally speaking. They made no mention of any "Bad Batches"

Did you read this link?

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/blog/kent-marine-issues-recall-for-reef-carbon

examiner
03/26/2013, 07:02 AM
Were you listening to the RT podcast? If so, that statement was in reference to GFO, not carbon. Too much GFO/too fast can lead to the issues you mention.

Short of a bad batch of carbon as mentioned above, don't worry about it. As you noted yourself, you've been using it for years without issues......

Palting
03/26/2013, 11:57 AM
This is a topic that comes up once in a while here at RC. Carbon does have some negative effects, like filtering out elements that are essential to a healthy tank, like iron (Fe) for example. They have also been blamed for Lateral line disease, when too much of the "fines" get into the tank. But the consensus is that the advantages far outweigh any disadvantages.

I have a mixed reef, with softies and all kinds of stonies. It is essential to run carbon in this scenario, and I do it 24/7 and have been doing it for 3 years.

cloak
03/26/2013, 12:17 PM
I'm not sure if carbon can be dangerous or not, but it's just one of those tools that you might be able to skip sometimes. Kind of like chess... I'm not very good at this game, but my friends can kick my a$$ in 5 moves, as opposed to 10.

FWIW, I had a mixed reef for about 9 years one time. (DTDSB, no carbon, no GFO, no refuge, etc. ~20% water changes every week though/tap water) It worked...

I hope this made sence... GL.

coralsnaked
03/26/2013, 02:35 PM
I'm not sure if carbon can be dangerous or not, but it's just one of those tools that you might be able to skip sometimes. Kind of like chess... I'm not very good at this game, but my friends can kick my a$$ in 5 moves, as opposed to 10.

FWIW, I had a mixed reef for about 9 years one time. (DTDSB, no carbon, no GFO, no refuge, etc. ~20% water changes every week though/tap water) It worked...

I hope this made sence... GL.

I notice you now run a: 20 gallon DT, 10 gallon sump, 175 watt Hamilton 20K bulb, two 24 watt T5 actinics, Eshopps PSK-75 skimmer, mixed reef

Seems like a lot of power on a 20G. I mean almost 225 watts of lighting is enough for SPS in a > 40G and the Eshops is rated up to 75G. Why all the over kill for a mixed reef? Not judging just asking?

treetopflyn
03/26/2013, 02:52 PM
[QUOTE=downbeach;21324434]I've run it in a reactor 24/7 for years. You may be referring to this article:
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/blog/kent-marine-issues-recall-for-reef-carbon
This company had a bad batch, which contained some heavy metal.

Seems they are not the only ones. I just had the same issue with Deep Blue Lab Grade Carbon.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2277074

I will NEVER use carbon again without running it by a magnet.