seminolecpa
Past President
I do the same as Ian as the carbon usually tends to float to the top when you first put it in.
Carbon and phosphate media how often u change?
- Thread starter xinumaster
- Start date
kinetic
Supporting Member
[quote author=seminolecpa link=topic=3827.msg44660#msg44660 date=1212611023]
I do the same as Ian as the carbon usually tends to float to the top when you first put it in.
[/quote]
I take my reactor out and empty the water, soak the carbon for a bit in RODI, and then add it to a dried out reactor. Then GFO. I really pack it in so things don't really move around. I put GFO in second because the warning label says high / direct flow will "pulverize" the phosban and could potentially be harmful. I'm guessing the flow would slow down regardless, but not sure. Any other benefits to having carbon in the line of sight first or after?
I do the same as Ian as the carbon usually tends to float to the top when you first put it in.
[/quote]
I take my reactor out and empty the water, soak the carbon for a bit in RODI, and then add it to a dried out reactor. Then GFO. I really pack it in so things don't really move around. I put GFO in second because the warning label says high / direct flow will "pulverize" the phosban and could potentially be harmful. I'm guessing the flow would slow down regardless, but not sure. Any other benefits to having carbon in the line of sight first or after?
xinumaster
Guest
Aren't they gonna get mixed anyway, since both media are in the same chamber?
Gomer
Guest
I guess I should join the party and set up a carbon/phosphate reactor. Won't be pretty since my tank is has no plumbing lol. Maybe I can use the Zoomed HOB canister for this!
Ballpark figure: For a 40g tank, how much GFO and carbon do you have in your reactors? I'd probably change it once a month
Ballpark figure: For a 40g tank, how much GFO and carbon do you have in your reactors? I'd probably change it once a month
kinetic
Supporting Member
[quote author=Gomer link=topic=3827.msg44664#msg44664 date=1212614607]
I guess I should join the party and set up a carbon/phosphate reactor. Won't be pretty since my tank is has no plumbing lol. Maybe I can use the Zoomed HOB canister for this!
Ballpark figure: For a 40g tank, how much GFO and carbon do you have in your reactors? I'd probably change it once a month
[/quote]
Not entirely sure about quantity, usually different brands will have different recommendations. I'd suggest checking out the recommended dosages / amounts the packages talk about. I know, for instance, the ELOS Carbon recommends WAY less per gallon than the Black Diamond brand.
For me I just fill it 2/3rds with carbon, 1/3 with GFO. Seems to work fine for me, though I've never actually done any tests of the quantities vs. the affects.
I guess I should join the party and set up a carbon/phosphate reactor. Won't be pretty since my tank is has no plumbing lol. Maybe I can use the Zoomed HOB canister for this!
Ballpark figure: For a 40g tank, how much GFO and carbon do you have in your reactors? I'd probably change it once a month
[/quote]
Not entirely sure about quantity, usually different brands will have different recommendations. I'd suggest checking out the recommended dosages / amounts the packages talk about. I know, for instance, the ELOS Carbon recommends WAY less per gallon than the Black Diamond brand.
For me I just fill it 2/3rds with carbon, 1/3 with GFO. Seems to work fine for me, though I've never actually done any tests of the quantities vs. the affects.
G
GreshamH
Guest
[quote author=MrManz1691 link=topic=3827.msg44655#msg44655 date=1212610567]
Do you think that chemipur is worth it or do u recomend a different brand of charcoal
[/quote]
While I've used CP extensively in the past I simply use high grade carbon now. I get mine by the 55lb sack via a professional supply house
Almost gone now, time to re-order
Do you think that chemipur is worth it or do u recomend a different brand of charcoal
[/quote]
While I've used CP extensively in the past I simply use high grade carbon now. I get mine by the 55lb sack via a professional supply house
Almost gone now, time to re-order 
G
GreshamH
Guest
back in the day but like ChemiPure I found simple high grade carbon works better. I sometimes use http://www.poly-bio-marine.com/polyprod.htm Polyfilter along with carbon as well as GFO.
tuberider
Guest
In a reactor doesn't the carbon get exhausted quicker than the GFO?
Poly-filters are great, I have a little slice between my baffles and change it out every few weeks, mostly for any metal contamination that carbon does not pickup.
AFA Puigen, I've used it many times, back in the day at World Wide we ran it in a fluidized bed filter along with skimming for filtration. We had a much higher success rate with wild Acro colonies when we added it. This was in 91-95, so things have changed since, especially skimmers so it isn't as necessary now in our modern mini-reefs.
Poly-filters are great, I have a little slice between my baffles and change it out every few weeks, mostly for any metal contamination that carbon does not pickup.
AFA Puigen, I've used it many times, back in the day at World Wide we ran it in a fluidized bed filter along with skimming for filtration. We had a much higher success rate with wild Acro colonies when we added it. This was in 91-95, so things have changed since, especially skimmers so it isn't as necessary now in our modern mini-reefs.
kinetic
Supporting Member
[quote author=iani link=topic=3827.msg44694#msg44694 date=1212629305]
It does from my understanding. Thats why I also run some carbon passively in a media bag as well. I should of said that. haha
[/quote]
at least from directions, it seems like carbon should be changed out more frequently. I just get lazy and just dump the whole thing, and I just use less GFO than carbon so it doesn't feel like a total waste. In short, it can't hurt to change it out earlier, but you probably aren't getting your money's worth.
If anything, get two reactors, one for carbon, one for GFO, or get a spare reactor sponge, so you can just change out the gfo (given you put it on the top layer).
It does from my understanding. Thats why I also run some carbon passively in a media bag as well. I should of said that. haha
[/quote]
at least from directions, it seems like carbon should be changed out more frequently. I just get lazy and just dump the whole thing, and I just use less GFO than carbon so it doesn't feel like a total waste. In short, it can't hurt to change it out earlier, but you probably aren't getting your money's worth.
If anything, get two reactors, one for carbon, one for GFO, or get a spare reactor sponge, so you can just change out the gfo (given you put it on the top layer).
G
GreshamH
Guest
I seem to recall keeping used up GAC in your system can lead to it leaching stuff back out? AM I just not awake or miss remembering?
G
GreshamH
Guest
GAC doesn't do anything for P04 so no
tuberider
Guest
[quote author=GreshamH link=topic=3827.msg44724#msg44724 date=1212682157]
I seem to recall keeping used up GAC in your system can lead to it leaching stuff back out? AM I just not awake or miss remembering?
[/quote]No miss remembering, you're correct [/url]link to some RHF article. That's why I run carbon passively, just a small handful in a bag in the sump is all I really need.
I seem to recall keeping used up GAC in your system can lead to it leaching stuff back out? AM I just not awake or miss remembering?
[/quote]No miss remembering, you're correct [/url]link to some RHF article. That's why I run carbon passively, just a small handful in a bag in the sump is all I really need.
G
GreshamH
Guest
there's always an outside chance my groggy brain wasn't up to par so I had to put a disclaimer