Does carbon bleach your corals ? (Kent carbon recall)

[Casey8]

Please read Kent reef carbon recall on J&L web site.

[whatcaneyedo]

Wow they've done it again. Does anyone else remember ~8 years ago when they produced the bad batch(s) of salt? I do...

[Borderjumper]

Feb 22, 2012

RE: KENT Marine Reef Carbon Product Advisory

There is a quality concern with KENT Marine Reef Carbon manufactured between December 5th of 2011 and February 8th of 2012. The concern is that the batch of carbon contained unusually high levels of heavy metals which have an adverse effect on stony corals and clams in marine settings. KENT Marine Reef Carbon is a virgin coal based carbon that is mined giving it greater adsorption properties. Unfortunately during this mining process, small layers containing heavy metals like copper were introduced into the carbon. This contamination of heavy metals would likely go undetected in freshwater environments and would not affect livestock. However in marine (salt water) aquariums, the effects can be seen in as quickly as a couple of hours to stony corals and clams. Fish and higher invertebrates such as shrimp do not seem to be affected. After removal of the contaminated carbon and dilution by a water change or use of other filtration means, most corals have been able to recover in 2-3 weeks from the exposure.

This carbon is also mainly used for commercial potable and wastewater treatment such as municipal water supplies. These are single pass systems where the water will only pass through the carbon bed once and any residual leaching of metal into the water will be minimal. This is also why carbon is not typically tested for heavy metals; until now. When carbon is used in aquarium settings, the water passes through the carbon bed multiple times increasing the soluble metal in that enclosed environment.

If you have purchased KENT Marine Reef Carbon in the last three months, please refer to the below table to identify the product size you may have purchased and the expiration dates affected.

00027 - KENT Marine Reef Carbon 1lb (1qt)
************ EX20DEC14* EX21DEC14* EX22DEC14* EX25JAN15 00031 - KENT Marine Reef Carbon 15lbs (5gal)
******** *** EX05JAN15** EX17JAN15** EX18JAN15
00028 - KENT Marine Reef Carbon 1.9lb (2qt)
************ EX05DEC14** EX08DEC14** EX13DEC14* 00032 - KENT Marine Reef Carbon 25lbs
********** * EX21DEC14
00029 - KENT Marine Reef Carbon 4.1lbs (1gal)
************ EX18JAN15** 00681 - KENT Marine Reef Carbon 44lbs
************ EX02FEB15** EX08FEB15
00030 - KENT Marine Reef Carbon 7lbs (2gal)
************ EX13DEC14 * EX14DEC14** EX03FEB15 *
These expiration dates can be found imprinted on the product label or stamped on the product bottom.

If you have product with an above expiration date, please discontinue use and perform a standard water change. Take the remaining product back to the retailer where it was purchased for a refund or exchange or call a Central Aquatics customer service representative at 1-888-255-4527.

We apologize for the inconvenience this has caused as we want to assure you that we intend to deliver the highest quality products possible. With this development, the quality of KENT Reef Carbon will be produced under new testing protocols.

Again we sincerely apologize for having to bring this quality concern to your attention. If you have any questions about this advisory or any other KENT Marine product, please contact a Central Aquatics customer service representative at 1-888-255-4527.


Best regards,

Scott Rabe
Central Aquatics
Brand Manager Food & Water Care

[Zoaelite]

Thanks for posting that!

*Throws out Kent Carbon*

[globaldesigns]

HMMMMM.... I have Kent Reef carbon, but haven't been using it for some time (running carbonless), and my tank was making a comeback. Decided, why not put a little bit in after christmas vacation, and corals started to die. Never thought it was the carbon, but it was the only change, so took it out and I am running carbonless again. RTN has stopped and corals coming to life again.

Now in saying this, my carbon is much older and doesn't fall into the bad batch stated in this thread. Maybe Kent is just BAD!!!

Carbonless is the way to go for me.

[kien]

Originally Posted by globaldesigns

HMMMMM.... I have Kent Reef carbon, but haven't been using it for some time (running carbonless), and my tank was making a comeback. Decided, why not put a little bit in after christmas vacation, and corals started to die. Never thought it was the carbon, but it was the only change, so took it out and I am running carbonless again. RTN has stopped and corals coming to life again.

Now in saying this, my carbon is much older and doesn't fall into the bad batch stated in this thread. Maybe Kent is just BAD!!!

Carbonless is the way to go for me.

You know, you just reminded me that I ran Kent Carbon once back in 2010. I had forgotten about that till now. It was only 1 container of Kent Carbon before I switched to ROX that I'm using now. However, while thinking back, the time I used the kent carbon may have been close to the time I had my major SPS die off in 2010

[Borderjumper]

Originally Posted by kien

You know, you just reminded me that I ran Kent Carbon once back in 2010. I had forgotten about that till now. It was only 1 container of Kent Carbon before I switched to ROX that I'm using now. However, while thinking back, the time I used the kent carbon may have been close to the time I had my major SPS die off in 2010

!!!!!!! Could be!!! And what really sucks is I see when things started declining, you put in MORE carbon!

[globaldesigns]

Originally Posted by kien

You know, you just reminded me that I ran Kent Carbon once back in 2010. I had forgotten about that till now. It was only 1 container of Kent Carbon before I switched to ROX that I'm using now. However, while thinking back, the time I used the kent carbon may have been close to the time I had my major SPS die off in 2010

Yeah, who woulda thought! The past couple years of coral issues, massive die off, and loss of $$$$... And maybe it was the Kent carbon all the time. I never thought carbon would be the problem, and have used Kent almost since the begininning.

I am not even going to bother with ROX, or a higher quality brand. Carbonless seems to be working for me, and I am really tired of losing coral, so I am going to leave it as is.

[Casey8]

After my husband brought the bar code number home, it is a match to the bad carbon batch Kent has recalled 0029 1 gallon container
I don't think I would bother to make a compaint with Kent company anymore. I am done with their products from now on.

[Borderjumper]

Originally Posted by zoaElite

Thanks for posting that!

*Throws out Kent Carbon*

Yup.. I just threw mine out too!