Warning- bad carbon will kill

Snappy · #1 02-12-2010, 01:57 PM

Things are definately improving with my system since I removed the carbon.

fencer · #2 02-12-2010, 02:26 PM

There are different pHs for various prepared carbons. I don't think it is the iron as iron salts are an additive in the Ultra products. I suggest it may be something else in the carbon another contaminant? Was there a large spike in algae growth, did any of your yellow sps start turning greenish/yellow? These are signs of overdosing of iron

rayjay · #3 02-12-2010, 09:06 PM

A lot of hobbyists dose iron for their tanks to help growth of macro that they have in their tanks.
One japanese hobbyists uses a jar of nails in his sump from what I read on a post on RC.

kien · #4 02-12-2010, 09:47 PM

ya I was kinda wondering that too because GFO is more or less just that, rust? Things that make you go hmmm....

Chowder · #5 02-13-2010, 04:45 PM

Good to hear that your tank is rebounding Greg.

Chris

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snappy

Things are definately improving with my system since I removed the carbon.

christyf5 · #6 02-13-2010, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chowder

Good to hear that your tank is rebounding Greg.

Chris

+1 And great that you figured it out for everyone, this had (potential) disaster written all over it.

Delphinus · #7 02-13-2010, 06:51 PM

This is not the first time I've heard of weird problems in a tank attributable to carbon. I remember about 6-7 years ago, AJ_77 had a reef tank that the water was continually green, huge huge phytoplankton bloom, nothing he did would cause it to stop getting greener, until he took off his carbon (which was some obscure, presumably cheap brand, which did say on the box "for FW only"). It went away a week after he switched brands.

Did some reading on carbons based on Greg's experiences, in one of the threads discussing it, there was a link to a discussion about carbon available from BRS labelled "ROX 0.8" .. long story short, it sounds really good. I went and ordered two packages for myself already..

OceanicCorals-Ian- · #8 02-13-2010, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Delphinus

This is not the first time I've heard of weird problems in a tank attributable to carbon. I remember about 6-7 years ago, AJ_77 had a reef tank that the water was continually green, huge huge phytoplankton bloom, nothing he did would cause it to stop getting greener, until he took off his carbon (which was some obscure, presumably cheap brand, which did say on the box "for FW only"). It went away a week after he switched brands.

Did some reading on carbons based on Greg's experiences, in one of the threads discussing it, there was a link to a discussion about carbon available from BRS labelled "ROX 0.8" .. long story short, it sounds really good. I went and ordered two packages for myself already..

ROX 0.8 is great Carbon, I have used it myself. We have access to this carbon as well as lignite which is also almost as good.

Seamazter · #9 02-13-2010, 08:34 PM

I have used the ROX and now only use the Lignite, its what i consider the best carbon available, its a bit pricey but well worth it as you can see in the above posts in this thread.
Cheeper is not always better.

Pescador · #10 02-13-2010, 11:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seamazter

I have used the ROX and now only use the Lignite, its what i consider the best carbon available, its a bit pricey but well worth it as you can see in the above posts in this thread.
Cheeper is not always better.

I have a gallon of ROX as well, nice stuff but a lot finer than I expected. Its tough to keep it from clumping. I might try the lignite next time.