Effluent with Phosphate reading 2.0 - Page 5

JerseyReef · #**101** 05/03/2006, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Randy Holmes-Farley
IME with some brands, it does not. But I have not tested Phosban specifically yet. However, if there is precipitation of CaCO3 inside the reactor, that would lower pH. Also, I presume the flow is quite slow in melev's reactor, or the pH could never drop that much. I use a Magnum to run GFO, and the flow is quite high (few gallons per minute), and in that case, I cannot believe there is a detectable pH drop.

Curious, have you measured the pH coming out of your GFO?

Randy Holmes-Farley · #**102** 05/03/2006, 12:29 PM

No, but I can tonight. I have measured the pH of tank water in which GFO is added for testing purposes. Even at very high doses it did not drop pH a lot.

melev · #**103** 05/05/2006, 09:41 PM

Randy, the flow coming out of both Phosban Reactors are very slow, almost a trickle. The media is RowaPHOS-like stuff I got in a group buy, but not the official RowaPHOS. I tested both outputs when I posted those numbers the other day, and they matched surprisingly.

jnarowe · #**104** 05/05/2006, 10:09 PM

rats. I missed number 20000! Congrats, I guess.

melev · #**105** 05/05/2006, 11:00 PM

It is hiding in the DIY forum. I even stated the number in that post, since the counter continues to change after each post.

http://archive.reefcentral.com/forum...61#post7313061

jnarowe · #**106** 05/06/2006, 12:47 AM

Good post too. I haven't been real enthused about the Rowa carbon I have been using and that article describes why! Anyway, I am a bit surprised to read several times in the last few days that carbon is only good for a few days. I have been using carbon for years and in particular in my under-stand power filter on my FW Planted tank.

I am building a multi-media reactor for the reef with carbon in mind for the first chamber but maybe I should think about other medias? I have a large bag of carbon in one of my filter socks right now and I have been rinsing it thoroughly every week and a lot of crap comes out. I change it out about every 4 weeks. I guess maybe I should be throwing it away every week but man that gets expensive! It seems to me that if I rinse it well it should still have some cleaning capacity but I am no scientist.

melev · #**107** 05/06/2006, 12:49 AM

Randy would know better, but you could just run carbon for a few days, every few weeks perhaps. Or change it every 14 days instead of every 30.

Randy Holmes-Farley · #**108** 05/06/2006, 07:42 AM

What article are we talking about and what was the concern with running carbon?

melev · #**109** 05/06/2006, 08:34 AM

This is one I tend to defer to: http://www.pets-warehouse.com/carbon.htm

jnarowe · #**110** 05/06/2006, 10:50 AM

Some carbon manufacturers, in order to combat this info., claim that their carbon becomes a biological filter after a few days. I can attest to that, or at least to its ability to trap particulate matter!

Randy Holmes-Farley · #**111** 05/07/2006, 10:52 AM

I am a bit surprised to read several times in the last few days that carbon is only good for a few days.

How rapidly carbon becomes depleted depends entirely on the level of organics in the water, and I would not assume it only lasts a few days. IMO, changing it after 3-4 weeks is a fine plan.

jnarowe · #**112** 05/07/2006, 11:04 AM

OK now you guys are just messin' with me!

Actually I do have some experience that tells me carbon loses its effectiveness fairly quickly but I cannot imagine that is not directly related to the level of polution in the tank. Anytime I swap out carbon there is an immediate benefit to water quality so I can somewhat agree with the limited lifespan theory.

I just hate to use it up so fast! I find that if i pull the carbom weekly and give it a good rinse, it does help some. For my tank, based on the calculations within the article noted by Marc, my tank needs just slightly over 4 cups per dose.

That's a lot of carbon to go through.

Question: Have you found a way to buy the Calgon activated carbon (or has anyone)? The Two Little Fishes Hydrocarbon is easy to get as well as the Marineland activated carbon, but I cannot find the Calgon product for sale to the public. I sent a note to them so maybe I will hear back from the this week.

melev · #**113** 05/07/2006, 01:03 PM

Here's what I did: I bought 45lbs of Kent Carbon (big box with a sealed bag inside) for $151 shipped (Premium Aquatics). That was the best deal I could find.

I've been told that the carbon sold at Walmart (private label) is actually Black Diamond Carbon, without the higher price tag. I haven't checked to see what it costs yet.

4 cups isn't much. I think the flow going through the carbon is more important than the quantity anyway.

jnarowe · #**114** 05/07/2006, 02:34 PM

Marc, what is the volume measurement of the 45 lbs.? That's one of the issues in buying carbon is that these manufacturers have taken a lesson from computers and use screwy incompatible measurements so it's tough to compare.

drfostersmith has the Marineland activated carbon on sale for $14 for 3.65 ltr. which is not a bad deal at about half the price of the Two Little Fishes hydrocarbon.

melev · #**115** 05/07/2006, 02:58 PM

I don't know. I basically divided the box into four equal portions (four 1 gallon Ziplock bags full per buyer) as it was a group buy. Each person ended up with 11lbs roughly. I think the measurement was accurate.

jnarowe · #**116** 05/07/2006, 03:05 PM

So that roughly makes the Marineland $5/lb...give or take and much more than your Kent buy. Thanks for the help!

GSchiemer · #**117** 05/07/2006, 03:40 PM

Quote:

[i]Originally posted by melev]
This is one I tend to defer to: http://www.pets-warehouse.com/carbon.htm

Another good question is whether "Pets Warehouse" had permission to reprint Richard Harker's old Advanced Aquarist articles on their website. Isn't this the company with a dubious reputation?

Greg

melev · #**118** 05/07/2006, 04:56 PM

Greg, that article has been there for a few years. I'd love to have it on my website just to avoid it being lost one day, but I'd need permission from the author.

GSchiemer · #**119** 05/07/2006, 05:00 PM

I sent an e-mail to Richard Harker asking him if he gave permission to Pets Warehouse. We'll see...

Greg

jnarowe · #**120** 05/08/2006, 03:50 PM

I am on the phone right now with a Calgon technical adviser and he says that Calgon has NEVER had a Lignite based product, so I am now suspicious of that article!

I did get a quote from him for $4.39/lb for BPL 4 x 10 (55 lb. bag), but that is still a bit higher than what Marc paid...plus shipping!

The search goes on.