Use of charcoal instate of active carbon

chefrt · 01-27-2007, 10:30 PM

What is the different between active carbon and charcoal? Can used charcoal for my filtration instate of carbon. The charcoal that I going too used is from mangrove tree, in my place it easy to get.

PhilOlsen · 01-27-2007, 10:52 PM

here is a link for some good info on activated carbon there \\\
http://www.aquarticles.com/articles/...%20carbon.html

lcstorc · 01-28-2007, 09:46 AM

Nice link on carbon. Now it has me re-thinking the way I currently use it.

Scouter Steve · 01-28-2007, 10:09 AM

I haven't used activated carbon yet but am considering it with my larger system now. One point I am confused on after reading those articles. Can you reuse carbon. I know left in to long it will be a nitrate factory but can you wash it, dry it and use it again?

JFK_Jr · 01-28-2007, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scouter Steve

I haven't used activated carbon yet but am considering it with my larger system now. One point I am confused on after reading those articles. Can you reuse carbon. I know left in to long it will be a nitrate factory but can you wash it, dry it and use it again?

Some people run it for 12-24 hours a week, then pull it out and let it dry, and then re-use it again on a weekly basis. Eventually you will need to change it once you see your water clarity start to diminish(yellowing).

Witfull · 01-28-2007, 10:53 AM

i would not use charcoal, nor would i re-use carbon. activated carbon has been baked at high temps (600-1200*F) to burn off inpurities and open up billions of pores. this gives it its superior surface area. A gram of activated carbon has a surface area in excess of 400 m², For comparison, a tennis court is about 260 m².

also by reef-grade carbon, cheaper brands use chemical activation. this means it was soaked in phosphates to charge it. this will cause leaching into your tank and feed algae.

spend a lil more, use sparingly and you will save in the long run.

PhilOlsen · 01-28-2007, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Witfull

spend a lil more, use sparingly and you will save in the long run.

Words of wisdom, this is absolutely a you get what you pay for hobby. Cutting corners will cost you more in money, time and aggrivation. The difference in cost is nothing given the benifits.

BoomerD · 01-28-2007, 01:03 PM

The BEST carbons for our use appear to be made from bituminous coal, rather than any woody product, like coconut shell, which is a gas phase carbon, rather than a liquid phase carbon. I'm sure "that OTHER" Boomer can 'splain the difference for us "kemistry challenged"...

Here are a couple of links on the difference between activated carbon and charcoal...(most pertain to air filtration, instead of water, but you'll get the idea)

http://jhs.pharm.or.jp/50(2)/50_148.pdf

http://www.activated-carbon.com/solrec2.html

http://www.abatement.com/residential...n_brochure.pdf

http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop/National...atedCarbon.pdf

mps9506 · 01-28-2007, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Witfull

i would not use charcoal, nor would i re-use carbon. activated carbon has been baked at high temps (600-1200*F) to burn off inpurities and open up billions of pores. this gives it its superior surface area. A gram of activated carbon has a surface area in excess of 400 m², For comparison, a tennis court is about 260 m².

also by reef-grade carbon, cheaper brands use chemical activation. this means it was soaked in phosphates to charge it. this will cause leaching into your tank and feed algae.

spend a lil more, use sparingly and you will save in the long run.

Hows about Kingsford? Will it give my reef that barbecue flavor?

Witfull · 01-28-2007, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mps9506

Hows about Kingsford? Will it give my reef that barbecue flavor?

great for crabs~

chefrt · 01-30-2007, 07:29 AM

I ask this because in my country only 2 LFS, but very limited item that u can buy. Never sell activated carbon, to order from internet it is very costly and I may have a problem to clear with custom ( don’t like to face with govement birocracy ). I have a problem with yellow water right now. I’m looking for a good substitute. Any idea.

PhilOlsen · 01-30-2007, 08:08 AM

You might want to try a UV sterilizer. Aqua make a good product and unlike most brands rates their bulbs at the end of their life, not while new.

mps9506 · 01-30-2007, 08:14 AM

What country do you live in?

chefrt · 01-30-2007, 09:07 AM

Brunei it in Borneo island.

