STOP THE GAC FINES!

[thatmanMIKEson]

Does anyone do this for their carbon to catch the fines, a 5 micron sediment filter after im gunna try it see what happens..

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Very good idea, as long as you can still get good flow. Another idea is to use three chambers with graduated sediment filters, like the GAC and then a 50 um and then the 5 um.

Jay

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

i have plenty of flow, i have a ball valve about 50% to restrict it to about 100gph .but i have 1&5micron sediment filters by the box load but the 5 i use for making new saltwater i always filter my NSW before use. but now running the sediment filter on the tank with brs rox carbon. their carbon is by far the best ive used it flushes clean quick and works great! but i have noticed that the sediment filter has caught some particles that must have went past the sponge, now i am considering that maybe there should be two sediment filters , but at least 1 at all times no exceptions!!!!

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

Wow it was clear after 2 hours but now it is super clear! this is the first time I've run this carbon system on this tank set up so I'm pleased and glad I made it with a second chamber to catch sediment!

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

Actually so much gets thru im hoping one filter is enough JAY has me thinking now about two sediment filters!

I will see how it goes I dont run carbon very often

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

Nice filter! I have one of those dual brs media reactors lying around. I just put it in a media bag and placd in in my sump return area. Like in a breeder net to keep the bag away from the pump.
D

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

Glad it cleared ur water up.
Dont go too clear and too low alk. Lol.
D

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

Glad it cleared ur water up.
Dont go too clear and too low alk. Lol.
D

thanks for the heads up, ill be taking it offline after 24hrs is up. does it drop alk?

 

[dedragon]

Nice filter! I have one of those dual brs media reactors lying around. I just put it in a media bag and placd in in my sump return area. Like in a breeder net to keep the bag away from the pump.
D

I have a media rector too but just stick to filter bags in a high flow sump as well, i havent seen any noticible difference in water quality

 

[dedragon]

dealing with the fine particles grinding together was the reason i switched too, anyone know a media reactor that actually does its job as intended?

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

More like soaks up amnonia i think... Idk cuz its for toxins but i swear it lowers phosphates and nitrates. Or it inhibits them from taking hold and the tank lowers them. I run mine under the kitchen sink. Rinse good. Listen to it and put it in the bag. I too get fine particles on the floor or my dt.
Eh. Lol.
D

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

How longs it been in their dedragon?

 

[dedragon]

Lol, havent used it in at least 4 years. Tried it for around a year but it was a pita, the filter bags were just easier to throw away and put in another one and no dust everywhere.
Realistically i wont be running it again unless i upgrade to a much larger tank (300+ gallons) and only if i find that the filter bags arent doing their job, for now they work well.

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

Ok sorry i thouht u said it wasnt working. Lol
D

 

[vetteguy53081]

More like soaks up amnonia i think... Idk cuz its for toxins but i swear it lowers phosphates and nitrates. Or it inhibits them from taking hold and the tank lowers them. I run mine under the kitchen sink. Rinse good. Listen to it and put it in the bag. I too get fine particles on the floor or my dt.
Eh. Lol.
D

Activated carbon does not soak ammonia nor remove phosphates and nitrates (Ferrous oxide will). Filters and bacteria reduce the ammonia
Activated carbon is considered a form of chemical filtration and used by aquarists to removed organic compounds including colors, chemicals, medicines, and toxins from the aquarium. The protein skimmer can do a really great job at removing impurities in the water, but activated carbon goes to a whole new level of filtration. For example: There are organic compounds in water that give aquariums a yellow tint. Activated carbon can remove this yellow color and make the aquarium look much more blue due to allowing more light to get to the bottom of the tank and to corals.
Activated carbon can leach phosphates into the water causing excessive algae growth. Its also true that some carbons will leach phosphate because the phosphate is either naturally occurring in the type of carbon used, or is part of the treatment process of activating carbon. However not all activated carbons contain phosphates so simply switching carbon types or brands is the solution to it leaching PO4.

 

[schuby]

dealing with the fine particles grinding together was the reason i switched too, anyone know a media reactor that actually does its job as intended?

Too much flow through the reactor can cause the GAC to grind against itself. This results in more fine particles (fines). Reducing flow through reactor should also reduce the production of fines.

A thorough rinse before loading reactor should help reduce the GAC fines that came in the packaging.

 

[dedragon]

Too much flow through the reactor can cause the GAC to grind against itself. This results in more fine particles (fines). Reducing flow through reactor should also reduce the production of fines.

A thorough rinse before loading reactor should help reduce the GAC fines that came in the packaging.

Lol, yes i did follow the instructions, regardless i would need a trickle for it not to work without it grinding. Worked better wen i turned it into an algae reactor

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

Actually the reactor works good, some things work differently with different applications for different people. I packed the reactor tight and might use 2 sponges on top next time. The sediment filter is a must for me! Look at everything it catches for a 3$ filter its worth not giving my tang holes in his head!

Anyway I still have the carbon online I will take it off soon im getting full use out of the carbon and filter to polish water.

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

Whats the longest anyone has run GAC non stop?