POLL (Do you run carbon - sometimes,never,always??)

[reefpod]

Do you run active carbon in your tank????

[Nanook]

I run a bag for 3-7 days every month.


Nanook

[Little Reefer Boy]

I haven't used carbon for almost 2 years. Not that I don't think I should, I just always forgot. Then eventually I just stopped.

Getting scared now...maybe I should start back up. Is laying a mesh bag of carbon in the sump really that effective? Needs to be in low flow, right? It's just a pain in the azz to pull out the old Fluval.

[Paul K]

I run carbon about 5 days per month.

[es53]

I run carbon, almost always. Don't really know why. Everything has been going good in the tank for so long (except for the apitasia) that I just hate to change anything. ;)

[jackson6745]

I usually use carbon when cutting corals

[KillerReef]

I don't run carbon "once a month" just sometimes when I think the tank could use a little polishing. Just pull out the aquaclear and hang it off the back. It seems like it would get quite expensive using a new carbon bag once a month. I think in the year and half, I have run it four times.

[SaveOurReefs]

I never run carbon , would in an emergency though

[the care taker]

I always run carbon. There is carbon in the filter pad that i use already and i also put some additional carbon in too. I think you can usually reactivate the carbon by baking it in your oven. not sure at what temp or how long though. Does anyone know?

[Thumbster]

I think you can usually reactivate the carbon by baking it in your oven. not sure at what temp or how long though. Does anyone know?

If I recall correctly it was about 1500 degrees, give or take a few hundred.

It's been so long since I've used carbon that I have forgot about it. I might stick some in the sump just to see what it does.

[Joy_R]

I haven't done it for a year, but recently through in a bag by the skimmer return for two days. Aquarium was already really clear but its crystal clear now and probably picked up something undesirable. I think I will start using some every month now.....

[mirski57]

I use 2 bags of carbon on my 90gallon reef 24/7/365. I change my carbon every 6-8 weeks.

If I stop, the tank and my living room start to smell like the ocean.

[reefpod]

I think I will start running it once a month now.....

[ENS]

I always use it on my 75 gl reef. I have a lifereef sump with built-in media cylinders, so it is very easy to use and change. I fill one of thw two cylinders with carbon (that I buy in a bulk size container - cheaper than the packages) and it runs for anywhere from 4-6 weeks before I change out the carbon. basically I change it whenever I do a good quality cleaning and water change. My water is always crystal clear (except some of those pesty return bubbles I'm trying to get rid of) and does not have any smell.

[stereomandan]

I pretty much always have a little bag in my mechanical filter. I change it every couple of weeks. I just don't use a lot each time.

I haven't noticed any increase in nitrates from keeping it in all the time either.

Dan

[eddiem]

I run carbon all the time. Since I have a mixed reef (SPS, LPS, and Leathers)...the carbon helps keep the chemical battles in check.

[Zoom]

I use it when the water starts looking yellow in the bucket when i do a water change.

[goofball310]

I run carbon 24/7. When I first started my reef I never ran carbon (mainly because I didn't know). To say the least I was long do. When I finally did, I ended up bleaching a bunch of my corals do the the increased lighting penetration. Since then, I've run it on a constant basis and change it out every 3-4 weeks.