Running Carbon - How much is too much?

[Beverly]

Originally Posted by smokinreefer

is it not true that carbon will begin to leach the very same substances it is absorbing if left in a system for too long?

I've read the same thing in several places, too. Another reason I don't use it in any of our reefs.

Originally Posted by smokinreefer

oh yeah, i run carbon ocassional...for a couple weeks at a time. especially after choppin up softies, or when the water gets a bit discolored.

Why do you think your water get discoloured? Mine hardly ever gets discoloured, though when it does, I turkey baste the tank, let the water clear overnight, then clean the foam in the prefiltered 802.

The only time water discoloured in any of our current tanks, was in the 42 when a coral had had an accident (coral from above fell on it) and it began to die. Removed the dying coral from the tank, but the water clouded for the next couple of days, even though water parameters showed no ammonia, nitrite or nitrate. Turkey basted the tank 2-3 times, always cleaning the foam in the prefilters, and the tank cleared nicely.