carbon and filter media

[jhale]

hi,

I'd like to start a discusion about which filter medias you use and have used in the past. there are so many out there it's tough to choose.

For the most part I've stuck with seachems products, but I've used kents carbon and julian sprungs carbon as well.
I like the line of products seachem has. so far I've used their matrix carbon, renew, purigen, hypersorb, and sea gel. not all at once but over the years I've tried all their stuff. it all seems to work well.

also the poly filters are always good to have for back up.

what do you use?

 

[spykes]

in my new tank im thinking of trying out renew, and im gonna use PA's carbon, it's 12 dollars for 4 liters.

 

[romain]

I use Black Diamond and Chemi-Pure. No negative effects till now.

 

[realhiphop]

I use mostly Phosguard. How often do all of you run your filter medias?

 

[marrone]

I've used Seachem hypersorb and sea gel when I've thought I may of had a problem with something getting into the tank, also Seachem Copper removal product. I use poly pads instead of carbon in my tanks.

 

[alrha]

I too stick with Seachem products, they seem to have a very good reputation. I run them in a Phosban Reactor.

Phosguard
Matrix Carbon
Purigen
CupriSorb packet on ocassion in case any metals build up.

 

[jhale]

I use mostly Phosguard. How often do all of you run your filter medias?

I run carbon and phosban 24/7.

phosban in a reactor and the carbon in a media flow through section I built into the sump.

 

[cali_reef]

I run 2L of carbon in a large MTC media reactor, the carbon of choice is ESV and Two little fishes brand. I change the carbon out between 4-6 weeks and the cost is getting out of hand. Anyone interested in getting some bulk carbon? They come in 55 pound sacks and there is a place in Paterson NJ that sells it. I was qouted $.95 a pound if I buy mutiple sacks.

I also use 150g of Phosban in a phosban reactor, media is changed at 4-8 weeks intervals. I plan to get or make a bigger reactor for the phosban, 150g is not taking out the phosphate quick enough.

 

[jhale]

I agree with you on the phosban 150 takes a while to work.
I've yet to see any rtn of my coral as some dire predictions said would happen.

a larger rector would not be hard to make.

how much cost savings when you buy the 55 pound sack of carbon, how much does a liter weigh? I would be interested. how many sacks would you need to buy?

 

[cali_reef]

4 pounds of ESV carbon is $19.95 at Marinedepot.com. So I guess reef grade carbon is about 5X the cost of industrial grade stuff.

Here is a link to the place in Paterson:
http://www.generalcarbon.com/liquid.html

Here is an old article I found on carbon quality:
http://web.archive.org/web/20001211...k.com/fish2/aqfm/1997/jul/product/default.asp

Did you guys ever got around to making those flanges for the skimmer? I need a set for the top of the reactor.

 

[cali_reef]

BTW, the ESV 4 pound package comes in a gallon jar, I think that type of cabon is about 1 pound per Liter.

 

[alrha]

shouldn't we be using reef grade carbon?

I also use the vortex carbon powder in my diatom filter from time to time (once a month?) - supposedly carbon powder works faster/better than larger granules.

 

[cali_reef]

shouldn't we be using reef grade carbon?

I am not sure if they are specially formulated for reef use, I think most just repackage and charge us more. You can see more info in the article I linked.

The SoCal club did a group buy on two pallet of similar stuff and everyone is happy with the product so far.

 

[herman]

I use carbon pads made for one of my skimmer compartments

The first compartment is the carbon chamber. All water passing through the skimmer exits through the carbonpab then the foampad before exiting into the sump. It does about 1500gph.

 

[herman]

BTW This is the skimmer that got me busted on the subway :banghead:

 

[jackson6745]

what kind of skimmer is that?

 

[jhale]

I think it's a deltec. that's a cool idea.

 

[jackson6745]

looks like a deltec but I never saw one come in that sump looking housing before.

 

[DRZL]

I use black diamond, happy w/ it although I have nothing to compare it to carbonwise. I also run Cuprizorb, just in case for heavy metals, Ive ran Purigen but too similar to carbon to recommend one over the other. I run them both in a sock in a high flow area (External overflow box). Keeps my water sparkling, and keeps SPS alleopathy free. Change it out every 2 wks along w/ my 40% WC

 

[mshur]

PIERCE,
I like esv carbon...good quality and doesnot leach po4)
lets do a group buy...i am running out ))

btw, i did order wavebox last nite)) thankx...


mike