Activated Carbon

PoriferaBob · 09/03/2006, 09:08 AM

Is there a rule of thumb as to the amount to be used in a system??

druce · 09/03/2006, 09:33 AM

I think the instructions on the back would be a good rule since each product is slightly different.

Other than that, I run a cup of carbon for 100 gallons 3 days a month in my phosban reactor.

outy · 09/03/2006, 12:50 PM

why only 3 days?

druce · 09/03/2006, 12:54 PM

I've read many tank write ups on successful tanks and most of them run carbon only 3 days a month.

Carbon looses it's effectiveness rather quickly, and some people believe that 3 days a month is the most effective

I used to run it all the time, and change it monthly, but I found it seems to do more in 3 days (could be a perception thing really). So, emulating the more successful tanks and went with the once a month for 3 days routine.

I'm not sure really how long or how much carbon you can run for so long before it runs out of "scrubbing power." Would be interesting to hear other opinions on this though.

0p3n Brain · 09/03/2006, 01:37 PM

Druce, is that an extra phosban reactor or are you just replacing the phosban with activated carbon for those few days?

druce · 09/03/2006, 01:40 PM

just replacing the phosban for a few days

I'm up in the air about phosphate media, I can't seem to find any that work as well as I think it should.

I run 27 days with phosban, then carbon for 3 then new phosban media for another 27 days

outy · 09/03/2006, 05:29 PM

allot of the TOTM run 24/7 so i run that way

i just thought after 3 days there would still be some media left in the carbon for cleaning

ive heard a week out the month too but im not switching just yet.

always looking for more education thanks for the reply druce

druce · 09/03/2006, 05:41 PM

yea, no problem - hard to come up with a good run time on carbon. I was hoping some others would chime in with some advice.

I do agree after 3 days, it would seem the carbon would have a lot of cleaning power left

Electrobes · 09/03/2006, 09:20 PM

I guess it also depends on the nastiness of your tank.. I mean just how much funk is in one's tank.. if it's full of it then carbon's efficiency will drop faster, but if one's tank is less funky then carbon's efficiency will drop slower.

A good question to any reefer would be what other filtration do you have in your tank? Water change routines? etc.. plus what are you using carbon for?

I use it to polish the water to get more light through the tank on top of removing the toxins my softies produce in my smaller tank.

Another thing I've noticed is when carbon is new it's more willing to "bounce" in my phosban reactor then it does about a week later. After about two weeks of running... none of the carbon particles are boucing.. even with me tapping the reactor. I am guess it's mostly done on scrubbing power.

Oh yeah just my opinion only

Would hate to start a riot making others think I know what I am talking about!

druce · 09/04/2006, 07:14 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Electrobes
Oh yeah just my opinion only Would hate to start a riot making others think I know what I am talking about!

I like the bounce idea, I may have to try that.

Also I forgot many people run AC to help remove the "chemical warafare" that all the corals unleash.

I may have to rething my current schedule now.

djtodd · 09/04/2006, 01:45 PM

I just fill a largish bag with carbon and wedge it between a couple of rocks next to the intake of my return pump in the sump. I don't even pretend to know how much I should be using. I'm probably going a little overboard. But it's cheap, so I don't let it bother me.

I change out the bag about once a month, or when I remember.

druce · 09/04/2006, 01:49 PM

btw, while going thru some chemicals I found my carbon bottle.

the Kent marine directions are 1 cup for 100 gallons, for 3 days a month in max flow

09/03/2006, 09:08 AM	#1
PoriferaBob Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Kansas Posts: 335	Activated Carbon Is there a rule of thumb as to the amount to be used in a system??

09/03/2006, 09:33 AM	#2
druce Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: North Liberty, IA Posts: 1,349	I think the instructions on the back would be a good rule since each product is slightly different. Other than that, I run a cup of carbon for 100 gallons 3 days a month in my phosban reactor. __________________ Click the red house to see tank pics and my blog and to get the link for my RC tank thread! Current Tank Info: 90 gal AGA RR, 55 gal long for sump, 17g Aquafuge pro as refugium - 2x 150w MH, 2x 96w Actinic

