Odd question about carbon...

[96p993]

This isnt an aquarium question but after being the in the hobby for 6 plus years this seems to be the best place to ask....

I am running carbon through a 10 foot tall by 3 inch wide stainless tube for purification purposes. I am trying to get a logical way of knowing when its time to change or regenerate the carbon. Does carbon affect anything that is measurable to where I could know when it is spent??

Any help would be great....

Thanks

 

[rgrobe]

I don't know for sure that there is a way to test the carbon itself. If you were using the carbon to purify water you could test for known contaminates. For example testing the water for chlorine going in, compared to that coming out would give you a basic indication. If you have detectable levels going in and none coming out one could assume it was still effective. As the levels rise on the exit side it would indicate exhaustion. You could use this concept with any contaminate that can be tested.

 

[Ricardo529]

Salifert used to make a test kit that allowed you to measure whether carbon was still active or not. I haven't seen it in forever though so it's possible they stopped making it. I've also never used it, so I don't know how/if it works.
It might be worth a try though if you cannot find anything else. Do a search for "Salifert Activated Carbon" perhaps you can find one online.

Rick

 

[96p993]

Thanks I will take a look...We are using a pharmaceutical grade RO machine that takes out just about everything detectable so its tough to see anything that would help us know if the carbon is still working