Quality Carbon???

frankthetank

Active Member
What's a quality carbon to run in your reef tank. I only recently began to hear that some carbons are not as good as others. I don't know why this surprised me, pretty much the deal with anything in the world
Anyways, I recently purchased some Kent Marine Reef Carbon. Good buy?
 

lion_crazz

Active Member
You know, I used to think that ChemiPure was not much better than most other carbons, but I stand corrected and apologize to anyone that I previously dissented about on the subject. I have been using ChemiPure lately and I have been seeing far better results with it. Furthermore, they just came out with chemipure elite which actually removes phosphates and silicates from the water. It is a little more expensive, but it actually works if you have issues with either of those. For that reason, I throw my vote to chemipure as well.
I used to use Kent and did not really see much of a difference between that and the cheap stuff.
 

seannmelly

Active Member
Originally Posted by lion_crazz
You know, I used to think that ChemiPure was not much better than most other carbons, but I stand corrected and apologize to anyone that I previously dissented about on the subject. I have been using ChemiPure lately and I have been seeing far better results with it. Furthermore, they just came out with chemipure elite which actually removes phosphates and silicates from the water. It is a little more expensive, but it actually works if you have issues with either of those. For that reason, I throw my vote to chemipure as well.
I used to use Kent and did not really see much of a difference between that and the cheap stuff.
how often do you change yours?
 

anonome

Active Member
Originally Posted by lion_crazz
You know, I used to think that ChemiPure was not much better than most other carbons, but I stand corrected and apologize to anyone that I previously dissented about on the subject. I have been using ChemiPure lately and I have been seeing far better results with it. Furthermore, they just came out with chemipure elite which actually removes phosphates and silicates from the water. It is a little more expensive, but it actually works if you have issues with either of those. For that reason, I throw my vote to chemipure as well.
I used to use Kent and did not really see much of a difference between that and the cheap stuff.
I have to agree with you lion_crazz. I used Kent reef carbon for years off and on and saw clearer water, but my lfs was out of kent and used chemipure. OH my gosh, what a difference. My corals opened up much better and the water was clear as well. I always had a problem with nitrates and since using it, I have seen a significant decline in the nitrates. I haven't tried the "elite", just saw it in a magazine ad....looks interesting. I will try that next go around.
 

lion_crazz

Active Member
I have been changing it monthly because I do not use as much as they recommend. If I did, I would need 7-10 units of it. That is insane and furthermore, I do not even have the room in my sump for that many units.
How about you?
 

seannmelly

Active Member
Originally Posted by lion_crazz
I have been changing it monthly because I do not use as much as they recommend. If I did, I would need 7-10 units of it. That is insane and furthermore, I do not even have the room in my sump for that many units.
How about you?
i use 2 units in a 125gallon(less then recommended and i have a 30 gallon sump) i's been a couple months might change next month or when i clean the sump which ever comes first. i just got an ro/di do you have one? i mostly started using chemipure b/c i know theres a little iron in the tap.
melly
 

reefkprz

Active Member
the rating is on the package. it doesnt matter who makes it if its .5 microns its great if its 50 its pretty much worthless, with different gradings falling in measurements between accordingly. (IMO)
 

azfishgal

Active Member
Originally Posted by seannmelly
i use 2 units in a 125gallon(less then recommended and i have a 30 gallon sump) i's been a couple months might change next month or when i clean the sump which ever comes first. i just got an ro/di do you have one? i mostly started using chemipure b/c i know theres a little iron in the tap.
melly
What's a unit, does it come in a bag, or do you need to buy a bag to put the carbon in? I'm thinking of ordering the Chemi-Pure but do I need to order anything else? I have a 125 gallon tank.
 

seannmelly

Active Member
Originally Posted by azfishgal
What's a unit, does it come in a bag, or do you need to buy a bag to put the carbon in? I'm thinking of ordering the Chemi-Pure but do I need to order anything else? I have a 125 gallon tank.
it comes in a bag, all you have to do is rinse it. one unit does 50gallons. they also have 1/2 units that does 25 or 30 gallons. you will probably need 2-3 units. i have a 125 and use 2
melly
 

azfishgal

Active Member
Originally Posted by seannmelly
it comes in a bag, all you have to do is rinse it. one unit does 50gallons. they also have 1/2 units that does 25 or 30 gallons. you will probably need 2-3 units. i have a 125 and use 2
melly
What I saw was like a fat jar type container. Is the bag in that, or was I looking at the wrong thing?
 

scrapman

Member
If using a unit (bag) or carbon for only 3 days a month... what's the best way to rinse it store it until the next month??
 

reefkprz

Active Member
Originally Posted by scrapman
If using a unit (bag) or carbon for only 3 days a month... what's the best way to rinse it store it until the next month??
you dont store and reuse it any organics it absorbed would die off and rot when reintroduced to the tank.
never reuse carbon always use fresh.
 

scrapman

Member
Originally Posted by reefkprZ
you dont store and reuse it any organics it absorbed would die off and rot when reintroduced to the tank.
never reuse carbon always use fresh.

I'm sooooo.... cheap!
 

reefkprz

Active Member
me too, but cheap doesnt mean dumb by any stretch. the potential for disaster is high re-using old carbon.
 

scrapman

Member
Originally Posted by reefkprZ
me too, but cheap doesnt mean dumb by any stretch. the potential for disaster is high re-using old carbon.
Thanks reefkprZ.... we're smartly on the same wave length!
 
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