Activated charcoal really needed?

[Daniel Fishy]

Just added some ac last night and today corals are not happy is it really needed? Lfs said run it maybe one week out of the month. 75 reef mostly lps 15 gal wc weekly. Up for 7 months.

 

[melosu58]

I dont run it in mine but it should not diminish water quality. If anything it should make it better or polish as they say in the Sw business.

 

[Daniel Fishy]

Thanks just weird and frustrating!!

 

[TommyP]

Did you rinse the AC before you put it in the tank? I remember when I put 2 rows of Activated carbon pellets into my HOB filter to "polish" the water I had to rinse it first.

 

[mr_X]

I was always told if you are going to run carbon, you should do it all of the time, not just occasionally. It's said that it makes your water so clear, your lighting will penetrate much better, and can shock your corals. Not unlike replacing spent lamps with brand new ones and not acclimating the tank to them.