carbon quality

[philhawk]

im sure that this has been discussed at length previously but i couldn't find it...

i don't use carbon in my fresh tanks but as time progresses in my salt tank im finding that i must use some because of the size of the tank.

is there a significant difference between brands of carbon or is the difference mostly pellet size and amount of dust?

secondly: if there is a difference is there a way to tell on the lable if the product is of quality.

 

[pupumole]

i find that made-in-china(n bought in china) carbon are somewat better than those that comes in blue carton in US ^^;; but that much be because the effect of the price it had on my mind, they were like 1/10 of US's price

 

[syndicate]

try Seacheam purgen and its reuseable
http://www.seachem.com/Products/product_pages/Purigen.html

 

[ewurm]

Carbon is worthless. Use the space for biomedia.

 

[philhawk]

i have a nano reef and the unfortunate truth is that im too lazy to do bi-weekly water changes. so to aid in the reduction of impurities in the water i do plan on using the space for chem-filtration. the purigen is a good idea i have used it in the past. the only trouble is with the filter that i have (hot magnum) there isnt a really good way to put the package(s) in the chemical filtration "Tray" so that there isnt a ton of pass by. maybe it doesnt matter and the amount that goes through will be great enough to surpass the effectivness of the carbon that is in it.

the "tray" is a cylinder where the water flows from all sides into the center where it is sucked upward and out of the filter.

 

[tcarswell]

Carbon is worthless. Use the space for biomedia.

I have been putting alot of thought into this lately could you please elaborate ?

 

[philhawk]

while its an abrasive way to put it. carbon really is just cheating your way to the goal of providing enough bacteria to break down fish waste into less toxic nitrate.

i have plenty of bio media in the form of a deep sand bed and live rock but im combating hair algae and i want to lock up all waste stages before they fertilize the algae. hence carbon. or purigen.

 

[Mr Pleco]

I use Seachem products for almost everything. Would not use nothing else .

So with that commercial in mind I use Seachem Matrix Carbon for pre-filtering my storage / exchange water.....before it goes in my tanks.

No carbon is used on the specimen tanks themselves.


http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+4136+4197&pcatid=4197

 

[Anderman]

Carbon is worthless. Use the space for biomedia.

I find it keeps the tank clear and the smell down but thats imo.Hagen fluval carbon is not too bad.

 

[philhawk]

i dot have any trouble with smell or clarity. its just the minute impurities that i care about.

i may go back to bio chem zorb. or spend the money on another bucket for water changes. and some live rock