09/03/2006, 12:54 PM	#4
druce Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: North Liberty, IA Posts: 1,349	I've read many tank write ups on successful tanks and most of them run carbon only 3 days a month. Carbon looses it's effectiveness rather quickly, and some people believe that 3 days a month is the most effective I used to run it all the time, and change it monthly, but I found it seems to do more in 3 days (could be a perception thing really). So, emulating the more successful tanks and went with the once a month for 3 days routine. I'm not sure really how long or how much carbon you can run for so long before it runs out of "scrubbing power." Would be interesting to hear other opinions on this though. __________________ Click the red house to see tank pics and my blog and to get the link for my RC tank thread! Current Tank Info: 90 gal AGA RR, 55 gal long for sump, 17g Aquafuge pro as refugium - 2x 150w MH, 2x 96w Actinic

09/03/2006, 01:40 PM	#6
druce Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: North Liberty, IA Posts: 1,349	just replacing the phosban for a few days I'm up in the air about phosphate media, I can't seem to find any that work as well as I think it should. I run 27 days with phosban, then carbon for 3 then new phosban media for another 27 days __________________ Click the red house to see tank pics and my blog and to get the link for my RC tank thread! Current Tank Info: 90 gal AGA RR, 55 gal long for sump, 17g Aquafuge pro as refugium - 2x 150w MH, 2x 96w Actinic

09/03/2006, 05:41 PM	#8
druce Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: North Liberty, IA Posts: 1,349	yea, no problem - hard to come up with a good run time on carbon. I was hoping some others would chime in with some advice. I do agree after 3 days, it would seem the carbon would have a lot of cleaning power left __________________ Click the red house to see tank pics and my blog and to get the link for my RC tank thread! Current Tank Info: 90 gal AGA RR, 55 gal long for sump, 17g Aquafuge pro as refugium - 2x 150w MH, 2x 96w Actinic

09/03/2006, 12:50 PM	#3
outy Moved On Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: auburn CA Posts: 4,021	why only 3 days?

09/03/2006, 01:37 PM	#5
0p3n Brain Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Mason, OH Posts: 88	Druce, is that an extra phosban reactor or are you just replacing the phosban with activated carbon for those few days?

09/03/2006, 05:29 PM	#7
outy Moved On Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: auburn CA Posts: 4,021	allot of the TOTM run 24/7 so i run that way i just thought after 3 days there would still be some media left in the carbon for cleaning ive heard a week out the month too but im not switching just yet. always looking for more education thanks for the reply druce

09/03/2006, 09:20 PM	#9
Electrobes Montipora type guy Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Fort Myers, FL Posts: 2,945	I guess it also depends on the nastiness of your tank.. I mean just how much funk is in one's tank.. if it's full of it then carbon's efficiency will drop faster, but if one's tank is less funky then carbon's efficiency will drop slower. A good question to any reefer would be what other filtration do you have in your tank? Water change routines? etc.. plus what are you using carbon for? I use it to polish the water to get more light through the tank on top of removing the toxins my softies produce in my smaller tank. Another thing I've noticed is when carbon is new it's more willing to "bounce" in my phosban reactor then it does about a week later. After about two weeks of running... none of the carbon particles are boucing.. even with me tapping the reactor. I am guess it's mostly done on scrubbing power. Oh yeah just my opinion only Would hate to start a riot making others think I know what I am talking about! __________________ Christian Current Tank Info: 100G Half Cylinder

09/04/2006, 01:45 PM	#11
djtodd Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 482	I just fill a largish bag with carbon and wedge it between a couple of rocks next to the intake of my return pump in the sump. I don't even pretend to know how much I should be using. I'm probably going a little overboard. But it's cheap, so I don't let it bother me. I change out the bag about once a month, or when I remember. __________________ 125G Reef with 40G sump/fuge. 2x 250w 14k MH, H&S A150-F2001 Skimmer, 3x Tunze 6045, MW No3 Reactor, Coralife Ca Reactor. Mostly softies with a metric tonne of Zoanthids. Current Tank Info: Got polyps?

09/04/2006, 01:49 PM	#12
druce Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: North Liberty, IA Posts: 1,349	btw, while going thru some chemicals I found my carbon bottle. the Kent marine directions are 1 cup for 100 gallons, for 3 days a month in max flow __________________ Click the red house to see tank pics and my blog and to get the link for my RC tank thread! Current Tank Info: 90 gal AGA RR, 55 gal long for sump, 17g Aquafuge pro as refugium - 2x 150w MH, 2x 96w Actinic