activated carbon

[tetra9999]

So is carbon in a sock sitting in your input side of your sump better than no carbon at all?

Does the water "need" to be forced through the carbon in some kinda of external chamber and then put back into your tank?

I ask because I just noticed yesterday after doing about a 10% water change how clear the water was looking. When I removed my old sump which had carbon and phosban bags in it that the water passed through, I did not move those bags over to the new sump/fuge.

What kind of "bad things" will the carbon remove?

[Letmegrow]

Anything (including chemicals) small enough to fit in the microscopic pores.

Most carbon is only good in a reef tank for a week, there is alot to absorb. Chemipure by boyd is better, it can last up to a month. I usually run it a month, then take it out and wait a month then add a new one.

Water changes ALWAYS make the tank look great.

[tetra9999]

Thanks Steve

oh did I say 10% I ment to say almost 20% water change. So its okay to just put the sock in the sump and let it absorb stuff? I realize that forcing water threw the charcol would be better. But I'm not sure if I have the means to do that right now.

[mjpelikan]

Tetra9999, you could make a carbon reation chamber: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=701654

super easy to make! and not that expensive. I have extra egg crate so you don't have to drop 10$ on a sheet

PM if you want some

[tetra9999]

mjpelikan thanks for the post and offer for a small piece of egg crate. I think I like this (down and dirty) method for a quick setup which I found linked off of the link you posted. Neyways, thanks!

http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=77999