Carbon use

[pablo]

Does anyone use carbon in their filters? If you do approx. how much does it cost you per pound? I'm just asking b/c I work for a water company and our construction division builds treatment plants so I may be able to scoop some activated carbon at a reasonable price and pass the savings on to you guys.
But first I want to compare the prices and make sure there's interest becuase this stuff is a finer grain then the stuff I have but at walmart and the lfs.
Kent

[Invigor]

I use chemi-pure. $13 every 3 months.

[shawn lipon]

using a top grade carbon is very important.cheap carbons usually leach phosphates,nitrates,etc.i use chemi pure at 10 bucks a bag.i use 4 bags changed out 2 every month and a half.:dckix:

[pablo]

This carbon is high grade I was told, b/c it is used in water treatment for human consumption.But as I said it is a finer grit then the normal aquarium carbon.The reason I can get it cheap is that we use alot in water treatment plants.And I can get it at cost.

[shawn lipon]

do you know the manufacturer,brand etc so we could look up info.I think it would take alot to sway reefers away from their prooven choises(chemipure,marineland,kent,etc) that usually is totally tested in reef tanks.The size of grain may be a problem.if its too small it will block too much flow.it is easier to pump 250gph through pebbles than it is thru sugar sand eg.Still anything that lowers the maintenance costs is worth looking into .as long as no harm comes to the tanks or inhabitants .just my opinion.

[Invigor]

the pore size of the carbon makes a huuuuuge difference...there was an article on advanced aquariast comparing all shelf brands of carbon. I believe seachem's matrix carbon was #1 or 2. marineland's Black diamond was high up there too.

[pablo]

i'll see what specs I can dig up on it tommorow at work.

kent

[Invigor]

Specifications Shape Spherical
Mean Diamter 2.39 mm
Density 0.49 g/cc
Pore Volume (PV) 0.55-0.65 mL/cc
Total Surface Area (TSA) 500-600 m2/cc
TSA/PV 770-1100 m2/mL
Iodine # >1000
Molasses # >600
pH in distilled water <7.2
Leachable Phosphate <0.00001 g/cc


these are the specs on the seachem matrix carbon

[pablo]

sorry I was too busy today to get the specs I'll try to remember on monday.

Kent

[Bayside Corals]

Hi Kent,


I work at place that also sells filter units made for water treatment in potable drinking water. I have used this carbon(finer grain) in my freshwater tanks back in the day when I still had them..I never had any problems, but that was fresh water.

Carbon can be activated in two ways. #1 using phosphates and #2 using steam. You do not want to use the carbon that was activated using phosphates for obvious reasons.

The stuff that we have at my work comes in 2 cubic foot bags and is steam activated. I would use it on my tank if the stuff wasn't so fine. I use kent carbon and it's the perfect grain size for my application other wise I maybe using the stuff from work. I do have lots of this carbon from my work at home if anyone wants to try it out. They give me the left overs from the bag when making new filters.

Regards,
Colby
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[Stasher]

I personally love my chemipure....it guarantees no phosphates. I am sure most carbon is great but as everyone stated....watch out for those phosphates as we all hate algae blooms.