Witfull · 01-30-2007, 11:24 AM

after a lil googling,,,i found a LFS in Brunei. try calling them.

http://www.ilufahaquarium.com/index.html

or i dont know if these will help

http://www.onebrunei.com/list_compan...ccategory=Pets

01-27-2007, 10:30 PM	#1 (permalink)
chefrt Tubeworm Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 27 View Gallery Karma Komment	Use of charcoal instate of active carbon What is the different between active carbon and charcoal? Can used charcoal for my filtration instate of carbon. The charcoal that I going too used is from mangrove tree, in my place it easy to get.

01-27-2007, 10:52 PM	#2 (permalink)
PhilOlsen Has been struck by the ban stick Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Glendale Hts. Illinois (Chicago transplant to humor my wife) Posts: 646 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Use of charcoal instate of active carbon here is a link for some good info on activated carbon there \\\ http://www.aquarticles.com/articles/...%20carbon.html

01-28-2007, 09:46 AM	#3 (permalink)
lcstorc Sunshine Reefer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cocoa Fl Posts: 26,433 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Use of charcoal instate of active carbon Nice link on carbon. Now it has me re-thinking the way I currently use it. __________________ Peace LYNN Lynn and Franks saltwater adventure Lynn's 20g clown tank Lynn's 90g of sunshine Lynn's frag tank experiment A reef tank is like a race car. The faster you go the harder you crash.

01-28-2007, 10:09 AM	#4 (permalink)
Scouter Steve Neon dottyback Join Date: May 2006 Location: Somers Wisconsin (Kenosha County) Posts: 687 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Use of charcoal instate of active carbon I haven't used activated carbon yet but am considering it with my larger system now. One point I am confused on after reading those articles. Can you reuse carbon. I know left in to long it will be a nitrate factory but can you wash it, dry it and use it again?

01-28-2007, 01:03 PM	#8 (permalink)
BoomerD Reef Shark Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Northern California Posts: 5,638 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Use of charcoal instate of active carbon The BEST carbons for our use appear to be made from bituminous coal, rather than any woody product, like coconut shell, which is a gas phase carbon, rather than a liquid phase carbon. I'm sure "that OTHER" Boomer can 'splain the difference for us "kemistry challenged"... Here are a couple of links on the difference between activated carbon and charcoal...(most pertain to air filtration, instead of water, but you'll get the idea) http://jhs.pharm.or.jp/50(2)/50_148.pdf http://www.activated-carbon.com/solrec2.html http://www.abatement.com/residential...n_brochure.pdf http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop/National...atedCarbon.pdf __________________ Intelligence is not knowing all the answers, but knowing where and how to find them! www.google.com

01-30-2007, 07:29 AM	#11 (permalink)
chefrt Tubeworm Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 27 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Use of charcoal instate of active carbon I ask this because in my country only 2 LFS, but very limited item that u can buy. Never sell activated carbon, to order from internet it is very costly and I may have a problem to clear with custom ( don’t like to face with govement birocracy ). I have a problem with yellow water right now. I’m looking for a good substitute. Any idea.

01-30-2007, 08:08 AM	#12 (permalink)
PhilOlsen Has been struck by the ban stick Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Glendale Hts. Illinois (Chicago transplant to humor my wife) Posts: 646 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Use of charcoal instate of active carbon You might want to try a UV sterilizer. Aqua make a good product and unlike most brands rates their bulbs at the end of their life, not while new.

01-30-2007, 08:14 AM	#13 (permalink)
mps9506 Totally back Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Wilmington, NC Posts: 8,525 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Use of charcoal instate of active carbon What country do you live in? __________________ Mike Reefkeeping Since '99 Help Build Reefpedia Premium Memberships Available! Support Reef Sanctuary Sponsors

01-30-2007, 09:07 AM	#14 (permalink)
chefrt Tubeworm Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 27 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Use of charcoal instate of active carbon Brunei it in Borneo island.

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