Activated Carbon

.AcroKiller. · Oct 23, 2016

Ok a couple of years ago I bought some deep blue carbon and it started turning rusty color and after placing a magnet to it most of it was magnetic

Now I bought a bottle of red sea reef spec carbon and I just realized that it's magnetic also which is disappointing coming from a company like Red Sea. So it looks like I'll be going back to Rox or seachem matrix which are the only two that are not magnetic.

Any thoughts on this?

jason2459 · Oct 23, 2016

That's seems to answer one question for me. Thanks. But I would not say there's only two that are not.

jason2459 · Oct 23, 2016

This thread discusses some good brands.

.AcroKiller. · Oct 23, 2016

jason2459 said:
That's seems to answer one question for me. Thanks. But I would not say there's only two that are not.

What question did it answer.

.AcroKiller. · Oct 23, 2016

jason2459 said:
That's seems to answer one question for me. Thanks. But I would not say there's only two that are not.

Also what other brands are not magnetic. I would love to know.

jason2459 · Oct 23, 2016

Weird this didn't post above.

Some good brands listed in this thread and also a link to another thread with an excellent discussion on GAC.
http://reef2reef.com/threads/any-ops-on-decent-activated-carbon.270448/

.AcroKiller. · Oct 23, 2016

So why my post answer one of your questions

Cory · Oct 24, 2016

Im not sire why carbon would be magnetic, that seems strange. Im going to have to test mine later too, fluval carbon.

Sabellafella · Oct 24, 2016

iiluisii said:
Ok a couple of years ago I bought some deep blue carbon and it started turning rusty color and after placing a magnet to it most of it was magnetic

Now I bought a bottle of red sea reef spec carbon and I just realized that it's magnetic also which is disappointing coming from a company like Red Sea. So it looks like I'll be going back to Rox or seachem matrix which are the only two that are not magnetic.

Any thoughts on this?

Dont know but jasons right, this is a good topic. Maybe someone will figure out the whole rundown between magnetic and non magnetic gac.

143MPCo · Oct 24, 2016

https://www.google.com/patents/US8097185
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0008622302000763

Abstract
In this work the adsorption features of activated carbon and the magnetic properties of iron oxides were combined in a composite to produce magnetic adsorbents. These magnetic particles can be used as adsorbent for a wide range of contaminants in water and can subsequently be removed from the medium by a simple magnetic procedure. Activated carbon/iron oxide magnetic composites were prepared with weight ratios of 2:1, 1.5:1 and 1:1 and characterized by powder XRD, TG, magnetization measurements, chemical analyses, TPR, N2 adsorption–desorption isotherms, Mössbauer spectroscopy and SEM. The results suggest that the main magnetic phase present is maghemite (γ-Fe2O3) with small amounts of magnetite (Fe3O4). Magnetization enhancement can be produced by treatment with H2 at 600 °C to reduce maghemite to magnetite. N2adsorption measurements showed that the presence of iron oxides did not significantly affect the surface area or the pore structure of the activated carbon. The adsorption isotherms of volatile organic compounds such as chloroform, phenol, chlorobenzene and drimaren red dye from aqueous solution onto the composites also showed that the presence of iron oxide did not affect the adsorption capacity of the activated carbon.

Randy can answer this better but it seems like a simple, yet detrimental, mix-up.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Oct 24, 2016

It has been shown that some GAC brands are magnetic. GAC made from coal can have iron inclusions. I'm not sure how much of a risk that is.

.AcroKiller. · Oct 24, 2016

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
It has been shown that some GAC brands are magnetic. GAC made from coal can have iron inclusions. I'm not sure how much of a risk that is.

Randy do you think coconut shell carbon is better to use ?

mcarroll · Oct 24, 2016

iiluisii said:
Ok a couple of years ago I bought some deep blue carbon and it started turning rusty color and after placing a magnet to it most of it was magnetic

GFO fines can be a problem for your livestock, so this should be a nice feature, if anything. But it is interesting.

143MPCo said:
https://www.google.com/patents/US8097185
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0008622302000763
[...]
it seems like a simple, yet detrimental, mix-up.

If this is new, it's curious....but as usual I'm having trouble getting into hand-waving/my-hair-is on-fire mode. That study is not about activated carbon, but a patented "hybrid" product. Let's remember how many folks are using the products and brands you're talking about with no issues. I mean plenty of folks run GFO and activated carbon in the same reactor anyway. How's that different?

If it's not new....some "big guns" (plural!) have analyzed carbon over the years and said NAUGHT about magnetism.

Either way, if it was true, why wouldn't there be some manufacturer claims (or caveats) based on it, or at least some hobbyist claims? (e.g. Tech M)

.AcroKiller. · Oct 24, 2016

mcarroll said:
GFO fines can be a problem for your livestock, so this should be a nice feature, if anything. But it is interesting.

If this is new, it's curious....but as usual I'm having trouble getting into hand-waving/my-hair-is on-fire mode. That study is not about activated carbon, but a patented "hybrid" product. Let's remember how many folks are using the products and brands you're talking about with no issues. I mean plenty of folks run GFO and activated carbon in the same reactor anyway. How's that different?

If it's not new....some "big guns" (plural!) have analyzed carbon over the years and said NAUGHT about magnetism.

Either way, if it was true, why wouldn't there be some manufacturer claims (or caveats) based on it, or at least some hobbyist claims? (e.g. Tech M)

So you guys think is safe to use ?

jason2459 · Oct 24, 2016

iiluisii said:
Randy do you think coconut shell carbon is better to use ?

I probably would not. What brand? I would suggest reading the link I provided in a post in this thread. It's a very good discussion on GAC of different kinds.
http://reef2reef.com/threads/any-ops-on-decent-activated-carbon.270448/

mcarroll · Oct 24, 2016

jason2459 said:
I probably would not. What brand? I would suggest reading the link I provided in a post in this thread. It's a very good discussion on GAC of different kinds.
http://reef2reef.com/threads/any-ops-on-decent-activated-carbon.270448/

Did they mention magnetism?

.AcroKiller. · Oct 24, 2016

This is Red Sea reply.

mcarroll · Oct 24, 2016

That sounds like a difference of coconut carbon vs saying one is better than the other...

I'm still curious.

DGee · Oct 24, 2016

It's interesting you brought this up so I went ahead and ran an old Tunze magnet over the Red Sea carbon I had here.

I'd say the majority of it is not magnetic, however I did have maybe 20-25 pieces stick to the magnet out of what I'm sure is many thousands of granules.

jason2459 · Oct 24, 2016

iiluisii said:
This is Red Sea reply.

I still haven't received a reply backing stating if it is acid washed or not.

Edit: I went ahead and called and they said they were investigating that question and sent a query to their head quarters.