Anyone use pantyhose for activated carbon?

FishTruck

FishTruck

Premium Member
I am getting tired of assembling and disassembling my media reactor. I want to go back to run carbon in my filter socks in a media bag of some sort. It is hard to find media bags of the right size for a big tank.

I think someone told me at some point that they use nylon hose.

Has anyone done this (before I raid my wife's drawer)?
 
Yup!

Yup!

I use the "ankle" nylons (your wife will know what I'm talking about) - they come in packages or 3-4 pairs, and are dirt cheap at the dollar store. They will stretch out to easily hold a quart of carbon and you can still tie a knot at the top... They're so cheap, when the carbon is exhausted, just remove and toss them away. Yes, you can use them in your media reactor to make insertion and removal a snap!

LL
 
I use nylons all the time. They are so cheap you dont have to worry about rinsing them and reusing them like you do the micron bags.

I always soak mine in a bleach/water mixture then rinse very well in hot water. I ahve always dont this in case there is some chemical or detergent used during the manufacturing process. Not sure if its necessary but I do it. I usually get 2 or 3 uses out of a nylon.........
 
Re: Anyone use pantyhose for activated carbon?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15693367#post15693367 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by FishTruck

Has anyone done this (before I raid my wife's drawer)?
Click to expand...

Be careful... who knows what else might be in there!:smokin:
 
also remember that the water mostly just goes over the nylon then through it. The reactor pushes the water through the carbon so it is much more efficent.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15697846#post15697846 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by nyvp
also remember that the water mostly just goes over the nylon then through it. The reactor pushes the water thHrough the carbon so it is much more efficent.
Click to expand...

right. That's the downside of passive flow versus directed flow. However, In my setup... the main source of inefficiency is me procrastinating the unpacking of the reactor. I just bought five gallons of activated carbon. Will pre pack a years worth of panty hose carbon bags and no more excuses!
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15697846#post15697846 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by nyvp
also remember that the water mostly just goes over the nylon then through it. The reactor pushes the water through the carbon so it is much more efficent.
Click to expand...

+2

Although the sock in the reactor could work, water will still take the path of least resistance, which is around, not through.

IMO, if you are running a large setup, the amount of carbon necessary makes the nylon/filter bags a less attractive option.
 
I wouldn't do the nylon either. Although it does seem like a much easier option, in the end you are going to be cutting the efficiency in half. Doesn't seem worth it to me, especially since you'll have an empty reactor sitting there. You could buy another reactor for $40 and have one pre-filled and ready to go, that way you could just swap them out and take the next month or so to empty and clean the used one. And if you ever have an emergency and need to run a lot of carbon right away you could easily Y the pump tubing and run both at the same time.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15702725#post15702725 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by stealle
If you don't want to go the panty hose route and you just want a reactor that is easier to use, I think the reactors from bulk reef supply look much easier to maintain that the usual media reactors: http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/Carbo...gle--GFO-and-Carbon-Reactor/product_info.html

They also have a dual reactor available.
Click to expand...

Cool. I'm in the market for a reactor actually...how does this one differ from the TLF ones that everyone has and such? Seems to be about the same price. Thanks.
 
Also, just noticed they have dual reactors as well. One for GFO and one for carbon...what's the benefit of running both? I thought GFO was the better solution...I don't want to get the single and then regret it...is it better to have the double?
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15702725#post15702725 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by stealle

They also have a dual reactor available.
Click to expand...
^^^^ yep I mentioned they have dual.

Carbon and GFO do different things.

Carbon will remove yellowing and improve water clarity. It will also remove other toxins/pollutants and some medications. GFO is primarily for phosphate removal.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15706209#post15706209 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by stealle
^^^^ yep I mentioned they have dual.

Carbon and GFO do different things.

Carbon will remove yellowing and improve water clarity. It will also remove other toxins/pollutants and some medications. GFO is primarily for phosphate removal.
Click to expand...

Oops...you did mention the dual haha. Thanks for the clarification. Do you run both medias for the same amount of time?
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15706386#post15706386 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by McSassy
Oops...you did mention the dual haha. Thanks for the clarification. Do you run both medias for the same amount of time?
Click to expand...

I currently do not have a system up and running. I'm in the planning stage for a ~175 gallon display + ~50 gallon sump. I guess you could say I'm in between tanks.

I plan to run both carbon and GFO. The life span of carbon varies based on brand and shape/size of the carbon. It also varies based upon the water quality of your tank. Based upon a study I read, ( http://www.pets-warehouse.com/carbon.html ) the TLF Hydrocarbon 2 is probably the highest quality carbon you can get. It's also about the most expensive.

Carbon life? granular activated carbon (GAC)

"Under conditions of aggressive DOC removal (skimming, water changes, GAC use), the GAC charge should last over a month, but under more passive nutrient removal husbandry (no skimming? no frequent water changes?), the GAC charge will be depleted in just a few days." Source: http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2008/2/aafeature1

Realistically, the carbon is going to work really well for several days; rapidly decline in effectiveness after a week and exhausted at six weeks (source http://www.hallman.org/filter/gac.html ). I think most people that use carbon, including myself, change it monthly.

A product like rowaphos will usually last several months. It really depends upon how much phosphate you have in your system. (It's important to use RO/DI water, drain and rinse the liquid from frozen fish foods, and feed properly.) Start using the rowaphos as directed. You need to do weekly testing for phosphates. When the phosphates start to elevate you need to replace the media. Then you will know how long the media lasts in your system and you can anticipate next time when to replace the media before your phosphate levels start to elevate.
 
Last edited:
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15707749#post15707749 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by austin93
I use pantyhose too...... I mean for carbon. Only carbon. Seriously. Carbon.
Click to expand...
:lol:
 
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