Active Carbon - Page 2

Boomer · 11-23-2005, 03:51 PM

I figured I would get the "crushed" question

Once it has made one cycle remove (it should be in a be in a mess bag), put the bag under running water and crush the carbon as best you can with just your hands or beat on it with your fists as you tumble it. This will beak some of the GAC and produce new surface areas. I use to do this for a couple of min. rinse and then put back in. This will also remove allot of the crude in the GAC that has coated the surface.

Flow dynamics , no, it should not effect it at all . Most GAC is just granular. However, doing this with something like SeaChem Labs Matrix may not be a good thing as one of its characteristics is flow dynamics as it a round "bead" shaped GAC.

My method of choice is only one. A powered canister filter and only a Eheim. It has what I will call a "positive flow" filter. Meaning, water only enters in from the bottom and must go out only from the top. Many of the newer types the water enters and leaves from the top. These types often have "self-propagated" by-passes. If the media gets plugged the water just passes around it , often with little flow lose ( i.e.. Hagen Fluval). In the Eheim the flow will slow down and maybe even come to a complete stop, if left unattended, as water is forced to go through the media. It does not have these channeled "side-walls" like others, where water runs down the channeled side-walls to the bottom and the up through the media to the top of exit or vise-versa. You could also make your own canister with PVC and jsut get a small pump.

Eheim

Fluval

.gif[/img]

BoomerD · 11-24-2005, 01:18 AM

Eheim makes a great canister. Tough to beat that German engineering. I've had pretty good luck with the Magnum 350 and HOT canisters for the same reason. water gets forced thru the carbon from the inside-out, and rarely forms by-pass channels. Not worth much for anything like biological filtration, (o.k. for micron filtration) and since I only would run it for about a week, I think it performed to my expectations.

mr. pluto · 11-24-2005, 10:02 PM

i run it passively in the sump, rinsed weekly for a month

Witfull · 11-25-2005, 12:26 PM

thats what i like about the vortex filter also,,,water must go through the sleeve, and if you use their powdered carbon, all water is forced through the carbon.

Frankie · 11-25-2005, 12:30 PM

Great info Boomer. I never thought of running carbon before but now im thinking twice.
Once I went with reefing and mud systems I ended up putting my mag. 350 canister on my kids 10 gal. fresh. LOL. well looks like im taking that back!

Boomer · 11-25-2005, 07:06 PM

Witt

vortex filter

I could not have lived with out this filter

But one needs to know what the are doing with it or Poof black water

Witfull · 11-25-2005, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boomer

Witt

vortex filter

I could not have lived with out this filter

But one needs to know what the are doing with it or Poof black water

this is one of the challenges that brings one OFR status

matfish · 11-30-2005, 02:03 AM

I use Aqua-Tech wally world lol

fishcrazy · 12-02-2005, 01:37 AM

Activated carbons are customized for customers. Does this carbon list info like iodine #, molasses #, and the like? Does it look like gravel or does it look like uniform cylinders?

These things make a difference in effectiveness.

Shells · 12-02-2005, 03:50 PM

i run it once a month for about 5 days.....

fishcrazy · 12-02-2005, 09:59 PM

It's important to use good quality carbon as there is a substantial quality difference.

It's also important to use the correct type of carbon. See that all of the pelletized corals are shown as the least effective. That's because pelletized carbons are vapor phase carbons intended to be used in air as opposed to under water.

http://www.pets-warehouse.com/carbon.htm

Warnberg · 12-02-2005, 10:10 PM

I run carbon just to polish the water when it looks cloudy, about 3 to 5 days a month.... dats it.

And So begins the great Carbon Debate.... heehhehe

Woodstock · 12-03-2005, 11:45 AM

Great info Fishcrazy..karma to ya~

cracker · 03-21-2006, 06:22 AM

Man Why I think of using carbon in a Vortex filter? I assume a carbon powder is more efficient than larger grain size so a vortex would be well suited . How does carbon and diatomaceous earth differ in what and how they filter the water? I assume the carbon absorbs and the diatom earth physically traps.

Boomer · 03-21-2006, 11:17 AM

They (a layer of diatom powder and a layer of powdered carbon) will filter it down to submicro levels. If you let it run to long they actaully go dead and stop pumping water.

View Poll Results: Do you use Active Carbon
Yes	106	78.52%
No	29	21.48%
Voters: 135. You may not vote on this poll

11-23-2005, 03:51 PM	#16 (permalink)
Boomer Reef Sanctuary's Mr. Wizard Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Duluth, Minnesota Posts: 2,275 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Active Carbon I figured I would get the "crushed" question Once it has made one cycle remove (it should be in a be in a mess bag), put the bag under running water and crush the carbon as best you can with just your hands or beat on it with your fists as you tumble it. This will beak some of the GAC and produce new surface areas. I use to do this for a couple of min. rinse and then put back in. This will also remove allot of the crude in the GAC that has coated the surface. Flow dynamics , no, it should not effect it at all . Most GAC is just granular. However, doing this with something like SeaChem Labs Matrix may not be a good thing as one of its characteristics is flow dynamics as it a round "bead" shaped GAC. My method of choice is only one. A powered canister filter and only a Eheim. It has what I will call a "positive flow" filter. Meaning, water only enters in from the bottom and must go out only from the top. Many of the newer types the water enters and leaves from the top. These types often have "self-propagated" by-passes. If the media gets plugged the water just passes around it , often with little flow lose ( i.e.. Hagen Fluval). In the Eheim the flow will slow down and maybe even come to a complete stop, if left unattended, as water is forced to go through the media. It does not have these channeled "side-walls" like others, where water runs down the channeled side-walls to the bottom and the up through the media to the top of exit or vise-versa. You could also make your own canister with PVC and jsut get a small pump. Eheim Fluval .gif[/img] __________________ Boomer Want to Talk Chemistry ! The Reef Chemistry Forum Want to See More ! The Coral Realm If you See Me Running You Better Catch-Up An explosion can be defined as a loud noise, accompanied by the sudden going away of things, from a place where they use to be.

