Bio Pellets??? WHAT??

[Salty Cracker]

[quote author=Salty Cracker link=topic=8241.msg87484#msg87484 date=1395932565]
My carbon tumbles all the time. 
I've heard that carbon dust can lead to hole-in-the-head disease in tangs, but I haven't had that either.  I have the output of the carbon go into the GFO reactor, then the output of the GFO has a mesh sock on it. 

Honestly, I just couldn't get it to stop tumbling.  Seems to work so I leave it.

Picture of your setup please....
[/quote]

haha if you had ever seen my sump setup you would know why it's impossible to take a pic of that tangled mess.  Basically one MJ pump going into the intake of a TLF 150 reactor with carbon in it, then the output of that into a second reactor with say a cup fo GFO, and then the output tube has a sock with a tie string on it (and it does catch carbon and gfo bits).  Biopellets run off another pump and is in a vertex reactor. 

 

[Salty Cracker]

From everything i've read.... And even the BRS vids... Carbon isn't supposed to tumble.
It will break up and get released into your sump or DT

Yep, I read the same stuff, that's why it goes through the gfo and the sock...hopefully the cabon dust gets caught up.  Like I said, I'm doiing it "wrong" but it's working so I don't change it.  Worst came to worst and I lost a tang...I'll buy another tang.  2 years this way and no diseased tangs however.

 

[benzzz]

Very interesting and a good idea with the sock to catch debris. I was also under the assumption to not tumble carbon. But if it works don't fix it...

I have been running the pellets and MB7 for a bit now and water clarity is amazing and everything seems to be doing well. I have never seen polyp extentions before like now with my SPS. I used 250ml of ecoBAK brand as alot of people gave them great reviews. 

 

[Bfofre]

My water clarity SUCKS!! 

I'm not sure if it is blowing stuff around the tank or what... But it always seems cloudy to me!!

I run GFO and CARBON.

System isn't that mature yet....  But it's something that has been bothering me...

 

[Salty Cracker]

Try filter socks on your return lines, and replace your carbon every week or so until your clarity is good, otherwise look for something stirring up the substrate too much (you, or a sand sifter).

Also, yeah it could just be a system in flux. 

 

[reeferkeeper420]

Is it maybe micro bubbles from your skimmer being shot back into ur system?

 

[Reef Hero]

Is there any clear evidence to support that tumbling your carbon will cause hole in the head?? I've been tumbling mine for quite a while now and all fish are healthy.... Plus you can put filters or mesh bag at the output.... This what I do to catch any small particles

 

[Reef Hero]

[quote author=Reef Hero link=topic=8241.msg87471#msg87471 date=1395928290]
[quote author=curiousphil link=topic=8241.msg87468#msg87468 date=1395927729]
[quote author=Salty Cracker link=topic=8241.msg87406#msg87406 date=1395869799]
You could, but you wouldn't be able to just stop the pellet reactor and run carbon again, so it's sort of best to have a 3rd reactor. 

You could also just run carbon in a sock/bag passively in a high flow area of your sump.  Supposedly it works just as well this way:
http://joejaworski.wordpress.com/2008/05/09/does-a-reef-tank-need-carbon/


Nothing to add to the biopellets discussion.  The posts above me have already covered their benefits quite well.
[/quote]

I'm gonna go ahead and disagree with how running carbon without tumbling is just as good as running it with tumbling.... A reefer I hold on high regard swears by using rox carbon and tumbling it as much as possible.... He believes that the use of carbon is very much needed.... Possibly just as much as GFO.... And when you see his amazing collection it is hard to argue with him....
[/quote]

Tumbling it??  I thought that even when it's used in a reactor you are supposed to have it pressed tightly so that water just flows through it but doesn't tumble it.  It was my understanding that tumbling will break it up.  Do you literally mean he tumbles it as much as possible - or that he just pumps a shitload of water through it?  Just curious is all.
[/quote]

It tumbles quite aggressively.... I am going to try a larger MJ pump in the future to get my carbon and GFO to tumble more.... I'm not trying to say that ppl should start tumbling.... I'm just putting in my opion, what I do, and what I've seen

 

[Salty Cracker]

Is it maybe micro bubbles from your skimmer being shot back into ur system?

From the wiki oddly enough: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Head_and_lateral_line_erosion

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-1697797.html
http://www.bostonreefers.org/forums/archive/index.php/t-128930.html

I'm not sold that it does cause it, but I have read a fair bit which is why I use the filter sock and the second reactor to try and contain the "dust".  Plus I rinse all carbon in RO/DI water before it goes in the system. 

 

[pulpfiction1]

no proof,just anecdotal evidence carbon is the cause

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-06/sp/

I've always packed carbon tight,carbon is soft and grinds away quickly in my experience

heres an interesting read,only a small entry as to the use of carbon

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2009-04/newbie/index.php