Which Activated Carbon Do You Use?

[RichReef]

Acurel. 2 cups every month.

 

[CCK_8814]

Acurel.

That’s what I was using but the LFS I was getting it from ran out and said the brand was bought out by LovePets or something like that and they could no longer get it [emoji1743]‍[emoji3603]

 

[hart24601]

I run lignite based carbon b/c I like to use bags and ROX is too small. Also run purigen alongside it passively in the sump. Purigen works wonders in nanos with no or undersized skimmer. You can really see it getting dark – same with use in FW. In larger systems with big skimmers and other exports it takes a lot longer to darken up.

 

[malacoda]

Seachem Matrix Carbon. In a mesh bag along with De*Nitrate (not in the mesh bag) inside a Phosban 150 that I run as a nitrate reactor with about 40 ghp going through it.

 

[CCK_8814]

Seachem Matrix Carbon. In a mesh bag along with De*Nitrate (not in the mesh bag) inside a Phosban 150 that I run as a nitrate reactor with about 40 ghp going through it.

So you run the De*Nitrate in a reactor? How does that work for you? I currently run Kent marine nitrate sponge in a tiny reactor and it seems to work fairly well. I feed fairly heavy and my nitrates are always ~10. I also run a HOB Filter I gutted and turned into a HOB refugium.

 

[GoVols]

Running a Purigen (reactor), but will use GAC (ROX) for removing a treatment.

 

[GoVols]

I recommend checking out red sea reef spec carbon. Little dust, easy to use. Put the carbon in a bag, rinse and into the sump.

DSC,

I like the (Red Sea) Reef Spec Carbon, too.

It also comes with great draw string bags.

 

[clsanchez77]

I use the BRS ROX 0.8, have been for several years and very happy with it. I do not use much. About a cup in their hang-on reactor, manifolded off my return and I use the half-height canister. I change it about every 6 weeks....or when my kids change sports and the area ball park.

 

[malacoda]

So you run the De*Nitrate in a reactor? How does that work for you? I currently run Kent marine nitrate sponge in a tiny reactor and it seems to work fairly well. I feed fairly heavy and my nitrates are always ~10. I also run a HOB Filter I gutted and turned into a HOB refugium.

For the first 12 months or so of having my 24g set up, my NO3 was always 12-20 ppm. Running De*Nitrate passively in my sump didn't have any effect in bringing it lower. After taking a closer look at Seachem's webpage on De*Nitrate, I realized it's recommended to run 25-50 ghp through it. So I made a DIY reactor for it.

Within 5 days of placing the De*Nitrate in the reactor, my NO3 fell to 1 ppm. And it has remained 1ppm (+/- 0.5 ppm) for the past 24 months, even when I feed heavier than normal.

A year ago I dropped back from a 20% water change every 2 weeks to a 20% change once a month. Tank remained healthy as ever. And NO3 still held steady at 1ppm.

Then I had my tunze 9004 skimmer off for the month of June (my wife and I were travelling and no one would be able to empty the cup regularly so I just left it turned off). NO3 still stayed steady a 1ppm. So I ended up pulling the skimmer from the system.

Have now been skimmerless for 5 months. Just floss which gets changed weekly, 20% monthly water change. And the reactor with the De*Nitrate, a bit of carbon, and a bit of Phosguard (the latter two being in a mesh bag in the reactor).

NO3 still rock steady at 1 ppm.

Putting the De-Nitrate (with a bit of Matrix Carbon and Phosguard) into a cheap 'reactor' is by far the best thing I ever did for my tank. Nutrients have been super-stable for me ever since.

Of course, might not have been necessary if I had used really porous natural live rock instead of less-porous man-made live rock in my DT. But it has proven to be an inexpensive solution for me and has help keep my tank clean and nuisance-algae-free for the past two years.

 

[DSC reef]

DSC,

I like the (Red Sea) Reef Spec Carbon, too.

It also comes with great draw string bags.

Makes it very easy to use IMO. Used recommended amount, changed once a month.

 

[Nick30G]

I run Rox 0.8 Carbon in a BRS Mini Reactor on my 45g system. I also run 1/4 cup GFO mixed into the carbon as well and it keeps my tank water very clear

 

[andyg1960]

BRS Rox

 

[SinCityRee4r]

BRS Rox0.8 super low dust[emoji106]

 

[CCK_8814]

For the first 12 months or so of having my 24g set up, my NO3 was always 12-20 ppm. Running De*Nitrate passively in my sump didn't have any effect in bringing it lower. After taking a closer look at Seachem's webpage on De*Nitrate, I realized it's recommended to run 25-50 ghp through it. So I made a DIY reactor for it.

Within 5 days of placing the De*Nitrate in the reactor, my NO3 fell to 1 ppm. And it has remained 1ppm (+/- 0.5 ppm) for the past 24 months, even when I feed heavier than normal.

A year ago I dropped back from a 20% water change every 2 weeks to a 20% change once a month. Tank remained healthy as ever. And NO3 still held steady at 1ppm.

Then I had my tunze 9004 skimmer off for the month of June (my wife and I were travelling and no one would be able to empty the cup regularly so I just left it turned off). NO3 still stayed steady a 1ppm. So I ended up pulling the skimmer from the system.

Have now been skimmerless for 5 months. Just floss which gets changed weekly, 20% monthly water change. And the reactor with the De*Nitrate, a bit of carbon, and a bit of Phosguard (the latter two being in a mesh bag in the reactor).

NO3 still rock steady at 1 ppm.

Putting the De-Nitrate (with a bit of Matrix Carbon and Phosguard) into a cheap 'reactor' is by far the best thing I ever did for my tank. Nutrients have been super-stable for me ever since.

Of course, might not have been necessary if I had used really porous natural live rock instead of less-porous man-made live rock in my DT. But it has proven to be an inexpensive solution for me and has help keep my tank clean and nuisance-algae-free for the past two years.

So you’re running all the in the reactor? Never heard of that! Care to share pics of your DIY Reactor?

 

[CCK_8814]

I’m still looking for some more insight as to what the benefits of running a carbon reactor are vs just running it in a bag.

 

[SinCityRee4r]

I’m still looking for some more insight as to what the benefits of running a carbon reactor are vs just running it in a bag.

i would say running it in a reactor is more specific. all water which runs through comes in contact with the carbon. where a bag in the sump not so much and the flow is the flow through your sump IMO

 

[CCK_8814]

i would say running it in a reactor is more specific. all water which runs through comes in contact with the carbon. where a bag in the sump not so much and the flow is the flow through your sump IMO

Yes but because my sump is chamberless I do run the carbon in the filter sock basically just under where the drain line enters the sock.

 

[SinCityRee4r]

Yes but because my sump is chamberless I do run the carbon in the filter sock basically just under where the drain line enters the sock.

Many ways to run a reef tank that is fine too. I go not think there is a wrong way

 

[Vincent100]

Triton or rowa carbon

 

[malacoda]

Carbon in your sock should work just fine as long as it doesn't get tumbled around.

The only reason I put it in the reactor atop of my De-Nitrate is because I don't run a sock. So, for my set up, it's the optimal place to put it to ensure as much water as possible comes in contact with it.

I was using this DIY mayo jar reactor for a about 18 months or so. But the epoxy I used on the center feed pipe gave out. So I recently modified a Phosban 150 by shortening it ~3 inches.

Here's a quick pick of the reactor:

And the 24g DT it supports:

Keeping the carbon (and PhosGuard) in the mesh bag ensures they don't tumble. And makes it a lot easier to replace them.