I've read about a million articles ( only a slight exageration ) and it seems there are different opinions as to whether or not you should run carbon all the time in a reef tank. I have a HOB filter on our new Mantis tank and it seems that the water in that tank is sparkling clear where as the water in our main DT is slightly clouded. Before I put the HOB on the little tank I never noticed it though. I figured I'd ask y'all what you think. Also if the general concesus is run carbon, what is a good brand that won't raise ph too much and isn't too expensive. Also how do you run yours? Canister filter, reactor, panty hose, etc... Thanks in advance!
If you change your water regularly, don't worry about it sucking the trace elements out of the water. Also if you change it often, it will pull out mostly pollutants. Change it every week to two weeks. If you change it less often than that it doesn't do you any good. I use the lignite carbon from Bulk reef. I run it in a Kent phos reactor. If you want to run it in a filter bag make sure you put it. In a high flow area... In a baffle in the sump, in hang on back filter, etc. Just make sure water flows around and through it well.
I carbon... and I will say that if for nothing but a water polisher, carbon is a good thing... I run it in a canister... canister makes sure that water flows through it proporly. I have never had it raise my PH... if anything I am always adding a buffer of some sort to keep that up so what kind?? Listen to beanhead on that one.. LOL
