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when to add filter media...? (1 Viewer)

PaulTushaus

PaulTushaus

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so I am just cycling my new 40 breeder and I was wondering when I should start using my phosban reactor and running carbon, I will not be adding my protein skimmer until I move my live stock over from the 24 gallon because I have it currently running on the 24, the skimmer is an Aqua-c remora pro w/ the mag drive 3 pump, also at the moment all I have in the tank is new sand, and dry rock, I will be doing my other rock structure with my live rock this weekend (hopefully) the only thing I have done so far to start a cycle is fed some brine shrimp to the tank, and treated for 65 gallons with Cycle, any other advice on cycling my new tank will be appreciated.
 
First question, why feed brine shrimp with nothing in the tank but rock and sand, second why run carbon?
 
I fed brine shrimp to start the ammonia/nitrogen cycle. and I am planning on running carbon in my new tank eventually... probably not until I see the water clarity change though.
 
oh no prob, I am planning on running carbon for a couple of reasons #1 i believe it helps remove undetectable contaminants in your tank, and #2 every time I use it I notice a HUGE difference in water clarity.
 
You know - I read up about carbon all the time and thus far I have not used it.

I started my tank in Oct 08 with just a 3" - 4" DSB and about 40 lbs live rock - let it sit for about 3 months before adding anything. To this day my water clarity is ALWAYS awesome

Will there come a time that it gets murky? I am just wondering as thus far - I keep thinking I shoud run some carbon as everyone else does but I still can't find a reason why.....

Maybe my tank is just still too new/maturing - thoughts?
 
Last edited:
acharpenter said:
You know - I read up about carbon all the time and thus far I have not used it.

I started my tank in Oct 08 with just a 3" - 4" DSB and about 40 lbs live rock - let it sit for about 3 months before adding anything. To this day my water clarity is ALWAYS awesome

Will there come a time that it gets murky? I am just wondering as thus far - I keep thinking I shoud run some carbon as everyone else does but I still cat find a reason why.....

Maybe my tank is just still too new/maturing - thoughts?
Click to expand...

I don't think you have much load yet. You don't have too much fish/corals that produces a good amount of waste. I think Eventually carbon would be good.
 
I have cycled a tank with carbon before, but now I don't run it on my system on a regular basis, in fact I haven't run it yet since I quit, but that was only a few weeks ago. I've seen a lot of nice tanks with no carbon running.
 
I don't think carbon is a necessity in a reef, just from what I'm read. There are situations that can call for it, but I think carbon is unnecessary. What are some other opinions on this. Sorry Paul, perhaps we should start a new thread on carbon, who use it and who doesn't and why.
 
sogonerg said:
Nope, not to new. Just not enough livestock producing organic waste. IMO I do notice my water being clearer. GFO is more benificial, but does cost more too to use, thats for another topic.
Click to expand...

no no GFO is the topic! I want to know if I should run GFO right away during my cycle or will it inhibit anything that I want happening during the cycle...?
 
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