Should I trust Seachem's Purigen?

[Maximus]

Here's the deal. I have 2 unused bottles of purigen and their special "bag". I have had it sitting up on my shelf for the past month unused. Why you ask? I don't fully trust it. Now, I have no fact to base this on and on the contrary, I have read nothing but good things associated with it. So why don't I trust it? I'm not really sure. I think the main reason why I am not using it is because my tank is basically on autopilot (knock on wood) and is doing superb. I run carbon occasionally and it makes my tank water sparkling clear. Thus, the old saying, "if it aint broke, don't fix it". What do you guys think? Should I give it a try? I always wonder if the purigen could take my tank to another level?

 

[Typo]

i used it and did not see any improvement in my tank so i stopped.

 

[Illusion]

Purigen has never done any harm to my tank... It is Inert and just a resin... Worst that it will do is make your skimmer not work so hard...

The first use the Resins will expire rather quickly however subsequent uses will last much longer... I run about 500ml in my 224g tank

HTH<
James

 

[JB NY]

using about 1 1/2 years. No problems with it at all.

 

[Jpizzle]

starting using it for the first time this week. Definitely noticed an increase in water clarity. I really like it.

The only thing I coudl think of bad happening would be possible bleaching of corals do to more water clarity. However, that didn't happen in my tank.

I recommend it. However, since your tank already sounds liek its in great shape. I bet you won't notice much of a difference and end up not using it just like Illusion said.

 

[jpfelix]

if you don't feed much, and have a mature system, you may not notice much at all.

 

[Creetin]

Its a good insurance policy while on vacation. I use it with carbon.

 

[funstarfish]

some people love it, some don't notice it but ive never seen anyone attribute a problem with it. the very very first time i used it i woke up the next day and the tank shimmered like never before. on subsequent additions i did not see such a noticable difference. so hard to say

 

[gcarroll]

Are you guys using the purigen in a bag or a fluidized bed?

 

[Illusion]

I am using it in a bag... I was going to use it in my Phosban reactor but the media seemed a bit too small for that..

James

 

[JB NY]

In the bag. I tried it in a reactor but it needed too slow of flow. I kept using too much flow and ended up with the resin all over the sump.

 

[Maximus]

Well, I just put it in the tank now. I put it in the bag and hung it off the overflow chamber. The water from the overflow is cascading into the bag. We will see how it does

 

[Maximus]

Btw, where do you guys have the bag at? Is it more of a passive type setting or do you have water running through it?

 

[kozmo02]

i was considering using some in a phosban reactor but after reading JB NY's post maybe that isnt the best idea after all....

 

[Maximus]

I agree Kozmo. The particles are much to small to use in the reactor. They will come out.

 

[Creetin]

I have mine in a ehiem cannister with phosban, carbon, and polypad.

 

[young-d]

too small for the phosban reactor, it did end up in my sump and as JB NY said the flow rate was so slow.

put mine in the seachem bag in a polyfilter canister.

 

[attml]

I have been running it for 2 months with no problem. I run it in the bag and just wedge it between the stand pipe and my overflow wall so that the overflow waterfall passes through it. Seems to work well. I only clean the glass every 5-6 days. I have recharged it in bleach once per the instructions with no ill effects as well.

 

[Maximus]

How clear is your water attml? Sparkling clear? How long did it take for the purigen to turn brown?

 

[Creetin]

Mine is crystal clear, Everybody compliments me on the water clairity. The first use went dark in about 2 mos, and the recharged has been in there 3 and is almost ready to be recharged again. Dont use any kind of stess coat. There's something in there than can bond to the purigen, and leach stuff back into the tank.