- Location
- Hicksville, NY
...my carbon, that is 
I have been using BRS' ROX 0.8 carbon for a few months and it seems to be doing a nice job of keeping my water clear and odor-free. However, the FIRST time I used it in my TLF reactor it was a MESS!! It floats when it gets wet initially so it tends to rise up and small pieces work themselves through the mesh. Fortunately I always run the exhaust water into the socks for the first few minutes so it didn't go into the tank but even still I had to dial-down the pump pressure very low for a day or two until the floating pieces settled down. Once they all do I turn the pump up full blast and just let the pieces tumble around near the bottom.
I got the idea of "pre-soaking" the next batch in RO/DI water for a couple of days and mixed it gently a few times every day until all floating particles settled down. After I was satisfied that there were no more "floaters" I reloaded my reactor. It was dramatically better immediately - no waiting for floaters to settle.
Now, my question is as follows:
Am I reducing the effectiveness of my carbon by doing this? I mean, technically, with it soaking in RO/DI water (which is essentially sterile) it can't "pre-absorb" any organics, so I would imagine all that's happening during the soak is the elimination of excessive trapped bubbles. But is this all that is happening? Are the pores being filled with "something", thereby reducing its effectiveness? My gut tells me "no" but I figured I'd just ask anyway.
BTW: I have done this with the BRS high-efficiency GFO and noticed the same effect - less "rusty water" and no "floaters". Am I doing any harm here also?
Thanks
John
I have been using BRS' ROX 0.8 carbon for a few months and it seems to be doing a nice job of keeping my water clear and odor-free. However, the FIRST time I used it in my TLF reactor it was a MESS!! It floats when it gets wet initially so it tends to rise up and small pieces work themselves through the mesh. Fortunately I always run the exhaust water into the socks for the first few minutes so it didn't go into the tank but even still I had to dial-down the pump pressure very low for a day or two until the floating pieces settled down. Once they all do I turn the pump up full blast and just let the pieces tumble around near the bottom.
I got the idea of "pre-soaking" the next batch in RO/DI water for a couple of days and mixed it gently a few times every day until all floating particles settled down. After I was satisfied that there were no more "floaters" I reloaded my reactor. It was dramatically better immediately - no waiting for floaters to settle.
Now, my question is as follows:
Am I reducing the effectiveness of my carbon by doing this? I mean, technically, with it soaking in RO/DI water (which is essentially sterile) it can't "pre-absorb" any organics, so I would imagine all that's happening during the soak is the elimination of excessive trapped bubbles. But is this all that is happening? Are the pores being filled with "something", thereby reducing its effectiveness? My gut tells me "no" but I figured I'd just ask anyway.
BTW: I have done this with the BRS high-efficiency GFO and noticed the same effect - less "rusty water" and no "floaters". Am I doing any harm here also?
Thanks
John
