activated carbon in a marine tank?

[lee_in_corpus]

one of my biggest gripes of my tank is that the water is never truly clear.  at times i get really really close, but there always seems to be just a touch of green tint to the water.  one of my friends who got me into the hobby says the density of salt water is higher than fresh, and it will never be as clear as my freshwater tank was.  but ive seen REALLY clear salt water tanks.

so ive researched GAC and biowheels, and everything i've read says they can do just as much hard to a marine aquarium as they can help.  so the question is, how do i get my water clear without the use of carbon?

TIA!  :)

[Bergy]

the density issue is interesting, at the onset of thinking about it kinda makes sense, but then again if you do think about it it dont...

if you were submerged in the solution that is more dense, then yes, things would be distorted...

but to have a volume of it in a glass container, and assuming the solution was totally dissolved then it should be clear, (depneding on the color and type of solution)

for salt, again, as long as it is totally dissolved, then it will be crystal clear depending on the 'particulate' matter floating in the water


you can be haing a few issues going on...

if you are talking about a green tint, then you can get rid of that with carbon filtration, and no, there is zero wrong with using activated carbon. as long as you use it propertly, and change it on schedule...

if you are seeing dust or particulate matter then you can prbably get fid of that with more circulation, (yes, i know that i scounter intuitive)...

and yes, there is a point of diminushing returns, i.e. you can have too much flow...

you can also use filter pads and filter socks and all that, but again, yuou need to change them often...

[RandyFolds]

You cannot do harm to a marine tank with activated carbon...it would take pounds and pounds of it to really skew anything, and hands down, it is the best solution to any yellowing of your water.

What you should be concerned about is the fact that the water is yellowing. Are you doing water changes? Is your makeup water clean? Something is causing a lot of organics to leech into the water.

[Bergy]

great point... treating symptoms is usually nto a a good choice...

[Just_Greg]

this is also where a good skimmer comes in, as it will remove many of the purines, amines and other DOC's that cause yellow water.

as for using carbon, make sure it's rinsed well to remove any dust, as the dust has been suspected to be linked to HLLE.  in fact, tumbling carbon in reactors results in carbon dust.  i've recently been discussing this with Jay Hemdal, as we've considered running reactors on some of our setups.  i think based on what i'm hearing, i'll continue to use it statically (a mesh bag tossed into the sump) for the time being.

i'd also say to buy a good grade of carbon over a cheaper one, and pelletized is better than GAC, as it gives off less dust.

just passing the info on...do with it as you please.

[lee_in_corpus]

i admit, im overdue for a water change....  *shameful face*

but its something ive noticed since i first got the aquarium.  its not noticeable when you look straight on, but if you look down the side glass, you can see it  (180 gal tank, so its a much longer view).

now that i think about it....down at the far end, with the weaker powerhead, these been an algae buildup on the rocks. 

i tested my water 2 weeks ago.  the only thing off was nitrates, and it was just a hair high.

theres very little dust or matter moving around in the tank.  only after i scrape the glass, or the sand shifter gets crazy.

as per the guy who sold me the tank, i get my makeup water from the glacier machine in front of CVS.  its filetered and ROed and carboned and all that good stuff.

the tank might be getting a sliver of direct sunlight in the afternoon, but it would have been getting that since day 1.

[lee_in_corpus]

the skimmer!!!!

i totally forgot it went out in december, and i never yanked it out and fiddled with it!  the motor whirs, but its not bringing water up out of the tank.  i so need to get that thing working again!  good call! 

[Bergy]

yea, definately look into your skimmer..

If it isnt drawing air into the skimmer reaction chamber, then try pouring water into the tube that sticks out of the water?

Also take the pump apart and clean the impellar or needlewheel or whatever ou have.

ALSO, glas has color.. typically it is a blue green color, and the thicker the glass the moer color you can see... if you look at a n angle you are basically looking through  a thicker piece of glass.

they make a low iron glass that is or can be cystal clear...  but of course you pay for that, in the price of hte tank and in the ability of the glass to resist scratches, low iron equal soft glass



btw:  fun fact:  ready.....   Glass is a liquid

[lee_in_corpus]

pulled the skimmer apart, cleaned the impeller......it spins now, but its not drawing any water up into the chamber.  im too exhausted today to mess with it anymore. 

also noticed that the powerhead at the far end is totally dead.......i think that explains the algae on the rocks at that end.....

[pinkorchid]

I have been using carbon since day one the tank is really clear...but I'm thinking about ditching it just because it needs replaced monthly. I'm curious to see if there will be a big difference.

Good luck with getting yours cleared up and with the skimmer!

[Bergy]

powerheads need to be cleaned regularly too.

they are easy to clean and there aer usually plenty of replacement parts/impellars

[lee_in_corpus]

yeah, that was a cheapie powerhead.  motor is completely dead.  current coming out of it was pretty weak anyways.  gonna go pick up a new one this evening.

whats the best way to add carbon to the tank?  my canister filter has a 2 trays in it.  one of them has the plastic thingies to promote biological filtration.  the other just has a cloth filter that looks to capture large particles, then a plastic grated divider, and nothing.  i'm thinking in that compartment?  assuming the carbon chunks are big enough to not slip through.

[Bergy]

the sell carbon enfuzed foam pads that you can cut to size and place anywhere it will fit in your cannister filter...

or you can place the carbon into filter bags and place them anywhere too, so they dont fall thru or whatever...

you can place the bag in the main display near the return nozzle...

basically anywhere... the more flow the better, (in your case)

[Just_Greg]

BTW, an old stocking/knee high works well to hold media such as carbon.

i get mine from Bill when he's done wearing them... 

 

[Bergy]

DUDE, thats our secret... i though i was helping you from having to explain why you keep breaking into Renee's panty drawer