active carbon questions

[john70]

Hi guys, been asking people around me me about the active carbon good or bad for a reef community tank,but the answers are half said good an half said bad. Now I am confused lol. Please fell free help me out with this,cuz recently I added carbon to help with water quality but my sps bleaching few days after that... thanks!

 

[vashawn]

I use brs rox and kent with no problems.
im gonna change to just GFO
did u test your water par?

 

[Clink51]

any other changes shortly before the adding? maybe it wasnt rinsed enough? thats really all i can thing about

 

[Chefjpaul]

any other changes shortly before the adding? maybe it wasnt rinsed enough? thats really all i can thing about

This- plus how much are you adding & how are you running it?

 

[Clink51]

i believe i read somewhere that GFO is supposed to tumble but not Carbon. If your carbon is tumbling, it could be releases grounded pieces into the reef and the SPS could be consuming it.

 

[prattreef]

If this is he first time you have used carbon in the system you might have light shocked your SPS due to rapid removal of yellowing compounds and the sudden increased clarity of the water. In general, there is no harm and many benefits to running carbon in a reef and nearly all reef-keepers do. How much, how often etc. is system dependent and you need to figure out what works best for you.
Also, don't change your carbon immediately after a water change as the combination can drastically increase clarity and potentially cause light shock.

 

[HanKami]

I had the Same problem with carbon in my tank, it seems like every time I add it a few days later something bleaches out. Your not the only one ,So I just don't use it. By-weekly water changes for me.

 

[reefiness]

If this is he first time you have used carbon in the system you might have light shocked your SPS due to rapid removal of yellowing compounds and the sudden increased clarity of the water. In general, there is no harm and many benefits to running carbon in a reef and nearly all reef-keepers do. How much, how often etc. is system dependent and you need to figure out what works best for you.
Also, don't change your carbon immediately after a water change as the combination can drastically increase clarity and potentially cause light shock.

I have never heard of people having issues with running carbon in their systems, but I very much think this prattreef is correct on its effect on pigment removal causing a greatly increased PAR level where the bleached coral may have been.

 

[john70]

Thanks guys, these days I have browsed some active carbon related post from reefcentral.com, some reefer report that active carbon over taking the importance trace elements away from your reef tank,it cause the sensitive sps bleaching, even some lps dropped their heads...no ideas, I just stop Using it for now,and doing water change every week...

 

[prattreef]

Do whatever works for you, but I don't buy the rapid trace element depletion argument in general, and I certainly don't believe it to be the cause of your particular problem.

 

[Geraud]

100% agree with Randy (prattreef): your bleaching is probably due to the increased clarity, they got light-shocked. What type of Carbon have you used, and in what quantity for what volume of water? Also, reactor or not?

 

[john70]

I got the carbon from lfs,the label show Charcoal active carbon, I check the website said that contains lot of phosphate! Get me more confusing now! I using 1 gallon 1 grams of that carbon and don't using any reactors. Thank you for all your helps guys!!!

 

[Geraud]

Have you rinsed the carbon before use, and have you measured your phosphates?

Did you notice any change in your water color/odor? (usually going no carbon to carbon, you would see it go from "I see the water" to "wow, that is crystal clear")