Carbon

[slandis3]

Ok what carbon does everyone run and how do you run it? Is it in a filter sock in your sump? You got it in a reactor? How often should you replace it?

[MechanicalEngineer]

I run the Kent Reef Carbon 4 days/month in a filter sock.  Any more than that, and it will likely strip your tank of everything.  Some brands you can run longer I think.

[MSUJenn]

I use the Black Diamond Carbon when I think my water looks a little yellow. Usually for a few days every month or two. Sometimes I put it in the media tray of my sump , so the drain water passes through it, and other times I just toss it in my sump ( I know I probably shouldn't do that). I take it out when I don't notice the yellow tint to my water anymore, or when I remember. Eventually, I think I would like to run it through a some sort of a reactor. I hear a lot of people have good luck with using phosphate reactors to run carbon.

[Joel]

I use Black Diamond in a filter bag and place it in a situation where water has no choice but to flow thru it. I typically replace it every 2- 4 weeks.

Although I agree that carbon may remove some desirable trace elements, it's benefits to the aquarium far out weigh it's harm. Regular water changes & the addition of trace elements more than correct what carbon removes. Having crystal clear water significantly improves light penetration to the corals.

[ohioreef]

Has anyone tried running carbon in with their PO4 media?

[JoeAyers]

Has anyone tried running carbon in with their PO4 media?

I run two reactors in a row. GFO then to Carbon. No real reason other than I can get away with one pump.

[ohioreef]

I've heard of people mixing GFO and carbon in one reactor. I was wondering if anyone here has done that.

[MechanicalEngineer]

I did once, but found that it was just a mess even with the two medias separated in the same reactor since one had to be changed out faster than the other.  I just run carbon in a sock now since it has to be changed so often. 

[Joel]

With the very high likelihood that different media or polymers will have different Useful life spans, I would think it would be better to used then separately.