Too Many Carbon

[Limpc]

Hi all,

Saw the poll about popularity of 4 types of carbon. I would like to ask a simple question. Is there any difference between carbon used for fresh water and marine water ?

The prices of carbon varies too much, from China branded to high end branded.

Limpc

[pospeh]

The good quality carbon have numerous micro-pores to absorb the impruities in the water. They are also less likely to leach back the stuff they have already absorbed.

The bad ones have little capacity for absorption and will often contain phosphorus.

To be safe, I use the German made brands.

[rrrobt]

i try AZOO brand and it say wash with hot water before use . is it ture ? what about other brand do they wash with hot water before use ? anyone ?

[dodo]

i wash my seachem carbon wif tap water only...but it feel warm after contact wif tap water and will cool down if you run the carbon further wif running tap water

IMO...FW carbon are of a lower grade and not so good

[Bluebeard]

actually i don't quite understand abt things leaching out of the carbon when it's full. i understand that when things are full, they will just stop absorbing. how can the things that are already in leach out? if they leach out, does it means it's empty again????

take for example, i pour water into a container, then it's full, the water will just overflow. how can the water which is already in the full container get out????

[Tanzy]

The water container physically holds the water in but for carbon the substances are absorbed or adsorbed to the surface of the carbon granules by weak chemical forces. These substances can easily be displaced by another substance or can be released by biological action on the surface.

If carbon is left too long in the system, bacteria will start growing on it and the acids produced by the bacteria may cause the release of some of the bound up substance on the carbon, regardless whether it is saturated or not. Actually carbon should be replaced every 2 weeks whether it is saturated or not. Also it's nearly impossible to tell if the carbon is saturated anyway.

[NormanH]

Since we are in this topic, may I know what you guys practise?

1) Leave carbon in the system 24/7, replace after a period of time, say 3 months.

2) Use carbon only few days in a month to avoid it absorbing away useful stuffs.

3) Don't use carbon unless necessary, for example, yellowing of water.

Thanks.

[Tanzy]

I'm for 3). I use a small amount of carbon and phosguard for about a week or two then pull it out. If I'm away from home, the carbon might get left for a month before being taken out.

[pospeh]

I use about a half cut of carbon and replace it after a couple of weeks. AC is always there 24/7.

[NormanH]

Pospeh,

Meaning you have 2 packs of carbon n you change them one at a time?

[dodo]

i thk i got the whole concept wrong liao....AGAIN

Tanzy, so the correct way is to leave it there for not for than 1mth...izzit?

'ha base' lah...i leave it there till maybe 2-3 mths later

[onghm]

sama sama.

i normally leave my chemi-pure in for 2 months

[Bluebeard]

sounds logical to me! thanks!

[sduu]

Hi Onghm, i change my chemi-pure every 3weeks <_

[dodo]

Tanzy,

but then again...i put huge amt of AC + PG...so can i put in my sump for 2-3mths

[Tanzy]

Once bacteria colonises the surface of the carbon and phosguard, they are as good as useless and they might cause some of the absorbed substances to leach back into the water. That's why it is more efficient to use small amounts replaced constantly than large amounts for long duration.

[dodo]

gee....will change method liao from this weekend onwards

should not have buy such a big filter bag in the 1st place

[Earthborne]

I'm on the 3.

Me using Lg pack of chemipure + 1L of Dupla carbon for my 180G tank. I always leave it in the sump though I rinse it every week when I do husbandry. I thinkrinsing of dirt off the carbon and mesh-bag will increase the effective lifetime of the carbon this way. Intend to replace these carbon every 3 mths....monitoring still.

So far, not using PhosGuard yet, dun see the need.

[UFO]

I use both Seachem & Chemi-pure. Though packing said product can last for a few months, but i changed monthly.....expensive man

Just a thought, do u guys always rinse yr carbon with tap water? won't it absorb some of the tap water (with chlorine) & leach back to yr tank. I usually rinse with tap water follow by water treated with de-chlorine & phosguard

[dodo]

wow....a careful man

IMO...small amount of chlorine will do no harm to your tank. but tat's a tot....and i may never follow it

I mixed my buffer to tap water too....so...wat's the diff to washing carbon wif tap water

[UFO]

Sigh.....I can take any more risk. Already ahving too much problem with my 3ft tank. 1st hair algae, now high NO3. Have to be Kiasu now. Who knows, next time I may even boil all my tap water before use.