How to use Charcoal?

Akito starwind · 11/13/2008, 12:14 AM

Ok I have read the use of Charcoal in the tank can help with toxins and other stuff but whats the best way to use it? Is it the same Charcoal as in the filter pads in some filters? or something else? placement of it in the tank?

rad3dad · 11/13/2008, 01:06 AM

Yes, its the same as whats used in filter pads. There are better grades then others. And it needs changed out on a regular basis, or it can start to release what it has removed. It's best to use it where the water flow has to travel through it, without being able to channel around it.

BLAKEJOHN · 11/13/2008, 01:18 AM

The best way IMO is to run it through a media reactor(phospahate reactor) It needs low flow to work efficiently.

I made a chamber for my carbon for abount ten bucks at the hardware store and added a small pump (about 70-80gph). Then I bought a 2 lil fishies phosphate reactor so I cold run both medias together.
Here are some pics of the chamber I made.

mg426 · 11/13/2008, 01:52 AM

I use a Two little fishes reactor to run my carbon, I use black Diamond carbon.

JoeMomma · 11/13/2008, 08:34 AM

We are not talking about straight charcoal that is used on a BBQ right? That stuff in will not work.

WaterKeeper · 11/13/2008, 08:41 AM

It will if you light it.

Hopefully we are talking activated carbon here. If so, the pads are OK but have a very limited lifetime, less than a week, and are more expensive than buying bulk carbon. I love BlakeJohn's setup, he must be a photographer

. Another option is to place it in filter bags and place those in a canister filter. In that type of set-up I change it out every two weeks.

WrinkleFreeZone · 11/13/2008, 10:59 AM

In my house, a pair of panty hose with a run in them doesn't become a mask for a convenience store heist when I need diapers. (If you don't know the reference, see "Raising Arizona"). I know it's completely unsophisticated, but I run carbon in the wife's old pairs of them. Just cut a leg off, double it back on itself, fill it and knot it. It works like a charm. When it's time to change out the carbon, you can throw the whole thing away if you don't want to deal with cleaning it. If you don't mind washing it out, they last a long time.
-B

WaterKeeper · 11/13/2008, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by WrinkleFreeZone
. When it's time to change out the carbon, you can throw the whole thing away if you don't want to deal with cleaning it. If you don't mind washing it out, they last a long time.
-B

Especially if you wife can't find a pair. What's that smell? Oh, we got some new live rock for our tank.

Works for me B.

_E_ · 11/13/2008, 11:59 AM

Carbon is a nice thing to have around. Carbon can remove toxins, clear yellowed water, and remove any offending tank smells. Carbon can be simply placed in a mesh bag in a high flow area of the sump, but this is not as efficient as running it in a reactor. Many aquarists use a phosban reactor with a powerhead for carbon or use an old unsed canister filter.

Akito starwind · 11/13/2008, 12:27 PM

thanks, now ill have to look into a set up.

11/13/2008, 12:14 AM	#1
Akito starwind Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 46	How to use Charcoal? Ok I have read the use of Charcoal in the tank can help with toxins and other stuff but whats the best way to use it? Is it the same Charcoal as in the filter pads in some filters? or something else? placement of it in the tank?

11/13/2008, 01:06 AM	#2
rad3dad Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Central IL Posts: 175	Yes, its the same as whats used in filter pads. There are better grades then others. And it needs changed out on a regular basis, or it can start to release what it has removed. It's best to use it where the water flow has to travel through it, without being able to channel around it. __________________ The more you learn, the more you realize how little you know.

11/13/2008, 01:18 AM	#3
BLAKEJOHN Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: kingston IL Posts: 39	The best way IMO is to run it through a media reactor(phospahate reactor) It needs low flow to work efficiently. I made a chamber for my carbon for abount ten bucks at the hardware store and added a small pump (about 70-80gph). Then I bought a 2 lil fishies phosphate reactor so I cold run both medias together. Here are some pics of the chamber I made. __________________ 110 G Acrylic 95.5 lbs LR 100 lbs sand DDNW-250 Recirc Skimmer 20 G sump 4 x 48" T-5 HO (50-50) Current Tank Info: 110G acrylic, 10l nano(in progress)

11/13/2008, 01:52 AM	#4
mg426 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: maryland Posts: 6,923	I use a Two little fishes reactor to run my carbon, I use black Diamond carbon. __________________ I found a way to make a small fortune running a reef tank. Start with a large fortune. Unofficial President of the SEACLONE haters club Current Tank Info: 125 mixed reef 110 lbs LR, 1x250watt XM 20K MH 2x175watt XM 20K MH on Magetics 2X96 watt actinic PC, 220 watt VHO actinic, 30 gallon refugium, closed loop system powered by Sequence Dart MSX 200 skimmer 38 gallon sump, Oceansmotions squirt

11/13/2008, 08:41 AM	#6
WaterKeeper Bogus Information Expert Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 16,147	It will if you light it. Hopefully we are talking activated carbon here. If so, the pads are OK but have a very limited lifetime, less than a week, and are more expensive than buying bulk carbon. I love BlakeJohn's setup, he must be a photographer . Another option is to place it in filter bags and place those in a canister filter. In that type of set-up I change it out every two weeks. __________________ "Leading the information hungry reefer down the road to starvation" Tom Current Tank Info: 130 Now out of service and a 29

11/13/2008, 08:34 AM	#5
JoeMomma Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 619	We are not talking about straight charcoal that is used on a BBQ right? That stuff in will not work.

11/13/2008, 10:59 AM	#7
WrinkleFreeZone Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 168	In my house, a pair of panty hose with a run in them doesn't become a mask for a convenience store heist when I need diapers. (If you don't know the reference, see "Raising Arizona"). I know it's completely unsophisticated, but I run carbon in the wife's old pairs of them. Just cut a leg off, double it back on itself, fill it and knot it. It works like a charm. When it's time to change out the carbon, you can throw the whole thing away if you don't want to deal with cleaning it. If you don't mind washing it out, they last a long time. -B __________________ "Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge: it is those who know little, not those who know much, who so positively assert..." Charles Darwin Current Tank Info: 220 g display, 60 g planted display refugium, 50 more behind the scenes, and now a 60 gallon H. magnifica recovery tank

11/13/2008, 11:59 AM	#9
_E_ Professional Lurker Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Du Quoin, Illinois Posts: 1,169	Carbon is a nice thing to have around. Carbon can remove toxins, clear yellowed water, and remove any offending tank smells. Carbon can be simply placed in a mesh bag in a high flow area of the sump, but this is not as efficient as running it in a reactor. Many aquarists use a phosban reactor with a powerhead for carbon or use an old unsed canister filter. __________________ Eric "If you think things can't get worse it's probably only because you lack sufficient imagination." Current Tank Info: 140 DSA with basement sump room

11/13/2008, 12:27 PM	#10
Akito starwind Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 46	thanks, now ill have to look into a set up.