That pesky carbon

iwishtofish · 06/02/2011, 08:11 AM

I'm wondering if anyone rinses their carbon first, like in a wire strainer under tap or RO/DI, before putting it into their carbon reactor. I'm thinking this might get it really, really clean first, and maybe weed out tiny grains.

Good/bad idea?

Orcrone · 06/02/2011, 08:14 AM

I actually thought it was common practice to rinse carbon, otherwise a lot of dust winds up in the DT. I use a net and tap water and rinse until the water runs off clear.

nanojg · 06/02/2011, 08:27 AM

Yes, you should rinse carbon until it runs clean before putting it into your system. Some claim the dust can cause some deseases in fish.

iwishtofish · 06/02/2011, 08:43 AM

Well, actually, I was initially planning to rinse it by flushing it in the reactor, which I believe is the common practice. I'm just wondering if anyone rinses it first, and then puts it into the reactor...

allsps40 · 06/02/2011, 09:33 AM

Flushing in the reactor with RODI water is the best way IMO. It gets more out than the net method, I used it forever but some dust was still left. Tap water should not be used because it uses up the carbon. Tap water has all kinds of crap in it that carbon will remove, RODI units have carbon filter for a reason. So rinsing carbon in tap water will use up some of the carbon before it even makes it in the tank.

Orcrone · 06/02/2011, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by allsps40

Flushing in the reactor with RODI water is the best way IMO. It gets more out than the net method, I used it forever but some dust was still left. Tap water should not be used because it uses up the carbon. Tap water has all kinds of crap in it that carbon will remove, RODI units have carbon filter for a reason. So rinsing carbon in tap water will use up some of the carbon before it even makes it in the tank.

Good point. I doubt tap water uses much of its life, but I'll start using RO/DI to rinse.

rtparty · 06/02/2011, 10:08 AM

I have always used tap water to rinse my carbon. Been doing it for 6 years that way and never had an issue. The water is rushing over the carbon so fast that the carbon isn't catching much.

Plus I only run carbon for about 2 weeks a month. I have seen no need to run it 24/7. It can start removing things we want in the tank IMO.

I have read that carbon eventually becomes a breeding ground for bacteria and the bacteria will block all the pores anyways. I doubt we ever come close to fully exhausting carbon in our tanks.

allsps40 · 06/02/2011, 10:33 AM

Well my tap water is 500tds and you can smell the chlorine in it so I stay away from getting it in or on anything that goes into my reef these days.

kissman · 06/02/2011, 10:35 AM

I put the carbon in my reactor hook it up and pump the first half gallon into a bucket and its clean by then.

rgh69 · 06/02/2011, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kissman

I put the carbon in my reactor hook it up and pump the first half gallon into a bucket and its clean by then.

Good idea, I can do the same when I do a water change.

iwishtofish · 06/02/2011, 09:49 PM

Thanks for the comments, everyone. I didn't plan very well when I installed the drain lines on my reactors; I barely have enough length for them to reach out of the stand and into a drain bucket. It definitely sounds easiest to rinse the carbon by flushing it in the reactor during a water change.

06/02/2011, 08:11 AM	#1
iwishtofish Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Southern Maryland Posts: 4,949	That pesky carbon I'm wondering if anyone rinses their carbon first, like in a wire strainer under tap or RO/DI, before putting it into their carbon reactor. I'm thinking this might get it really, really clean first, and maybe weed out tiny grains. Good/bad idea?

06/02/2011, 09:33 AM	#5
allsps40 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Arizona Posts: 4,627	Flushing in the reactor with RODI water is the best way IMO. It gets more out than the net method, I used it forever but some dust was still left. Tap water should not be used because it uses up the carbon. Tap water has all kinds of crap in it that carbon will remove, RODI units have carbon filter for a reason. So rinsing carbon in tap water will use up some of the carbon before it even makes it in the tank. __________________ __________ Current Tank Info: Past reef tanks: 20H softy, 29G mixed reef, 55G mixed reef, 40B sps dominant mixed reef and 75G sps dominant mixed reef. No tank currently

06/02/2011, 10:08 AM	#7
rtparty Raise The Reef! Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Utah Posts: 7,404	I have always used tap water to rinse my carbon. Been doing it for 6 years that way and never had an issue. The water is rushing over the carbon so fast that the carbon isn't catching much. Plus I only run carbon for about 2 weeks a month. I have seen no need to run it 24/7. It can start removing things we want in the tank IMO. I have read that carbon eventually becomes a breeding ground for bacteria and the bacteria will block all the pores anyways. I doubt we ever come close to fully exhausting carbon in our tanks. __________________ Ryan Click on my user name and check out my homepage! Current Tank Info: 50g Cadlights/Giesemann Spectra (250w Radium, 2 ATI Blue Plus, 2 ATI Actinic)/2 x Vortech MP10wQD/Skimz SN123/Eheim Compact 3000+

06/02/2011, 10:33 AM	#8
allsps40 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Arizona Posts: 4,627	Well my tap water is 500tds and you can smell the chlorine in it so I stay away from getting it in or on anything that goes into my reef these days. __________________ __________ Current Tank Info: Past reef tanks: 20H softy, 29G mixed reef, 55G mixed reef, 40B sps dominant mixed reef and 75G sps dominant mixed reef. No tank currently

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06/02/2011, 08:14 AM	#2
Orcrone Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Newport News, VA Posts: 646	I actually thought it was common practice to rinse carbon, otherwise a lot of dust winds up in the DT. I use a net and tap water and rinse until the water runs off clear.

06/02/2011, 08:27 AM	#3
nanojg Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Lubbock, Texas Posts: 2,174	Yes, you should rinse carbon until it runs clean before putting it into your system. Some claim the dust can cause some deseases in fish.

06/02/2011, 08:43 AM	#4
iwishtofish Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Southern Maryland Posts: 4,949	Well, actually, I was initially planning to rinse it by flushing it in the reactor, which I believe is the common practice. I'm just wondering if anyone rinses it first, and then puts it into the reactor...

06/02/2011, 10:35 AM	#9
kissman Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Lynchburg, Va Posts: 2,963	I put the carbon in my reactor hook it up and pump the first half gallon into a bucket and its clean by then.

06/02/2011, 09:49 PM	#11
iwishtofish Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Southern Maryland Posts: 4,949	Thanks for the comments, everyone. I didn't plan very well when I installed the drain lines on my reactors; I barely have enough length for them to reach out of the stand and into a drain bucket. It definitely sounds easiest to rinse the carbon by flushing it in the reactor during a water change.