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what a difference carbon makes

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by jwess, Sep 8, 2010.

  1. Sep 8, 2010 #1
    jwess

    jwess

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    I just added a BRS dual reactor for carbon and GFO to the restaurant tank out at the PIPAC Center.  What a difference!  In only a week there is  definately a difference in water clarity and the hair algae plague is getting thin.  Ive lost another battle to ich a while back and am down to only a few fish again.  They have been the sole survivors the last two times.  Next time I get more money Im going all damsels.  I started out with five velvet damsels and am down to only two now.  Three were eaten by a grouper(dead now) and the remaining two have outlasted everything the tank has gone through.  So to get more bang for their buck, Im going to order a load of damsels. 
    Josh
     
  2. Sep 8, 2010 #2
    stew Ankeny, IA

    stew Well-Known ReefKeeper GIRS Member

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    How big is the tank and how much live rock do is in it?  Sounds like the bio-load is over loading the filtration system.  The new setup sounds good but if a few fish can cause the overload then there may be some other issues to look at.
     
  3. Sep 8, 2010 #3
    jwess

    jwess

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    The tank is about 200 gallons. I dont think the bio load was as big a deel as is how much food they added to how many fish ate it. I had the cooks make up a batch of everything seafood along with some mysis and other store bought food. I think they were putting in too much food from time to time. As for rock, there is probably about 200lbs of rock in the tank.
    Josh
     
  4. Sep 8, 2010 #4
    stew Ankeny, IA

    stew Well-Known ReefKeeper GIRS Member

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    Overfeeding is something I think most of us have done and is likely the root of the problem.  While the new carbon/GFO system works I think it will also suffer from the overfeeding.
     
  5. Sep 8, 2010 #5
    AJ

    AJ Inactive User

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    Speaking of carbon, I heard an interesting comment from the guys at SeaWorld. They have a very closely monitored and managed tank and some of their tangs have been getting HLLE. They feed appropriately, but they still get it. They were saying that there's currently research being done that points back to activated carbon as being the cause/contributing factor. Until this research is published and substantiated, I'll continue to use carbon, but I just thought it was a very interesting conversation since most people choose to focus on the benefits of carbon vs the potential issues.

    --AJ
     
  6. Sep 9, 2010 #6
    Eric West Des Moines, IA

    Eric Experienced Reefkeeper

    1,170
    West Des Moines, IA
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    Posted By AJ on 09/08/2010 10:56 PM
    Speaking of carbon, I heard an interesting comment from the guys at SeaWorld. They have a very closely monitored and managed tank and some of their tangs have been getting HLLE. They feed appropriately, but they still get it. They were saying that there's currently research being done that points back to activated carbon as being the cause/contributing factor. Until this research is published and substantiated, I'll continue to use carbon, but I just thought it was a very interesting conversation since most people choose to focus on the benefits of carbon vs the potential issues.
    --AJ
    I've heard this as well - it's been a "theory" for several years (along with lack of natural sunlight & vitamin deficiency) but I'm glad someone is finally doing some documented research!
    -Eric
     

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