Carbon

[bart84]

i have always wondered how other people tell if their carbon is needing to be changed. I have just guessed but am I wasting it. I don't know. Is there a set rule or some sort of calculator to go by. What do you guys do?

 

[zoomster]

I have a very complicated formula and cross reference method to determine when the carbon has been exuasted. Much to scientific to explain here.
In a nut shell, I remove the reactor outlet tube from the sump, observe flow rate for 30 seconds, ask myself when I changed it last. then based on the decrease in flow, I do just like you, I take a guess.

 

[zoomster]

Seriously though, I am in the same position.
I do check my flow and when it starts to diminish, I change the carbon. However I suspect that most times that it is just the pre filter clogging up. And that I am wasting time and material
If someone has an answer for this I would love to hear it as well.

 

[bart84]

@zoomster. Do you tumble your carbon or squeeze it between foam ?

 

[Nonuser]

Water changes look at how yellow the water is in a white bucket

 

[zoomster]

Loosely pack, but not tumble.

 

[chrisstevens]

I change mine out once a month, but it is probably exhausted before then.

 

[reef keeper]

Those guys are amazing from BRS. Did you know.... They started from a tiny warehouse back in 2007 and financed the business by scaling together every nickel they could?

And ya. Once the bucket is yellow, change it. I'm curious to see what happens in my tank. I've never used carbon before.

 

[bart84]

The brs way does work but that seems so rudimentary. There has to be a more accurate way and stable way.

 

[reef keeper]

Um. Every month. Or... Get it chemically tested

 

[bart84]

Ok so quantity must play a part on life. So if I run a 45gal drum on my 75gal tank. I should still change it every month? Realistically I am running a 1.5 cups.

 

[Nonuser]

Here is the video I was looking for in the first place. Really only good for a couple days

Here is a good all around video regarding carbon, gfo and bio pellets

 

[AdInfinitum]

It is absorbing organics from the water...lots of organics=exhausted early...no set time for any system.

Like how long does GFO last???? Well...how high are your phosphates??? Technically you should change it when the effluent from your reactor stops testing lower in PO4 than the inlet water...just like we monitor tds with RODI but how many people actually do that with their GFO? We could use a Colourimeter or better yet a TCA (total carbon analyser) to measure if our carbon is still working but for what it's worth...not happening...

 

[Skim]

Well you could try the Julian Sprung method. Get something really white like a Dinner dish or whatever will not cause any problems being dipped into the tank but has to be bright white and dip half in and half out if you see any colouring time to change Carbon. I just tend to watch the botton and if loses that whitish blue reflection I know it's time. I use Two Little Fishies Hydro Carbon 2 1 Cup and I get 1 month no problem max 2 months and I feed a lot and have a good Bio Load.

 

[Bigfish]

Carbon should not be tumbled. You don't want it breaking down into dust and getting into the water column, which isn't good for your livestock.

 

[bart84]

I guess I will just stick to the once a month method
I have noticed that about the tumbling. I have to secure it better.

 

[Bigfish]

I guess I will just stick to the once a month method
I have noticed that about the tumbling. I have to secure it better.

When I used to run carbon in a tlf reactor, I switched the hoses around so the water flowed in through the top of the reactor rather than the bottom. That way, there was no possibility of it tumbling.