Carbon: How Much/How Often?

[Pufferpunk]

I have a 55g tank with a lot of mixed corals that can cause some chemical warfare. How much carbon should I use & how often should I change it?

 

[the ocean]

I change my charbon in my store when it starts to break down bad. we mix a lot of corals in the tanks too.
p.s sorry for the spelling.

 

[Douglas LEHMAN]

Hello Jeni
I'd recommend to start with a cup or so, and change it out after 3 or 4 weeks.

 

[Pufferpunk]

I've been waisting a lot of carbon then. The bag I fill is as tall as the Eheim I put it in.

 

[ostrow]

I change 50% every 2 weeks. I use about a quart, maybe a little less, in a pvc "reactor" Rod made ... basically a tube of pvc, with a threaded coupler on one end to screw into a mag pump, and a cap on the other end with some holes in it. Foam pads on both ends to keep the carbon in the pvc tube. Works great.

I replace half every 2 weeks, alternating the end I open. Of course, each time I scratch my head, "Which end did I do last time?" I figure I get each end over time.

Learned the hard way not to shake it to mix the carbon though ... dislodged the foam, carbon spilled out everywhere....

 

[Poppy828]

I too use the infamous carbon tube from Rod. Love the thing. I change my carbon...100% of it every 3 weeks Jeni. I use about a cup and a half each time. I use a Maxi-jet 1200 to run it. Some others like Joel use the mag. He must be using the bigger tube. But, the smaller ones as I have run fine on the maxi. Hope that helps,

Todd

 

[Larry Waughon]

I too use the carbon tube from Rod. I put mine in the first of each month and pull it the seventh of the month. Each month I use new carbon.

 

[fishgeeksrus]

We use 1 cup per hundred. It gets changed once a month.

 

[Rod Buehler]

now come on.. Joel, you first called it the "carbon gizmo" now its "the tube"?

I change mine out every 2 weeks. (if I think about it) but I like pioneers method the best.

 

[Roughhawk]

i'm using ~10oz for my 400gal changing all 4 weeks or so...

 

[ostrow]

Yeah, ok, Carbon Gizmo it is!

Rod, you run yours continuously though right? pioneer only runs it one week of the month if I understand right.

 

[Highlander]

What brand of carbon is everyone using?
I was running the Seachem Matrix because it is meant to be low in phosphates, but it is $$$$$.
Recently switched to purigen instead of carbon. but thinking of running both now.

 

[ostrow]

I get whatever I can that is cheapest in largest quantity. Last purchase was a 5lb jar of ESV for like $23 IIRC. I keep looking for bulk. Next will probably be from the eco guys. Cubic ft for like $60 shipped.

 

[Rod Buehler]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6899871#post6899871 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ostrow
Yeah, ok, Carbon Gizmo it is!

Rod, you run yours continuously though right? pioneer only runs it one week of the month if I understand right.

Yes, I run it continuously. but I dont like to leave it in longer than 2 weeks. They say that most carbon suck up whatever it can within the first few days, and after that the best it can do is just sit there, and some say that it will even leach stuff back into the system.

(I like the sond of gizmo better ... Thanks for that)

Highlander: I was once able to get some stuff from Jacobi carbon per Eric Bs recomendation. It was by far my favorite. Not much dust and the perfect size IMO. They would only sell me the 55lb bag, one time. Now they say I have to buy a pallet full.

I have been using the ESV stuff lately and I like it. Not too dusty IMO.. less than a 1/4 gallon to rinse the stuff. I havent (yet) done a phosphatye test on it though.

 

[Pufferpunk]

Man, have I been wasting carbon!

 

[ostrow]

And here I read some of my students papers and think, "Man, what a waste of carbon!"

 

[Highlander]

So Rod, when are you gonna set up a group buy for that palette of Jacobi?

 

[ostrow]

I'd take a bag.

 

[Pufferpunk]

Huh?

 

[ostrow]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6900317#post6900317 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Rod Buehler
Highlander: I was once able to get some stuff from Jacobi carbon per Eric Bs recomendation. It was by far my favorite. Not much dust and the perfect size IMO. They would only sell me the 55lb bag, one time. Now they say I have to buy a pallet full.