Should I hook up a activated carbon reactor or not?

AlexR · 04/16/2019, 08:44 PM

I am just trying to make the aquarium best as possible.
I just finished battling an algae problem. I’ve been doing weekly 10% water changes and had a bio-pellet reactor and a GFO reactor running.
The algae was persistent...

Then I shut down both reactors since my phosphates were reading at 0. And nitrates below 2.
A couple days later algae has nearly all disappeared. It was amazing!!

So now I have my skimmer, ATS and a ceramic bio filter block. And that’s all.

Do you think it’s safe and advisable to hook up a activated carbon reactor? Using a TLF 150.

mcgyvr · 04/17/2019, 04:37 AM

Always safe to run activated carbon.. useful is another story..
Probably useful.. Really hard to quantify..

If you have soft corals its often occasionally recommended as a preventative measure to help deal with any chemical warfare they might try to start..
It can also help clear up any yellow water issues you might have..

Basically it wouldn't hurt..

billdogg · 04/17/2019, 03:15 PM

Unless I'm medicating for some reason - fluconazole for briopsis/HA for instance - I run carbon all the time for the last 30+ years. As mcgyvr said, it will clear up yellowish water quickly and in most mixed reefs (those that combine soft and stony corals) it is an excellent weapon in the war against alleopathy.

AlexR · 04/19/2019, 05:46 PM

Thanks for your input.
I went ahead and added a carbon reactor. So far all is well.
Never hurts to have a little extra protection.

Salty150 · 04/19/2019, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlexR

I am just trying to make the aquarium best as possible.
I just finished battling an algae problem. I’ve been doing weekly 10% water changes and had a bio-pellet reactor and a GFO reactor running.
The algae was persistent...

Then I shut down both reactors since my phosphates were reading at 0. And nitrates below 2.
A couple days later algae has nearly all disappeared. It was amazing!!

So now I have my skimmer, ATS and a ceramic bio filter block. And that’s all.

Do you think it’s safe and advisable to hook up a activated carbon reactor? Using a TLF 150.

So what was the source of your algae...?

AlexR · 04/19/2019, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Salty150

So what was the source of your algae...?

As soon as I shut down my GFO reactor my algae started to go away. Took 2 days and looked almost completely gone.

Salty150 · 04/19/2019, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlexR

As soon as I shut down my GFO reactor my algae started to go away. Took 2 days and looked almost completely gone.

OK...

That is counter-intuitive and odd...

As GFO hinders algae growth in reef tanks by removing phosphates from the water column.

AlexR · 04/19/2019, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Salty150

OK...

That is counter-intuitive and odd...

As GFO hinders algae growth in reef tanks by removing phosphates from the water column.

My phosphates were already at 0. Running it basically starved out beneficial elements and promoted a certain type of algae growth.
Not sure which.

But this is what happened. I did nothing else to treat it.

AlexR · 04/19/2019, 08:03 PM

I’m thinking it’s due to my tank being mature. And the GFO caused a cyano outbreak due to sucking too much phosphates out of the water the cyano was sucking whatever was left in my sand/rock.

Removing the GFO reactor and keeping up with my water changes helped with this. The cyano went away and my phosphates stayed at 0.
And my corals are happy.
So far at least.

dkeller_nc · 04/20/2019, 08:58 AM

It's not impossible that your tank was starved for certain trace elements - or more specifically, the algae was starved for certain trace elements, one of which could be iron that was being supplied at very low levels with the GFO. Another possibility is that if the reactor wasn't being maintained frequently, it was serving as a reservoir for nutrients from decaying organic matter.

AlexR · 04/20/2019, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dkeller_nc

It's not impossible that your tank was starved for certain trace elements - or more specifically, the algae was starved for certain trace elements, one of which could be iron that was being supplied at very low levels with the GFO. Another possibility is that if the reactor wasn't being maintained frequently, it was serving as a reservoir for nutrients from decaying organic matter.

The GFO reactor was fairly new. And the GFO running in it was there for about a month.
I also did dose trace elements but stopped after I checked magnesium and saw it was too high and also hooked up my calcium reactor.

I think it was due to an imbalance. Low to zero phosphates in the water column while phosphates were still in my DSB and LR. The tank is over 5 years mature now.
I think keeping up with water changes and removing the GFO reactor helped level things out.

The GFO I think did a double whammy on my tank. The cyano algae bloom and the corals hating it and not opening because of it.

04/16/2019, 08:44 PM	#1
AlexR Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Palm Coast, FL Posts: 574	Should I hook up a activated carbon reactor or not? I am just trying to make the aquarium best as possible. I just finished battling an algae problem. I’ve been doing weekly 10% water changes and had a bio-pellet reactor and a GFO reactor running. The algae was persistent... Then I shut down both reactors since my phosphates were reading at 0. And nitrates below 2. A couple days later algae has nearly all disappeared. It was amazing!! So now I have my skimmer, ATS and a ceramic bio filter block. And that’s all. Do you think it’s safe and advisable to hook up a activated carbon reactor? Using a TLF 150.

04/17/2019, 04:37 AM	#2
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	Always safe to run activated carbon.. useful is another story.. Probably useful.. Really hard to quantify.. If you have soft corals its often occasionally recommended as a preventative measure to help deal with any chemical warfare they might try to start.. It can also help clear up any yellow water issues you might have.. Basically it wouldn't hurt.. __________________ Who me?

04/17/2019, 03:15 PM	#3
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	Unless I'm medicating for some reason - fluconazole for briopsis/HA for instance - I run carbon all the time for the last 30+ years. As mcgyvr said, it will clear up yellowish water quickly and in most mixed reefs (those that combine soft and stony corals) it is an excellent weapon in the war against alleopathy. __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

04/19/2019, 05:46 PM	#4
AlexR Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Palm Coast, FL Posts: 574	Thanks for your input. I went ahead and added a carbon reactor. So far all is well. Never hurts to have a little extra protection.

04/19/2019, 08:03 PM	#9
AlexR Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Palm Coast, FL Posts: 574	I’m thinking it’s due to my tank being mature. And the GFO caused a cyano outbreak due to sucking too much phosphates out of the water the cyano was sucking whatever was left in my sand/rock. Removing the GFO reactor and keeping up with my water changes helped with this. The cyano went away and my phosphates stayed at 0. And my corals are happy. So far at least.

04/20/2019, 08:58 AM	#10
dkeller_nc Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Central NC Posts: 5,062	It's not impossible that your tank was starved for certain trace elements - or more specifically, the algae was starved for certain trace elements, one of which could be iron that was being supplied at very low levels with the GFO. Another possibility is that if the reactor wasn't being maintained frequently, it was serving as a reservoir for nutrients from decaying organic matter.