How do you know when its time to replace the carbon in your carbon reactor?
4 posters
Carbon Reactor
dwolson2- Admin
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clownfish14- Admin
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every 2 weeks is usually what everyone does.
dwolson2- Admin
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oh.... its been like a month and a half...
clownfish14- Admin
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ya to long. carbon is every 2 weeks gfo is every month. carbon is pretty cheap though so keep it fresh there is no reason to let it get old and sit there.
sisterlimonpot- Admin
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I go a month between. there has been studies done suggesting that we replace carbon too quickly. if it wasn't in a reactor then it may get clogged with detritus and not have the obsorbtion it should. but in a reactor I would allow a month.
sisterlimonpot- Admin
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I go a month between. there has been studies done suggesting that we replace carbon too quickly. if it wasn't in a reactor then it may get clogged with detritus and not have the obsorbtion it should. but in a reactor I would allow a month.
dwolson2- Admin
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well either way I am over a month, just changed it out
dwolson2- Admin
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So, I thought it was going to dissolve into the water over time, then I would need to refill it. Don't know why I thought that. So is there any way to know when its time to change it? I assume the 2 weeks/ month would be based on load correct?
sisterlimonpot- Admin
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The only way to tell is by being in tune with your tank, when you started using gac you noticed how the water cleared up from that yellow green to clear. Once you start seeing the clarity go, then it's about time to change it or remove it. Your tank is different than everyone else’s your bioload is low and may go longer, the only thing you need to look out for is leaching P04 and N03 back to the tank.
There are 2 schools of thought to using gac.
1 Is that you don't want to use it 24/7 because even though it removes all things bad from the tank gac not prejudice it also removes all things good such as trace elements (although to my knowledge that hasn't been completely validated). The premise is that you only run gac on certain occasions and allow your reef tank to function without chemical filtration. The thought here is to allow your skimmer to do that job.
2. Is to run it 24/7 and keep the tank looking pristine, changing it out when you start to see the water turning greenish/yellow. The main thing is that you don't want to leave it in too long because once the gac is spent and can't absorb anymore it can start to leach phosphates back into the tank. You’ll want to replace it before it is spent.
One thing that should be noted is that more is not better, most people use too much in there tank. 2-3 table spoons per 50 gallons is what you should be used, of course that is just a rule of thumb because not all gas is the same.
There are 2 schools of thought to using gac.
1 Is that you don't want to use it 24/7 because even though it removes all things bad from the tank gac not prejudice it also removes all things good such as trace elements (although to my knowledge that hasn't been completely validated). The premise is that you only run gac on certain occasions and allow your reef tank to function without chemical filtration. The thought here is to allow your skimmer to do that job.
2. Is to run it 24/7 and keep the tank looking pristine, changing it out when you start to see the water turning greenish/yellow. The main thing is that you don't want to leave it in too long because once the gac is spent and can't absorb anymore it can start to leach phosphates back into the tank. You’ll want to replace it before it is spent.
One thing that should be noted is that more is not better, most people use too much in there tank. 2-3 table spoons per 50 gallons is what you should be used, of course that is just a rule of thumb because not all gas is the same.
dwolson2- Admin
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So is it packed in the tube? or is it supposed to tumble?
clownfish14- Admin
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Tumble
shortbus- Posts : 59
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SLP,
How are you so well versed in everything salt water?
How are you so well versed in everything salt water?
dwolson2- Admin
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He used to surf reefcentral for hours a day.
clownfish14- Admin
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We all did lol. I was on the computer from when i got home from school till i went to bed reserching this hobbie for a year before i got a tank. But SLP has had a ton more experience then me which is great because now i have someone to answer my questions right away
sisterlimonpot- Admin
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shortbus wrote:SLP,
How are you so well versed in everything salt water?
I don't know your angle here...
I have done lots and lots of reading and have experienced quite a bit in this hobby.
Most of the stuff I say, I just regurgitate what someone else has already said. I'm like a one stop shop for most things salty...
But my level of expertise is no where near most hobbyist, such people as Paul who has been around the hobby for a long time and have rubbed elbows with some of the greats... I bet he has forgotten more than I have ever learned...
shortbus- Posts : 59
Join date : 2011-09-16
SLP,
I knew I knew you from somewhere, You are always helping out in the NTTH forum on Reef Central right? You helped me out with setting up my tank a few years back, you gave me some good advice about cycling and ich. But I thought you lived in Colorado or something like that.
If he's the same person i'm thinking of he didn't surf RC he was RC....
I knew I knew you from somewhere, You are always helping out in the NTTH forum on Reef Central right? You helped me out with setting up my tank a few years back, you gave me some good advice about cycling and ich. But I thought you lived in Colorado or something like that.
dwolson2 wrote:He used to surf reefcentral for hours a day.
If he's the same person i'm thinking of he didn't surf RC he was RC....
dwolson2- Admin
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that sounds like him, and he used to be in WY? Are you following him? lol His old job let him online more than what he is doing now.