Does activated carbon cause a raise in Phosphate ?

[joeyttk]

Hi,

i had a bag of activated carbon[seachem] in my canister filter. And after 2 weeks, my phopshate went from 0.1 to 0.5.

How long does it last before it start to be bad for my water ?

thanks )

joey.

[lightningstrike]

most activated carbon for aquarium use contains PO4. a reading of 0.1 ppm of phosphate is already quite bad for reef tanks. try using phosphate removing media.

[snowhusky]

If u really need to put in carbon for the filtration, buy frm SeaLife, will cost u abt $12 per pkt. Their's is high quality carbon so wont bring PO4 back to ur tank. I m using it aso and it really work.

[woonming]

most activated carbon for aquarium use contains PO4. a reading of 0.1 ppm of phosphate is already quite bad for reef tanks. try using phosphate removing media.

Yep all carbob media would leech PO4, also try to change the carbon media often....

[AlfaRomeo]

Woonming, agreed, all carbon will leech PO4 but the challenge is to find carbon that leeches the least amount.

[Gouldian]

The reason why ALL carbon media will more or less leech PO4 is the manufacturing process.

So dun me fooled when some brand claimed that their doesn't leeched, unless it is a totally new technology?!?

[weileong]

You could give rowacarbon a shot.. leach the least PO4 for my case. At least undetectable by my PO4 meter.

So far tested a few other "low cost alternatives" and all leach detectable PO4.

[patrick123]

do we really feel that it is necessary to use carbon? Why put something in that will leech PO4 and end up have to buy more rowaphos?

[lightningstrike]

do we really feel that it is necessary to use carbon? Why put something in that will leech PO4 and end up have to buy more rowaphos?

coz carbon removes most toxic compounds and heavy metals in water. giving ur water a crystal clear look by removing the yellowish tinge in water.

[AlfaRomeo]

AC is primarily in use to absorb toxins etc etc which Rowaphos cannot absorb. Ideally, both should be in use

[diabolus]

hehehe...

dats why im looking for another FR to run my AC.

currently have one running for rowaphos liaoz.

[AlfaRomeo]

Bro, Ac shouldnt be used in a FR. should be used passively in a bag..

[diabolus]

issit?

i tot putting in a FR will be much better...

hhmmm....in dat case, can save the $$ for the FR liaoz.

thanks!!!

[patrick123]

I heard about chemical warfare and the use of GAC to remove these toxin. However, I have been running the tank for the last 9 months without them. The LPS and softies seems to be fine.

So I'm just wondering are we putting someone unnecessary into the tank, which in the end, only the LFS benefits.

Also, heard someone mentioned that GAC may cause some disease in the tangs.... is this true?

[Bernard]

Check this out from seachem.

http://www.seachem.com/products/product_pages/Renew.html

bern

[patrick123]

Wow...phospate free carbon?

This is fantastic. May be I will change my mind about carbon. But I really didn't see any difference in using them. Since I don't mix LPS and SPS.

[surfedelic]

You could give rowacarbon a shot.. leach the least PO4 for my case. At least undetectable by my PO4 meter.

So far tested a few other "low cost alternatives" and all leach detectable PO4.

Wah .. WL ... you have a meter for the PO4 - manual or mechanical

[patrick123]

From WL must be high tech lah... how can mechanical, it must be digital. hehehe

[Bernard]

Wow...phospate free carbon?

This is fantastic. May be I will change my mind about carbon. But I really didn't see any difference in using them. Since I don't mix LPS and SPS.

Don't know how good is it, trying out soon.

[woonming]

The reason why ALL carbon media will more or less leech PO4 is the manufacturing process.

So dun me fooled when some brand claimed that their doesn't leeched, unless it is a totally new technology?!?

Yep it is how Carbon is made and different material used .. That why most carbon leech PO4...

So you need to weight the difference between the pricing for the product, quantity given and amount of PO4 leeching.

Organic Carbon like coconut material is known to leech alot of PO4.

Hope this helps.

Ming

[tansh]

How about chemipure any comments?

[junyong84]

How about chemipure any comments?

yup yup, still remember abt 1 yr ago, there is a big hoo har abt this chemipure..

haha

[joeyttk]

What is chemi pure ?

[lightningstrike]

What is chemi pure ?

http://www.boydenterprisesonline.com/pages/2/

[steven]

try poly filter

http://www.poly-bio-marine.com/polyprod.htm

hope it helps...