Reef Discussion
I have herd activated carbon causes lateral line diease and hole in the head disease ... i run activated carbon in a two little fish reactor but i also have mineral mud to stop and remove the possibility of the two formentioned problems any thoughts as i have only just found this out myself
the aluminum oxide in that worries me vs the alternative (GFO), better safe than sorry, I hope :-/
From Randy Holmes-Farley - http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2003/7/chemistry
You certainly notice clearer crisp water, when using it. I found my best results running the reactor 2 hours /day the carbon lasts longer.
Lately I have phased it out of all my tanks, I feel its perhaps removing as much good as it is the bad. Its not selective in what it does and does not remove. Sure the water in not so crisp, but I am noticing increased growth in sponges clams etc.
One animals waste is another's dinner, I am using a more holistic approach sponges, micro fauna, accidians etc.
Lately I have phased it out of all my tanks, I feel its perhaps removing as much good as it is the bad. Its not selective in what it does and does not remove. Sure the water in not so crisp, but I am noticing increased growth in sponges clams etc.
One animals waste is another's dinner, I am using a more holistic approach sponges, micro fauna, accidians etc.
I usually run it. @K&J Aquatics has some really good stuff, just make sure you use fine mesh if using a bag.
The benefit of running Carbon is that it removes the yellowing in the water, whilst also improve water clarity which allows better light penetration for the corals.
It's also useful for removing toxins from softies etc. It's benefit far outweigh the negatives in my eyes. However as is usually the case in this game, little is better than a lot and using too much carbon can have negative effects.
Ben
It's also useful for removing toxins from softies etc. It's benefit far outweigh the negatives in my eyes. However as is usually the case in this game, little is better than a lot and using too much carbon can have negative effects.
Ben
Carbon won't hurt the cycle. :)
No need to add anything to speed up the cycle. Chemists have demonstrated that anything you can buy in a bottle can NOT add good bacteria to the tank, simply by virtue of the fact that bacteria (in thriving conditions) will multiply at such an exponential rate that if it were possible to keep them in a bottle, the bottle would explode.
As my mate's son (biologist) put it " anything you can put in from a bottle to assist cycling, equates to dosing with bottled pollution - and why would you add pollution?" In his view you may as well just drop a small piece of prawn or fish in there if you are determined to pollute your tank.
It comes back to balance, not how fast you can create organics for bacteria to consume. Good article by Eric Bourneman on the cycle - CLICK HERE.
No need to add anything to speed up the cycle. Chemists have demonstrated that anything you can buy in a bottle can NOT add good bacteria to the tank, simply by virtue of the fact that bacteria (in thriving conditions) will multiply at such an exponential rate that if it were possible to keep them in a bottle, the bottle would explode.
As my mate's son (biologist) put it " anything you can put in from a bottle to assist cycling, equates to dosing with bottled pollution - and why would you add pollution?" In his view you may as well just drop a small piece of prawn or fish in there if you are determined to pollute your tank.
It comes back to balance, not how fast you can create organics for bacteria to consume. Good article by Eric Bourneman on the cycle - CLICK HERE.
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