Using carbon in my reef system

[pondy]

I was told the other day that if I use carbon in my system my corals would show some more color, hair algea would go away and It would also take chemicals out of the water is this true?

[mg426]

I will take impurities out of the water. This will make your water much clearer, possibly making your corals look better to you.

[pondy]

do you know if it will help with the hair algea as well?

[mg426]

You would be much better served adding a Phosphate reactor or a Refugium with maco algae ( chaeto )

[ReefRockerLive]

No, carbon doesn't help with hair algae. GFO media such as Phos-Ban or RowaPhos will get rid of the phosphates which are what gives you the hair algae.

[pondy]

ok thanks, what test can i get that will be sensitive enough to measure for phosphates? I do have a fuge that has a ton of cheato in it and nitrates and phosphates measure 0 with my test kit. But I dont think that the phosphate test is sensitive enough

[flyguy7150]

how long does gfo last, or better put, how long till you have to replace it. Once a month??

[mg426]

Most P04 kits will read zero in our systems cause HA has all the p04 bound up. Your best best is to just observe your tank. If you have HA then you have P04. Once a month is a good starting point.

[ReefRockerLive]

Every 3 week to 1 month, I change out both carbon and GFO media and test for PO4 on a weekly basis.

[pondy]

I guess I will have to use some phosphate remover and see what happens in my system I just dont like using all of additives in my tank but if it will help then I will give it a go. Dusitn

[Wryknow]

Well, the PO4 remover is mmore of a taker-awayer than an additive. I just run carbon and GFO in a canister filter to polish the water and clear out phosphates and chemicals form the water. I saw a difference in HA in a couple of days.