HOB filter with Carbon or Skimmer?

**JaredCBell** · 07-11-2009, 04:55 AM

Im starting to get a a slight yellow tint in the water. Should I put my AC 70 with carbon back on or when I get a skimmer will it clear that up?

**kaybee** · 07-11-2009, 05:52 AM

Running carbon (1 to 2 tablespoons per 10gal of water volume) for 12-24hrs will clear it up.

Best to find the source of the discoloration though, resolve the problem, then run a skimmer 24/7.

**JaredCBell** · 07-11-2009, 01:40 PM

does a skimmer clear out foggy water? Could I put a little bag of carbon in the skimmer?

I ended up getting this skimmer: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...lenotsupported

**JaredCBell** · 07-11-2009, 01:56 PM

Or can I just add it directly to the tank and let it sit at the bottom for 24 hours

**kaybee** · 07-11-2009, 03:21 PM

The greater the water flow through the carbon, the greater the adsorption rate of carbon.

I suppose placing a carbon bag directly in the tank (passive adsorbtion)coupled with a water change would be better than nothing.

Any idea what is causing the yellow tint? How long has your tank been set up, what type of water circulation do you have, what livestock is in your tank and what are your basic water parameters?

**AABatteries** · 07-11-2009, 03:47 PM

Originally Posted by JaredCBell

Or can I just add it directly to the tank and let it sit at the bottom for 24 hours

Great skimmer.

I run one on my reef. I'm very pleased with it.

Did you try a good, old, fashioned, big water change?

**JaredCBell** · 07-12-2009, 12:53 AM

Originally Posted by PurplePeopleEater

Great skimmer.

I run one on my reef. I'm very pleased with it.

Did you try a good, old, fashioned, big water change?

eh...about 25 percent yesterday. Thats what made it foggy and murky. I stirred up some old food from under a rock on the sand bed. Just came home now though and its all clear.

I lost my Scooter blenny this morning though. I forgot to take him out of the tank when I did the water change and last night about an hour after I noticed he wad breathing heavily and not moving. I watched him all night and he would just be in a different spot (he used to burry himself when lights went out). This morning he was belly up on the bottom.

I must have kicked up too much crap or something. I tested my water and all the parameters were fine, must have been the inhaling of debris? Cant figure it out...

Originally Posted by kaybee

The greater the water flow through the carbon, the greater the adsorption rate of carbon.

I suppose placing a carbon bag directly in the tank (passive adsorbtion)coupled with a water change would be better than nothing.

Any idea what is causing the yellow tint? How long has your tank been set up, what type of water circulation do you have, what livestock is in your tank and what are your basic water parameters?

Im guessing its the food that collected under a rock (shrimp pellets) that no one ate. I am going to put the carbon in my AC 70 and hang that back on for a day or too just to clear it up even more. Its clear, but not as clear as I have seen it. Tank has been full salt for 4-5 weeks now. I have two koralia 1 powerheads, my livestock consists of 8 mexican hermit crabs, 2 turbo snails, 1 banded coral shrimp, 1 Brittle star and had a scooter blenny but he croaked. Water parameters are 0 ammonia, 0 Nitrite, PH about 7.9 (I cant seem to get this any higher, no matter what time of day I test too) an d nitrates are average about 20ppm. they were 40+ yesterday but the WC brought them down a bit.