carbon and carbon pads

[naivete]

Sir Chuck. Do we really need carbon or carbon pads for SPS and more so a mixed reef?

We are keeping mixed reef and so far we don't encounter any problems. we only keep zoas and xenia for softies. For SPS, acros and acan and flavis.

[charlesr1958]

Even if one does use a skimmer, which I don't, I would still recommend the use of carbon as it removes many compounds that are of no use and/or are harmfull to the life in our tanks, that and it thankfully does not remove the food sources of such things as bacteria and phytoplankton/algae. With soft corals present, the use of carbon becomes even more important or helpfull.

Charles

[obet_carlos]

how will i know if i must change the carbon i am using?:D

[charlesr1958]

I haven't tried it, but I heard of a test put out by salifert? That is supposed to somehow be able to test the carbon but usualy I simply change it after 24 hours on a tank that has not run carbon, then weekly, then after doing that for four weeks, slow down to changing it out monthly. But this is when using a good amount of carbon, the little pads or a few teaspoons of carbon is of no real use. For my 80 gal tank, I normaly use one box at a time and change it every two weeks.

Charles