Carbon in a reactor

cfsindorf · 10/14/2012, 06:11 AM

For those that run carbon 24/7 what carbon do you use and how often do you change it? Lets not get into why run it or not runt it for 24/7. As we all know some do and some don't.

Thanks

Craig

Crusinjimbo · 10/14/2012, 06:51 AM

I use 30mg GFO and 30mg GAC, both BRS generic, and change it weekly now. PO4 has read 0 on Hanna for 7 weeks and I continue to reduce the volume of both in a BRS reactor. My 50# of pukani finally has run out of phosphate, or I hope so anyway!

downbeach · 10/14/2012, 07:25 AM

I use a single BRS reactor with 1 1/4 cups of ROX 0.8 GAC. in a 180 gal. tank. I'm using an MJ400 for flow, and I replace it once a month.

yogoshio · 10/14/2012, 07:27 AM

I use chemi-pure after kent carbon's bad carbon (contaminated with copper) batch made me leery of contaminated carbon.

bertoni · 10/14/2012, 04:26 PM

After a month or so, the carbon likely is covered with bacteria, and it's not doing anything particularly useful, so I changed it about that often. More frequently might be appropriate for a tank with a lot of corals emitting toxins.

Andrew D · 10/14/2012, 09:43 PM

I have about 12 bags of chemi-pure in a DIY reactor, and every 2 weeks I remove the bottom 2 while adding 2 fresh ones up top. This way I have some relatively fresh carbon "in play" at any time and I don't shock my system by replacing it all at once. I should be using a lot more carbon than I do (150G DT with 200+G's on top of that in sump, fuge and frag tank), and probably replacing it more frequently, but the stuff ain't cheap. I'm thinking of stopping carbon and see what happens, or going with some cheaper stuff.

bertoni · 10/15/2012, 04:59 PM

Personally, I'd try some of the BRS bulk carbon. It's cheaper than the ChemiPure, and the ROX 0.8 likely is a better carbon.

Steve175 · 10/15/2012, 09:19 PM

I use Premium Aquatic bulk carbon and replace it monthly (~ 2lbs in a large reactor)

10/14/2012, 06:11 AM	#1
cfsindorf Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 219	Carbon in a reactor For those that run carbon 24/7 what carbon do you use and how often do you change it? Lets not get into why run it or not runt it for 24/7. As we all know some do and some don't. Thanks Craig

10/14/2012, 06:51 AM	#2
Crusinjimbo Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Wesley Chapel FL Posts: 751	I use 30mg GFO and 30mg GAC, both BRS generic, and change it weekly now. PO4 has read 0 on Hanna for 7 weeks and I continue to reduce the volume of both in a BRS reactor. My 50# of pukani finally has run out of phosphate, or I hope so anyway! __________________ Jimbo 13.5G EVO

10/14/2012, 07:25 AM	#3
downbeach Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Smyrna, Delaware Posts: 3,767	I use a single BRS reactor with 1 1/4 cups of ROX 0.8 GAC. in a 180 gal. tank. I'm using an MJ400 for flow, and I replace it once a month. Last edited by downbeach; 10/14/2012 at 07:32 AM.

10/14/2012, 04:26 PM	#5
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	After a month or so, the carbon likely is covered with bacteria, and it's not doing anything particularly useful, so I changed it about that often. More frequently might be appropriate for a tank with a lot of corals emitting toxins. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

10/15/2012, 04:59 PM	#7
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Personally, I'd try some of the BRS bulk carbon. It's cheaper than the ChemiPure, and the ROX 0.8 likely is a better carbon. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

10/14/2012, 07:27 AM	#4
yogoshio Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Highland, IN Posts: 163	I use chemi-pure after kent carbon's bad carbon (contaminated with copper) batch made me leery of contaminated carbon.

10/14/2012, 09:43 PM	#6
Andrew D Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Burlington, Ontario, Canada Posts: 356	I have about 12 bags of chemi-pure in a DIY reactor, and every 2 weeks I remove the bottom 2 while adding 2 fresh ones up top. This way I have some relatively fresh carbon "in play" at any time and I don't shock my system by replacing it all at once. I should be using a lot more carbon than I do (150G DT with 200+G's on top of that in sump, fuge and frag tank), and probably replacing it more frequently, but the stuff ain't cheap. I'm thinking of stopping carbon and see what happens, or going with some cheaper stuff.

10/15/2012, 09:19 PM	#8
Steve175 Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 1,186	I use Premium Aquatic bulk carbon and replace it monthly (~ 2lbs in a large reactor) __________________ Steve ---------------------------------- Current Tank Info: 2 separate 250G bowfront rimless ELOS tanks plumbed to 260G sump, 220G refugium, 220G frag, BK DeLuxe 300, 400W MH x4, closed loops, 3/4hp chiller x2, Phos reactor, Kalk reactor, Charcoal reactor, Ca reactor, 60G surge tanks, & a huge elec bill