Carbon media?

[roadrunner1659]

What is a good carbon media? right now i use chemi-pure but i was suggested not to use that...what would you suggest?

Thanks!

[Woodstock]

I use black diamond. Make sure whichever you choose, to soak it overnight in ro/di water to help pull out the phosphates. Also, it only takes a small amount of carbon to get the job done; and since you should remove/replace it after one week, there is no since is using too much. I use about one cup for my 90 gal. and place it in a strong flow area of the sump.

[roadrunner1659]

should phosban also soak over night in RO water? and if i put eggcrate in my baffels would this be sufficent enough flow?

and who makes black diamond?

[Woodstock]

Marineland makes black diamond carbon.

No, you do not soak phosban. Phosban is an iron based media and does not release po4 like the carbon does.

[roadrunner1659]

ok well thanks! and would the eggcrate in the baffles be a good place for both?

[Woodstock]

That sounds like a good place for the carbon but be very careful with the phosban since it is more of a fine powder and can release 'dust'. As long as the water flow is not pounding the media, it will do fine there.

Check out this thread for more carbon: Active Carbon

[roadrunner1659]

should phosban be rinsed before being placed in the tank? and i wouldn't think that 200gph or less shouldn't bother it too much...right?

[Woodstock]

No, do not rinse the phosban. It will do fine in your sump.

Here are its instructions:

Instructions:
Do not rinse before use. It can initially turn the aquarium water slightly brownish due to release of fine particles. This is temporary and harm- less to fishes, plants and inverts. To be effective. It must be used in a flow- through contact chamber, not merely placed in the aquarium. Put it in filter bag or between 2 layers of fine filter floss in a canister filter or filter chamber of a wet/dry filter or sump. Position so that the water is directed through it. It crumbles easily and should be packed firmly so that the granulars do not tumble, which would grind them. In a canister filter, the flow can be reduced with a valve on the output so that it is possible to measure zero phosphate in the water leaving the canister.

Contents: Synthetic Ferric Oxide Hydroxide

[roadrunner1659]

Thanks woodstock! hey if you have a minute would you mind looking at a thread i have in reef chronicals and let me know what you think and whether or not im missing anything?