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Boomstick
10/30/2006, 10:23 AM
Howdy,
I have a 55g tank that is 4 months in and todate i have not used active carbon - until now all my levels have been right where they should however over the last week I have started seeing a small rise in my Nitrates and Phospates so i was planning on adding some Kent Marine Active Carbon to my sump.

Anything I should be wary of in doing this?
Randy Holmes-Farley
10/30/2006, 10:26 AM
Running carbon is a fine thing to do (I recommend it, as long as you rinse it first), but I would not expect it to usefully lower nitrate or phosphate.

These articles have other suggested ways, with my preferences being skimming, growing macroalgae, Deep sand beds (for nitrate) and GFO (for phosphate):

Phosphate and the Reef Aquarium
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-09/rhf/index.php

Nitrate in the Reef Aquarium
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/august2003/chem.htm
Boomstick
10/30/2006, 10:48 AM
Great, thanks for those articles; they look like they have a ton of good info in them (although I will have to wait until i get home from work to absorb it all!)

Any recommendations on a brand of granular ferric oxide?
Randy Holmes-Farley
10/30/2006, 11:01 AM
No, I don't have a brand preference at the moment. :)
Boomstick
10/30/2006, 01:26 PM
On the Active Carbon container it says to use for three days each month - is this what you'd also recommend?
Randy Holmes-Farley
10/30/2006, 01:31 PM
I use GAC 24/7. :)
Boomstick
10/30/2006, 05:43 PM
Awesome - thanks so much, it is rinsed and in - i will be looking for a Macro Algae for the sump next.
Randy Holmes-Farley
10/31/2006, 07:30 AM
Sounds good.

Good luck! :)