Carbon - Yes or No?

[sphelps]

Originally Posted by Aquattro

Not sure we can factor defective products into this. Tanks have crashed from defective salt, we're not going to call salt optional

Of course you can, it's a risk involved in using it so one has to determine if the risk is worth the benefit. You can't say a tank has crashed from not using carbon, plan and simple. You can argue the use of carbon MAY prevent a crash but the lack off is certainly not a cause.

Salt is not optional and neither is water or the container everything is held in, those risks are unavoidable.

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by sphelps

Of course you can, it's a risk involved in using it so one has to determine if the risk is worth the benefit. .

Everything can present a risk, but I think it's so small and random, that we can't discuss the use of a product, as a requirement for tanks, based on that small risk.
The discussion is about using good carbon vs not using good carbon. Now with that identified, we can carry on.

[FishyFishy!]

I personally have noticed water quality issues (as far as clarity is concerned) when not running carbon. I have had no bad experiences with running it. So on that alone, I will always run it for that reason.

I think that if it is regularily changed out, and used in a reactor, the benefits are obvious.

I think a lot of issues come about when people run the same carbon all the time in media bags which just collect detritus, and cause spikes nitrates or phosphates. Changing it out regularily, and using it in a reactor has benefits that I enjoy having in my tanks.

Is it nessessary? No. Does it have visible benefits? Yes.

[reefwars]

the only thing i got from this thread is i was right and carbon in not essential to running a system, its helps sure and MAY even save your tank someday...but it could also ruin it too.

so with that right there i dont run carbon nor will i unless an emergency arrives in which case i have carbon and a reactor on standby...god forbid

after having a look at my tank it seems everything is happy, no horrible contaminants or old tank syndrome. my water is clear enough for me and im not trying to sue kent for garbage carbon....

at the end of the day im happy and my tank is healthy....ill let you know when it crashes then everyone can say " told you to run carbon"

[sphelps]

I also learnt a valuable lesson, one that could change everything.

Only use good things and everything will be awesome Wish I thought of that.

[kien]

has a tank ever crashed because it ran carbon: YES
has a tank ever crashed because it didn't run carbon: YES
has a tank ever crashed because it used bad salt: YES
has a tank ever crashed because it used good salt: YES
has a tank ever crashed because it was totally awesome: YES
has a tank ever crashed because a baby kola bear farted : YES

So, what I got out of this thread is that I should just pack it in now because my tank is going to crash at any moment (again).

[Delphinus]

On second thought ... forget it. I'm out.

Peace all.

[FishyFishy!]

Originally Posted by Delphinus

On second thought ... forget it. I'm out.

Peace all.

YUUUP. No use beating things to death lol

[Jason McK]

never mind

[sphelps]

Originally Posted by Aquattro

Everything can present a risk, but I think it's so small and random, that we can't discuss the use of a product, as a requirement for tanks, based on that small risk.
The discussion is about using good carbon vs not using good carbon. Now with that identified, we can carry on.

Good carbon? Yes lets discuss the benefits of using a product but only if that product is good, and by good it will only do good and not cause any issues.