to carbon or not to carbon

[Malachi]

Istopped using carbon about two months ago and mycorals seam to be grawing quiker. I was told by LFS (nice guy) not to get rid of carbon 100% or you will get yellowish water. what do all the fine reefers do?

[tdevil]

i run carbon more than most do for reasons i dont want to get into

carbon helps with the chemical warefar of the corals, and some other technical stuff, i cant think right now

TD

[mojoreef]

LOL TD boy do I remember the old carbon wars, hehehe. some folks run it all the time some run it just when the water yellows abit. the most important thing, reguardless of how much you run it is to make sure it is of a high quality and has no Phosphates. Some carbons pump in phosphates like crasy.


Mike

[tdevil]

great point Mike, can the particle size make a difference, or is carbon just carbon

TD


PS, you should see if Nautilus will make you a sig

Mojoreef man,
Hey guy how can one tell if they are getting carbon that has no phosphates in it?

Want a sig? [smiley=beatnik2.gif] [smiley=smokin.gif] [smiley=smoking.gif] [smiley=smokin.gif] [smiley=smokin.gif] [smiley=smoking.gif] [smiley=trampoline.gif] [smiley=yaknow.gif]

[NUGIO]

[quote author=Nautilus link=board=General;num=1076214322;start=0#4 date=02/08/04 at 10:23:51]Mojoreef man,
Hey guy how can one tell if they are getting carbon that has no phosphates in it?

tagging along here fellers [smiley=ears.gif]

[mojoreef]

Hey folks thanks for the warm welcome. the easest way is usually the price, lol. anythng that say low phosphates is usually not a good plan. I have the folks from Rowa products dancing around me trying to get me to endorse thier products, and of coarse being the crusty old reefer I am that souonds like.............. free stuff, hehehhehe. they are sending me some samples out so I will do some testing o thiers. Right now I have a persona contact that gets me some, but that product is not for sale to the public, so let me do a bit of digging for you.
Thier is definately a difference in carbon types, most of it has to do with the manufacturing process (basically how refined it is). let me get back to you on some suggestions.

On the banner Nautilus your banners are awesome, I would love one, but coould I also keep this one to??? or maybe you could make me two, LOL

Mike

[omard]

Mojoreef,

Thanks much for your efforts .. Am looking forward with great anticipation to your "research" results - and if turns out well "source."

Whole idea of using "Carbon" sounds good, but I am not doing anything till we hear back from you.

Great to have you here!

Rgds,

OmarD

[mojoreef]

Ok heres the story, I have really only used this one type of carbon, so to recommend brands seems a little weird for me. The brand I use is a very high grade, they call it first grade.
But let me give you folks a few hints on what to look for when researching a good carbon product.
1>No chemical activation or washing with phosphoric acid, zinc or hydroxides. you want it to activate in your tank, thats where you will here a sizzle when water hits it.
2>Macroporous structure: large pores of 25 Angstrom or above. the larger the pores the better job it will do in filtering and organic removal.
3>w Iodine Number: below 600. otherwise you end up with a build up of iodine.
4>High Molasses Number: above 400
5>Mesh size ( the smaller the particles the smaller the voids are).

an easy way to test if your carbon has phosphates is to get a gallon of ro water and add a tablespoon of your carbon to it. leave it in thier for an hour, stirring it every 10 minutes or so. then just do a phosphate test.

hope it helps


Mike

MOJOreef
Hey thanks for the info. BTW I hate to test.
Send me some of your reef photos and I will make you as many SIGS as you wish.
And what size of SIG do you want?