Carbon Reactor

[kien]

Originally Posted by htfn

I use to use only media bag but it was also had air issue and media bag was floating. I wasn't sure it's effective because half bottom was in the water and upper wasn't. I tied it to LR but again I wasn't sure it works. I am thinking to use BRS dual reactor but I don't want to see same problem.

Do you rinse the carbon before you use it? I believe it is recommended that you rinse it first. I rinse it in RO water until most of the carbon fines sink. They are filled with air pockets so that's why they float. They will sink once those air pockets fill with water. Don't rinse with dirty or tap thought. That will just end up filling those air pockets with dissolved organics and other water impurities thus utilizing your carbon before it even enters your tank :-)

[lockrookie]

Originally Posted by kien

Do you rinse the carbon before you use it? I believe it is recommended that you rinse it first. I rinse it in RO water until most of the carbon fines sink. They are filled with air pockets so that's why they float. They will sink once those air pockets fill with water. Don't rinse with dirty or tap thought. That will just end up filling those air pockets with dissolved organics and other water impurities thus utilizing your carbon before it even enters your tank :-)

Never thought of that good tip kien

[htfn]

I rinse about 5 min but tap water and then I do quick rinse with RO water. I still have air in the carbon maybe I should run the water more.

[lastlight]

letting rox sit in ro water overnight (in advance) and stirring it a few times will cause almost all of it to sink.

in theory a quick rinse with ro water should be better than tap but there's water contact (and fast moving as well) for like 10 seconds. i highly doubt the carbon becomes used up to any detectable degree but i suppose it's possible.