Purigen, what is it and how does it work?

[juststartingout]

I see that some people are using Purigen for "cleaning" up their water, like using carbon. Purigen can be "re-generated" by using bleach.
I am interested in using this, but would like some feedback from the intelligent chemistry minds that frequent this forum.

What is it, and how does it work. Do any of you use it, and/or would you recommend it?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Purigen is an organic polymer for removing organics. It is similar to activated carbon both in what it binds and how, but may remove a slightly different profile of organics. It is fine to use, IMO, but whether it is as good as carbon or better than carbon for a reef aquarium isn't clear. Using both is also a fine plan.

 

[juststartingout]

Well, thanks once again, Randy.
I was thinking of using it in a PM uplow reactor like this..
http://www.premiumaquatics.com/precision/FMC35_M.jpg


I can run a mix of purigen/carbon in the reactor, get another reactor (1 for carbon, 1 for purigen)and feed in series, or just place some carbon into one of my overflow filter socks and run the one reactor I have with Purigen. Thanks again!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I'm not sure which of those is better, but those all sound like fine plans to me.

 

[reef_doug]

I use Purigen on top of carbon. My method is a Phosoban 150 reactor filled w/ 1.5c carbon then 3 tbls purigen in a mesh bag stuffed in the reactor.

The purigen in meshbag acts like a particle filter so you don't need the run the output into a filter sock.

BTW... purigen is small diameter and lighter than GAC and should be inside a mesh bag. I put it loose inside a reactor one time and it spit a lot out of the top.