11-24-2005, 01:18 AM	#17 (permalink)
BoomerD Reef Shark Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Northern California Posts: 5,637 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Active Carbon Eheim makes a great canister. Tough to beat that German engineering. I've had pretty good luck with the Magnum 350 and HOT canisters for the same reason. water gets forced thru the carbon from the inside-out, and rarely forms by-pass channels. Not worth much for anything like biological filtration, (o.k. for micron filtration) and since I only would run it for about a week, I think it performed to my expectations. __________________ Intelligence is not knowing all the answers, but knowing where and how to find them! www.google.com

11-24-2005, 10:02 PM	#18 (permalink)
mr. pluto Tunicate Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: in my home town Posts: 5 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Active Carbon i run it passively in the sump, rinsed weekly for a month

11-25-2005, 12:30 PM	#20 (permalink)
Frankie www.kids-with-cameras.org Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: The End Of The World Posts: 9,112 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Active Carbon Great info Boomer. I never thought of running carbon before but now im thinking twice. Once I went with reefing and mud systems I ended up putting my mag. 350 canister on my kids 10 gal. fresh. LOL. well looks like im taking that back!

11-25-2005, 07:06 PM	#21 (permalink)
Boomer Reef Sanctuary's Mr. Wizard Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Duluth, Minnesota Posts: 2,275 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Active Carbon Witt vortex filter I could not have lived with out this filter But one needs to know what the are doing with it or Poof black water __________________ Boomer Want to Talk Chemistry ! The Reef Chemistry Forum Want to See More ! The Coral Realm If you See Me Running You Better Catch-Up An explosion can be defined as a loud noise, accompanied by the sudden going away of things, from a place where they use to be.

11-30-2005, 02:03 AM	#23 (permalink)
matfish Fire Coral Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Mcdermott Ohio Posts: 63 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Active Carbon I use Aqua-Tech wally world lol

12-02-2005, 01:37 AM	#24 (permalink)
fishcrazy Fire Coral Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 78 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Active Carbon Activated carbons are customized for customers. Does this carbon list info like iodine #, molasses #, and the like? Does it look like gravel or does it look like uniform cylinders? These things make a difference in effectiveness.

12-02-2005, 03:50 PM	#25 (permalink)
Shells Sea Pen Join Date: May 2005 Location: Biloxi, MS Posts: 313 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Active Carbon i run it once a month for about 5 days.....

12-02-2005, 09:59 PM	#26 (permalink)
fishcrazy Fire Coral Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 78 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Active Carbon It's important to use good quality carbon as there is a substantial quality difference. It's also important to use the correct type of carbon. See that all of the pelletized corals are shown as the least effective. That's because pelletized carbons are vapor phase carbons intended to be used in air as opposed to under water. http://www.pets-warehouse.com/carbon.htm

12-02-2005, 10:10 PM	#27 (permalink)
Warnberg Acropora Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Tampa, Florida Posts: 1,911 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Active Carbon I run carbon just to polish the water when it looks cloudy, about 3 to 5 days a month.... dats it. And So begins the great Carbon Debate.... heehhehe __________________ Dave 240 Gallon Tall Tencor (96"L x 30"T x 18"W) 4 250 Watt MH XM10K bulbs 2-54 Watt T5 Actinic Euro-Reef CS8-2-RC Jetstream 1 Calcium Reactor 4 Tunze Turbelle stream 6000 power heads 7095 Tunze controller

12-03-2005, 11:45 AM	#28 (permalink)
Woodstock The Wand Geek was here. ;) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 24,164 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Active Carbon Great info Fishcrazy..karma to ya~ __________________ ~Doni Marie~ *GOT ICH???* *My Victorious Battle with ICH* 120 Reef Chronicle ~ *Breeding Picasso Clownfish~* *Massive 300 gal growout~* *My Anemone & Picasso Tank ~* *Picasso & Snowcasso for sale~* "Energy and persistence conquer all things." Benjamin Franklin __________________________________________________ ______________________________________________

03-21-2006, 06:22 AM	#29 (permalink)
cracker Acropora Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: North East Florida Posts: 1,787 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Active Carbon Man Why I think of using carbon in a Vortex filter? I assume a carbon powder is more efficient than larger grain size so a vortex would be well suited . How does carbon and diatomaceous earth differ in what and how they filter the water? I assume the carbon absorbs and the diatom earth physically traps. Last edited by cracker : 03-21-2006 at 11:13 AM.

03-21-2006, 11:17 AM	#30 (permalink)
Boomer Reef Sanctuary's Mr. Wizard Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Duluth, Minnesota Posts: 2,275 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Active Carbon They (a layer of diatom powder and a layer of powdered carbon) will filter it down to submicro levels. If you let it run to long they actaully go dead and stop pumping water. __________________ Boomer Want to Talk Chemistry ! The Reef Chemistry Forum Want to See More ! The Coral Realm If you See Me Running You Better Catch-Up An explosion can be defined as a loud noise, accompanied by the sudden going away of things, from a place where they use to be.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)