Carbon - Yes or No?

[reefwars]

Originally Posted by kien

ya, I have no clue if it is needed or not. I have always run carbon though because I like the clearer water that it gives me. I can totally tell the difference. I had a tank in the basement that I didn't run carbon on and that water in a white bucket definitely appeared less clear than the tank that had carbon running.

thats another variable too is the fact that carbon does make your water more clear , but that said there are also other products that do the same as well. me personally am happy with my water clarity , im sure it could be better but with my type of tank water being clear is something thats hard to aquire when its being fed 24/7

[kien]

Originally Posted by reefwars

thats another variable too is the fact that carbon does make your water more clear , but that said there are also other products that do the same as well. me personally am happy with my water clarity , im sure it could be better but with my type of tank water being clear is something thats hard to aquire when its being fed 24/7

With my tank being a room divider I have actually noticed my water get dirty when the carbon runs out/is used up. It is evident when you try to peer through one side and out the other.



The cleaner the water is the clearer it is to see the other side of the tank, etc.

[reefwars]

Originally Posted by kien

With my tank being a room divider I have actually noticed my water get dirty when the carbon runs out/is used up. It is evident when you try to peer through one side and out the other.



The cleaner the water is the clearer it is to see the other side of the tank, etc.

ok so in your tank carbon is useful for those reasons, its not whats keeping your tank going though, it may help with things for sure and make your tank more enjoyable.

in my tank i could add carbon all day and it wont clear my water as food is added continuiusly and clouds up the tank, for me heavy skimming is my best choice in clear water and keeping things in check.

i also know that i should be running carbon with so much food added but i just dont trust carbon to fix the problems.....i hate relying on things i know will let me down one day im use to it , so i run heavy amiunts of gfo and large water changes.

im not too worried about trapped organics as i dont have a sand bed so i do daily blastings in both the rock and glass for ditrius, which my nps corals love anyways