using carbon in a reef system.....

JmLee · 02/05/2006, 06:55 PM

how many of you guys use carbon in your reef tanks? ive read and discussed the pro's and con's of using carbon ( carbon absorbing dosing suppliments ). So far it seems to come down to personal opinion and taste when it comes to using carbon in a reef tank. I my self run it because i like the extra clean water. How about you guys?.

collective21 · 02/05/2006, 06:56 PM

I run 4 units of chemi-pure in my 180

jdieck · 02/05/2006, 07:01 PM

The only supplements carbon will adsorb will be iodine, vitamins and similar whose addition may not be necessary afterall so go for it. I use carbon (and Purigen, and Phosban) and replace it once a month.
For those using carbon I will recomend that after the initial wash with tap water to remove the dust you let it submerged in a bucket of RO/DI water for at least 24 hours before using it. All carbons contain certain amount of Phosphate, this method helps it to leach some of it out. Testing of my carbon (Suposedly one of the lowest phosphate content) bath water after 24 hours shows 0.5+ ppm phosphates.

JmLee · 02/05/2006, 07:07 PM

good stuff. I wash my carbon in fresh R/O salt water before i use it. And what about chemi-pure? i never used it so im not to familiar with it. it is a filtering media correct?. how does it differ from using carbon?.

collective21 · 02/05/2006, 07:12 PM

http://www.aquaticeco.com/index.cfm/.../5705/cid/1628

JmLee · 02/05/2006, 07:15 PM

nice collective21 ill consider using it on my next filter change. thanks. Any more opinions on the subject?.

jdieck · 02/05/2006, 07:27 PM

Chemi-Pure will not last as long as 6 months but will work well for smaller aquariums. If you use it assuming I will recomend washing it regularly so it does not turn into a Nitrate factory. For large Aquariums I would recomend using Carbon and Resin separately. Purigen also removes organics and can be regenerated once exausted being more cost effective in the long run.

JmLee · 02/05/2006, 07:43 PM

ok so what youyr saying is that chemipure will leech nitrates into the water after exhausted? and how do you reccomend regenerating?, just by washing with clean water?.

jdieck · 02/05/2006, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by JmLee
ok so what youyr saying is that chemipure will leech nitrates into the water after exhausted? and how do you reccomend regenerating?, just by washing with clean water?.

No it will not leach, what happens if a media (Carbon, Purigen Chemi-pure or filter sponges etc) stays too long without disruption bacterial proliferation within their large surface area increase the nitrification rate (such like with a very efficient biological filter) so detritus turns into Nitrate before the skimmer has a chance to remove it.
Just take it out once a week and give it a good brisk shake in RO/DI water to wash it and put it back in the tank.
Carbon and Iron based phosphate removers can not be regenerated, Purigen can be regenerated by soaking it in a 50/50 mix of water and bleach fro 24 hours, then washed and either air dried or left in a bath of water with a de-chlorinator without slime coat before putting it back in the media bag. When in use it turns from white to brown when exausted.

JmLee · 02/05/2006, 08:03 PM

got it thanks man you've been great help =)

thereefmaster · 02/05/2006, 09:48 PM

I used purigen before I went filterless. I used in in a Fluval 404 and it was good stuff and I didn't see any significant impact on the supplement level.

hth

Nate

02/05/2006, 06:55 PM	#1
JmLee Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Hohensfels, Germany Posts: 1,545	using carbon in a reef system..... how many of you guys use carbon in your reef tanks? ive read and discussed the pro's and con's of using carbon ( carbon absorbing dosing suppliments ). So far it seems to come down to personal opinion and taste when it comes to using carbon in a reef tank. I my self run it because i like the extra clean water. How about you guys?.

02/05/2006, 07:01 PM	#3
jdieck Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Maumee, OH Posts: 15,673	The only supplements carbon will adsorb will be iodine, vitamins and similar whose addition may not be necessary afterall so go for it. I use carbon (and Purigen, and Phosban) and replace it once a month. For those using carbon I will recomend that after the initial wash with tap water to remove the dust you let it submerged in a bucket of RO/DI water for at least 24 hours before using it. All carbons contain certain amount of Phosphate, this method helps it to leach some of it out. Testing of my carbon (Suposedly one of the lowest phosphate content) bath water after 24 hours shows 0.5+ ppm phosphates. __________________ Did I write what I wrote? What the heck am I talking about! Well..... Nevermind. Current Tank Info: 225 gal reef, DSB, 40 g sump w/ LRT100 return, 37 g pre-sump, 3 MH 250 W 15K, 4 96 W PC dual actinic,ETS 1500 Skim.w/LRT70, 20 lb Ca R., 40 W UV, 1/3 HP chiller, two 350 W Htrs, Neptune II Cont., 330 P LR/ 330 P LS. 55 gal Refugium

02/05/2006, 07:27 PM	#7
jdieck Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Maumee, OH Posts: 15,673	Chemi-Pure will not last as long as 6 months but will work well for smaller aquariums. If you use it assuming I will recomend washing it regularly so it does not turn into a Nitrate factory. For large Aquariums I would recomend using Carbon and Resin separately. Purigen also removes organics and can be regenerated once exausted being more cost effective in the long run. __________________ Did I write what I wrote? What the heck am I talking about! Well..... Nevermind. Current Tank Info: 225 gal reef, DSB, 40 g sump w/ LRT100 return, 37 g pre-sump, 3 MH 250 W 15K, 4 96 W PC dual actinic,ETS 1500 Skim.w/LRT70, 20 lb Ca R., 40 W UV, 1/3 HP chiller, two 350 W Htrs, Neptune II Cont., 330 P LR/ 330 P LS. 55 gal Refugium

02/05/2006, 09:48 PM	#11
thereefmaster Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Mossyrock, WA Posts: 354	I used purigen before I went filterless. I used in in a Fluval 404 and it was good stuff and I didn't see any significant impact on the supplement level. hth Nate __________________ Click on the Little Red House to see my Reef! Current Tank Info: 55G Reef, Coralife SuperSkimmer 220, Current USA 260W PC, 2" SSB

02/05/2006, 06:56 PM	#2
collective21 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: South Carolina Posts: 217	I run 4 units of chemi-pure in my 180

02/05/2006, 07:07 PM	#4
JmLee Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Hohensfels, Germany Posts: 1,545	good stuff. I wash my carbon in fresh R/O salt water before i use it. And what about chemi-pure? i never used it so im not to familiar with it. it is a filtering media correct?. how does it differ from using carbon?.

02/05/2006, 07:12 PM	#5
collective21 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: South Carolina Posts: 217	http://www.aquaticeco.com/index.cfm/.../5705/cid/1628

02/05/2006, 07:15 PM	#6
JmLee Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Hohensfels, Germany Posts: 1,545	nice collective21 ill consider using it on my next filter change. thanks. Any more opinions on the subject?.

02/05/2006, 07:43 PM	#8
JmLee Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Hohensfels, Germany Posts: 1,545	ok so what youyr saying is that chemipure will leech nitrates into the water after exhausted? and how do you reccomend regenerating?, just by washing with clean water?.

02/05/2006, 08:03 PM	#10
JmLee Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Hohensfels, Germany Posts: 1,545	got it thanks man you've been great help =)