changing carbon

[Harpo]

Carbon is one of those things that just need re-charging! If you wanna make it last and save some money....clean it and then run it under REALLY cold water! This will recharge the Carbon thus leaving more money in your pocket for your hobby! I change mine every 6 months and seems to be working good for me!

[whatcaneyedo]

I don't suppose you have any references to support that claim?

[zum14]

Originally Posted by whatcaneyedo

I don't suppose you have any references to support that claim?

+1


I do mine monthly as well, Im probably a little ahead of the ball game as I use a fair bit for the system size but its not something I really want to play around with. Safe then sorry.

[spawn]

Originally Posted by Jackie

Anyone use Chemi-Pure?

I do & think it's the shiz nit, elite that is, I change it about 8 weeks. Also run a small bag of Brightwells pellets change about monthly & Crystal clear over here. Po4 @ 0

[Harpo]

Originally Posted by whatcaneyedo

I don't suppose you have any references to support that claim?

I don't...never looked...has worked for years in my freshwater! Carbon does not change that much in salt?

[whatcaneyedo]

I'm not a big fan of using wikipedia... I prefer properly published information. But I'm also a tad bit lazy so here you go:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Activated_carbon

"Regeneration

The regeneration of activated carbons involves restoring the adsorptive capacity of saturated activated carbon by desorbing adsorbed contaminants on the activated carbon surface.
[edit] Thermal regeneration

The most common regeneration technique employed in industrial processes is thermal regeneration.[17] The thermal regeneration process generally follows three steps [18]:

* Adsorbent drying at approximately 105 °C
* High temperature desorption and decomposition (500–900°C) under an inert atmosphere
* Residual organic gasification by an oxidising gas (steam or carbon dioxide) at elevated temperatures (800°C)

The heat treatment stage utilises the exothermic nature of adsorption and results in desorption, partial cracking and polymerization of the adsorbed organics. The final step aims to remove charred organic residue formed in the porous structure in the previous stage and re-expose the porous carbon structure regenerating its original surface characteristics. After treatment the adsorption column can be reused. Per adsorption-thermal regeneration cycle between 5–15 wt% of the carbon bed is burnt off resulting in a loss of adsorptive capacity.[19] Thermal regeneration is a high energy process due to the high required temperatures making it both an energetically and commercially expensive process.[18] Plants that rely on thermal regeneration of activated carbon have to be of a certain size before it is economically viable to have regeneration facilities onsite. As a result it is common for smaller waste treatment sites to ship their activated carbon cores to a specialised facility for regeneration, increasing the processes already significant carbon footprint.[20]
[edit] Other regeneration techniques

Current concerns with the high energy/cost nature of thermal regeneration of activated carbon has encouraged research into alternative regeneration methods to reduce the environmental impact of such processes. Though several of the regeneration techniques cited have remained areas of purely academic research, some alternatives to thermal regeneration systems have been employed in industry. Current alternative regeneration methods are:

* Chemical and solvent regeneration [21]
* Microbial regeneration [22]
* Electrochemical regeneration [23]
* Ultrasonic regeneration [24]
* Wet air oxidation [25]"

[Harpo]

Thank you! Wow... Had no idea! lol! I think i will be buying more Carbon from now on...!

[Harpo]

Originally Posted by Lance

There have been reports that too much carbon use can be a contributing factor to HLLE, but I use a fair amount of carbon and I've never experienced HLLE.

What is HLLE??

[christyf5]

Originally Posted by Harpo

What is HLLE??

Head and lateral line erosion. Some blame it on excess carbon or carbon particles in the water. It can also be caused by poor nutrition I think.

[Ryan]

Tangs will get it if they are fed too much meats and not enough kelp, algae and nori.