Running high amounts of carbon

[herman]

Another day another impulse buy This time its a rather large fluidized reactor with a media capacity of about a gallon. I was planning to run Carbon (Rowacarbon) in it on a 120g tank. Just wanted to know peoples experiences about running a larger amount in a more efficient manner than mediabags or a small reactor. What effects will running it 24/7 have as opposed to timed operation.

 

[Psycho graphic]

To add to this what effect does shutting down a reactor, possibly creating an anerobic area and then suddenly starting it up again?

Sorry if this was a hi-jack.

 

[herman]

To add to this what effect does shutting down a reactor, possibly creating an anerobic area and then suddenly starting it up again?

Sorry if this was a hi-jack.

Good point!! Keep it coming. On the other hand it probably would not be shut down long enough for that to happen.

 

[jhale]

I have a media chamber built into my sump. it's 4"x13" I keep a bag of ESV carbon in there 24/7. it covers the whole length and water flows over it from the bubble traps. It's a bit more than passive filtering as all the water on the way to the return and skimmer chamber must pass through the carbon.

I'm not sure what exactly the carbon is doing. I can say my water is always crystal clear, the skimmer still skims crap, and the no3 never reads on the seachem test kits. In a reactor the carbon will be exhusted quicker, so to be effective it will have to be changed more often. I change mine every 4 to 8 weeks.

 

[Awibrandy]

jhale, are you saying that it is not such a good idea to run say chemi-pure through a phosban reactor?

 

[jackson6745]

Herm, IMO, running a $hit load of carbon is a good thing for your reef. It gets kind of costly though. Of course your water will be crystal clear

 

[tomzpc]

jhale, are you saying that it is not such a good idea to run say chemi-pure through a phosban reactor?

I don't think he's saying that at all, but hopefully he'll correct me if I'm wrong! I think he was basically saying that carbon run in a canister or reactor (little difference between the two to be honest) will be exhausted sooner than running it passively with no water being pumped directly through it but of course it likely won't be as effective short term as the latter method.

Personally, I wouldn't recommend chemi-pure at all (in a reactor or run passively in the sump) for a marine tank. I don't consider it any more effective than GAC and maybe even less so, at a much higher price.

 

[tomzpc]

Another day another impulse buy This time its a rather large fluidized reactor with a media capacity of about a gallon. I was planning to run Carbon (Rowacarbon) in it on a 120g tank. Just wanted to know peoples experiences about running a larger amount in a more efficient manner than mediabags or a small reactor. What effects will running it 24/7 have as opposed to timed operation.

I think running carbon in a large reactor is ideal. I wouldn't fill it anywhere near to capacity though. Better to keep the gac moving in there a little IMO if you can get enough flow through it and I'd definitely run it 24/7. Maybe just shut it off for a few days or a week to change the GAC, monthly prefeably.

I use a good size MRC fluidized media reactor just for carbon on my 90.

 

[jhale]

jhale, are you saying that it is not such a good idea to run say chemi-pure through a phosban reactor?

Tom is right. reactors are just more efficiant, thus the media will become exhusted much sooner.

Now Herman will hate me for this, but I want you to test the water going in and coming out of the reactor and tell us what it's doing.
No3, Po4, ORP let's hear it :Blurp:

 

[Deanos]

I'm not sure what exactly the carbon is doing.

:sigh: What a Noob...

Here's one of the best articles I've ever read :Up_to_som

Reefkeeping 102

Excerpt: Granulated Activated Carbon (GAC) - Refers to a highly porous filtration media that is commonly used to remove pollutants from water. Organic molecules are removed from solution by chemical adsorption within the pores of the carbon. In reef systems, GAC is most often used to remove yellowing compounds from the water column that can interfere with light spectrum and intensity. There is an on going debate as to whether GAC should be used on a continual or occasional basis and whether it is best used passively or in a small carbon filter. Activated carbon becomes less effective when its surface is fouled by bacterial growth.

 

[herman]

Now Herman will hate me for this, but I want you to test the water going in and coming out of the reactor and tell us what it's doing.
No3, Po4, ORP let's hear it :Blurp:

No3 is undetectable (salifert)
Po4 I dont have the Hannameter (salifert sucks in this department) I just changed the rowaphos a couple days ago so it will be minimal also
ORP? That would involve me having to hook up the other controller and that is just not going to happen today

he carbon is rinsed and I just added 1.5 liters into the reactor. Thats just under half way full. Well see.....

Was I useless or what?

 

[Pedro]

Let's see this large reactor!

 

[jhale]

:sigh: What a Noob...

Here's one of the best articles I've ever read :Up_to_som

Reefkeeping 102

Excerpt: Granulated Activated Carbon (GAC) - Refers to a highly porous filtration media that is commonly used to remove pollutants from water. Organic molecules are removed from solution by chemical adsorption within the pores of the carbon. In reef systems, GAC is most often used to remove yellowing compounds from the water column that can interfere with light spectrum and intensity. There is an on going debate as to whether GAC should be used on a continual or occasional basis and whether it is best used passively or in a small carbon filter. Activated carbon becomes less effective when its surface is fouled by bacterial growth.

I knew that much :irked:

I meant in relation to the skimmer and fuge what effect is it having.

 

[herman]

Let's see this large reactor!

Here it is

 

[Deanos]

My goodness! :bigeyes: If that's just for carbon, can you post a pic of your skimmer too?

 

[fritz]

WHat happened to the shruan reactors?

 

[cali_reef]

Herm, IMO, running a $hit load of carbon is a good thing for your reef. It gets kind of costly though. Of course your water will be crystal clear

Not if you buy them in 55 pound bags

 

[jhale]

that reminds me, what happened to the bulk carbon GB :scratchch

what kind of carbon is it in those 55 pound bags?

 

[prattreef]

Thanks Dean
Here is a 2 part article by Richard Harker done some years ago for Aquarium Frontiers magazine. It was a bit controversial at the time, but I don't know if anyone has done anything substantial since. His conclusion--- small amounts of GAC, with slow flow, changed regularly.

http://web.archive.org/web/20000918...om/fish2/aqfm/1998/may/features/1/default.asp

http://web.archive.org/web/20000918...m/fish2/aqfm/1998/june/features/1/default.asp

 

[cali_reef]

They are virgin activated carbons. Derived from bituminous coal, they are granular in form and look just like the ESV stuff I normally buy in 5 gallon buckets. I got my last two bags from the NJ reef club group buy, waited too long for someone on this board to set up a group buy:irked: