Running carbon

[JTM4UG]

I have been getting mixed answers on this and wanted to know what everyone thinks. Run carbon 24/7 or short increments?

 

[Chlorinated]

I run it 24/7 without issue. Run it in a media bag and swap out during my bi-weekly water changes

 

[absolutecarrot]

24/7

 

[BiGGiePauls33]

I only run it for about a week a month, just enough to clear up the water.

 

[ReefAddict]

I only run it for about a week a month, just enough to clear up the water.

Same here. I run it for 3-4 days about once a month. Just anecdotal but I have seen better results for sps dominant not running 24/7.

 

[BiGGiePauls33]

Same here. I run it for 3-4 days about once a month. Just anecdotal but I have seen better results for sps dominant not running 24/7.

Exactly, I meant to put in SPS dominant. I've definitely run it longer and I believe I had issues with sticks than only running it for a short cycle.

 

[Owen386]

This was a question of the day last week over on reef2reef

QUESTION OF THE DAY - Carbon: The easiest way to maintain fresh carbon in your reef?

Activated Carbon - Commonly used in reef tanks, activated carbon is great for a whole variety of reasons, ranging for removal of general contaminants, dissolved organics, undesirable odors, yellowing pigments in the water, removing the build-up of toxins that corals and algae emit to fight each...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[this is me]

SPS dominant with lots of tangs and ROX carbon running 24/7 without any issue. HLLE on tangs has a lot more to do with tank environment than just running carbon.
What you do with the carbon in the reactor when it's not turned on? Let it sit stagnant? Take it out and wash it every time you restart? Sounds like a lot more work than to just let it run 24/7.

 

[KJB]

I used to run 24/7 and swap out monthly. I watched a melevs reef video recently where he says carbon loses its usefulness after 7 days typically and its most effective within the first 48 hours.
I now run a mess bag of carbon stuffed in the bubble trap of my AIO. 2 days then out.
I feel like its been better at clearing the water, etc.
All my water passes through the bubble trap so for me, its as efficient as a reactor without the hassle.