carbon?

[WRASSER]

Just did a 90% water change on my 150. Question, how long do you wait to put the carbon in?

 

[Len]

IME, any time

 

[Anonymous]

I never take mine out. Well except to change it for fresh cabon. Run it when ya got it.

 

[WRASSER]

the carbon wont take anything out of the water that is good?

 

[Anonymous]

the carbon wont take anything out of the water that is good?

There has been ongoing debates about this forever.

I am in the camp that says carbon works great, and I don't believe it removes anything important in any high amount.

I feel it does way more good than harm, and with good water changes, anything good removed by carbon is put back in anyway.

I have noticed over the years that my tank seems healthier when using carbon vs. not, so in my experience, I am going to continue.

I run it 24/7, in a small mesh bag in my HOB. The HOB is empty of any media, except the carbon bag, and occasionally phosban if needed. I like the HOB for great surface movement.

 

[WRASSER]

That is what i want to do. HOB with carbon in it. Any suggestions on what is good carbon and not so good caron?

 

[bleedingthought]

I change mine monthly.

 

[Anonymous]

That is what i want to do. HOB with carbon in it. Any suggestions on what is good carbon and not so good caron?

I use black diamond from Marineland. I am not sure about not so good carbons....

 

[WRASSER]

What is the life time on the crbon you use?

 

[Anonymous]

I change mine monthly.

Thats about where I am.

 

[WRASSER]

I know some carbon are poris and can clog up easily, so i am not sure on the change out time on the carbon.

 

[Anonymous]

I know some carbon are poris and can clog up easily, so i am not sure on the change out time on the carbon.

The better quality brands (like black diamond) are made to go for a certain amount of time...usually about a month; obviously give or take depending on water quality.

DOn't skimp on carbon to save money...you end up having to change it more ften, or risk leaching (leeching?).

 

[bleedingthought]

Someone should make a thread/poll about everyone's favorite or least favorite carbon brands. I've always just bought the cheapest I can find, which most of the time it's HBH. I figured carbon is carbon.

 

[Anonymous]

Someone should make a thread/poll about everyone's favorite or least favorite carbon brands. I've always just bought the cheapest I can find, which most of the time it's HBH. I figured carbon is carbon.

It may be that the better quality your water is from good maint practices, the less quality carbon you need? If your water is good, you have the right amount of fish (not overstocked), feed properly etc...you can probably get away with whatever you can find.

I had always understood that the less expensive carbons leach out quicker/have lower absorption thresholds.

So for the little extra $, I just get what I consider the best quality.

 

[WRASSER]

So as the water quality gets better the black diamond will last longer

 

[Anonymous]

So as the water quality gets better the black diamond will last longer

lol...true, though even the best carbon probably reaches an absorption limit after about a month. I dont want to push it beyond that!

You know, you have the same HOB set up...it takes me 2 minutes to change the mesh bag out with new carbon.

 

[WRASSER]

:idea:I am looking at the tank, at my sea anemone. it is still small it went from 18" to 8" maybe i need to add the carbon to get her to open back up.

 

[Anonymous]

:idea:I am looking at the tank, at my sea anemone. it is still small it went from 18" to 8" maybe i need to add the carbon to get her to open back up.

They open and close for so many reasons, many times not related to water quality as much as something touching it (especially hermits or other inverts) fish swimming by, they caught some food, and generally for no apparent reason at all sometimes!

How long has it been a shrunken head?

Mine have been around for years, and they go for a day or two sometimes in a "small" state" for no reason that I had seen.

 

[WRASSER]

Well about 8 months now, nothing but the clowns can touch it. It is at the top of the tank on the glass. I am thinking it is either the clowns doing it to keep it the size they want it or water quality.
I know they can be sensative,too. After two hurricanes and no power for 5 days one time and 12 the next maybe it hasnt recovered.
I am going to try the carbon anyways, hopefully it is the problem. the anemone is so sweet opened at 18".

 

[Anonymous]

Well about 8 months now, nothing but the clowns can touch it. It is at the top of the tank on the glass. I am thinking it is either the clowns doing it to keep it the size they want it or water quality.
I know they can be sensative,too. After two hurricanes and no power for 5 days one time and 12 the next maybe it hasnt recovered.
I am going to try the carbon anyways, hopefully it is the problem. the anemone is so sweet opened at 18".

If it has been alive that long at that size, I wouldnt worry. The clowns sometimes have have a tendency to be rough with anemones, causing them to shrink back.

What lighting do you have? It seems like they are really reaching for light up that high.

carbon cant hurt anyway, imo.