carbon or no carbon

[wafilms]

i recently set up a 55g reef aquarium with a cannister filter, i had advice from a friend not to put carbon in it he didn't on his tank and it looks great the more i read up on it it seems that i should have it in my filter for removing nitrate, im very new to the hobby can someone please give me some good advice

 

[mr_X]

carbon doesn't remove nitrate. it does have the ability to absorb toxins, and odors. it's just like when people swallow poison. at the hospital they give you carbon to absorb it before it does you harm. it's the same principle in your tank.
if your friends tank looks great, but smells like the bay, he should consider running some carbon from time to time. :wink:

 

[wafilms]

thanks for the tip ill use carbon

 

[Anonymous]

Carbon is good if you regularly change it out, otherwise don't bother.

 

[metalac]

What's good positioning for carbon? I also rinsed it out for good half hour and there was still a lot of "dust" present. Should I just soak it for a few days?

 

[Anonymous]

I use it a lot, and put it in a filter sock under my return, in my sump.

 

[Anonymous]

What's good positioning for carbon? I also rinsed it out for good half hour and there was still a lot of "dust" present. Should I just soak it for a few days?

Good positioning is in an area of high flow in the sump, or in a HOB filter. You only have to rinse it for a couple of minutes - till the water runs clear.