icepick5587
New member
I've heard a number of different ways that poeple use this, some say to change some of it weekly, some say to completely change it monthly, and others say only use it for 1 week at a time. What's your experience with this?
Activated Carbon
- Thread starter icepick5587
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icepick5587
New member
can you reuse it?
DaveBrader
Registered Member
Actually you can reuse carbon, but first you must bake it in a 400 degree oven. This bakes off all the crud from using it and reactivates it. When you do this, it is covered in a fine gray powder which is then rinsed off. I used to do this and reuse my carbon two times and never had a problem doing this.
However, after finding a source for Carbon at $2.00 a pound shipped, I no longer do this. At two bucks a pound it is not worth the effort to reuse the carbon.
Dave
However, after finding a source for Carbon at $2.00 a pound shipped, I no longer do this. At two bucks a pound it is not worth the effort to reuse the carbon.
Dave
flfirefighter13
New member
Come on now no secrets, share the source
DaveBrader
Registered Member
Sorry, here ya go...
http://www.carbon-magic.com/AquariumCarbon.html
You just have to be willing to by 55 lbs at a time to get it for that...
Dave
http://www.carbon-magic.com/AquariumCarbon.html
You just have to be willing to by 55 lbs at a time to get it for that...
Dave
flfirefighter13
New member
THANKS!!! may have to get a local group order going on that one!
DaveBrader
Registered Member
Yes it does Goda. You can hear it "sizzle" again when it is wet...but it is no fun to do... I didnt do it very many times. Especially as I said, once I found a source for carbon at 2 bucks a pound.
Dave
Dave
I believe you have to cook carbon under pressure to reactivate it. You can check with Randy in the Reef Chemistry on this one. He knows the process, and it's really not anything very practical for most people. Most people I've heard from change it monthly (I do partial changes weekly), but it really depends on how much you're using, the volume of water and how much it's pulling from the water. I use carbon pretty much continuously, but I really don't know if that's the norm.
DaveBrader
Registered Member
I took some carbon that had been running in my filter, a magnum 350 canister, for one week. Baked it 450 degrees. Rinsed in distilled water by soaking for a day. When I put it back in the Magnum 350 and used it for another week, the performance of the carbon was the same as it was the first usage. At the time I was doing this, my tank was very young and it was very obvious when the carbon was no longer effective.
You are correct when you say it won't be as good as new, but it will be good enough for a second usage to accomplish removing organics from the water.
Dave
You are correct when you say it won't be as good as new, but it will be good enough for a second usage to accomplish removing organics from the water.
Dave
drummereef
Team RC
Just get some new carbon, it's cheap. that's what i do.
that's what i do.
I use it only every two months. I let it sit in there for a few days too and then I take it out. I use activated carbon for reducing some toxins of the corals and other bad ingredients.
To make the water clear I often use Easy Life, it's softer for the corals than activated carbon, which often reduces trace elements rapidly.
Especially Xenidae have sometimes problems with the usage of activated carbon.
But if you do regular water changes (20-30 % at month), it wouldn't be a problem.
Greetings
Sudad
To make the water clear I often use Easy Life, it's softer for the corals than activated carbon, which often reduces trace elements rapidly.
Especially Xenidae have sometimes problems with the usage of activated carbon.
But if you do regular water changes (20-30 % at month), it wouldn't be a problem.
Greetings
Sudad
icepick5587
New member
I've got a kiln that can get about that hot, how would you go about reactivating carbon? Just spread it all out on a tray and let it sit in there for about a half hour?
icepick5587
New member
bump
