Gac

coralcruze2020 · 03/12/2020, 08:15 PM

I will be honest I rarely use the stuff... is there a real differance in some of these carbon products? I know that surface area and pouricity matters. but arent most commercialky available GAC products in the market today all the dane?

bertoni · 03/12/2020, 10:49 PM

I don't know of much objective data on the subject. Personally, I stuck with SeaChem but the ROX 0.8 is supposed to be very good, as well. SeaChem is easy to get, and works well enough.

scuzy · 03/13/2020, 12:14 AM

I like the seachem mateix cause the round beads makes it clog not as fast compare the regular carbon chips.

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Scrubber_steve · 03/13/2020, 10:54 PM

From what I have read GAC sourced from Lignite coal is superior to GAC sourced from bitumous coal when used for aquarium applications.
The difference is in the pore size matching the size of the organic molecules that need removing from water. But there are other factors that count & I wouldn't bother with cheap stuff.

coralcruze2020 · 03/14/2020, 10:24 PM

Bertoni... do you know what the .08 designation means? Or its classification? thanks for the tip. already started looking at the seachem.

coralcruze2020 · 03/14/2020, 10:25 PM

scuzy... isnt the idea to have an uneven surface so it captured more water going through it rather than around it?

coralcruze2020 · 03/14/2020, 10:27 PM

@SCRUBBER thanks for the info but from what I am seeing most of the manufacturers dont even say what type of carbon it is...

coralcruze2020 · 03/14/2020, 10:29 PM

so as I continue to resuch I am seeing differant granual sizes... should I be looking for the larger sized or smaller? from what I am reading it seems that most say smaller is better as it has greater surface area and mkre carbon would fit into a container. is this true?

Scrubber_steve · 03/14/2020, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coralcruze2020

@SCRUBBER thanks for the info but from what I am seeing most of the manufacturers dont even say what type of carbon it is...

Go ROX 0.8.

0.8 mm

bertoni · 03/14/2020, 11:48 PM

Smaller will have more surface area, but it might clog more rapidly, depending on the organic load, etc, in the tank. The ROX 0.8 is supposed to be good stuff.

sdbc · 03/18/2020, 10:30 PM

I recently switched to the ROX 0.8 and my SPS seemed to like it. I have a large Sarchophyton leather, so I use GAC to keep the toxins down. The particles are quite small, so make sure your media bag isn't too large of a mesh.

bdare · 03/23/2020, 09:17 AM

There is a really good video on BRS comparing the efficiency of different types of carbon. Definitely worth a watch.

coralcruze2020 · 03/28/2020, 10:08 AM

The problem with those is that they all promote their own brand and probably very biased.

bdare · 03/28/2020, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coralcruze2020

The problem with those is that they all promote their own brand and probably very biased.

Rox is not a brand...

scuzy · 03/28/2020, 10:44 AM

The round beads help with water flow and clogs less. It still will remove things.

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five.five-six · 03/28/2020, 11:03 AM

There are significant differences in various types of GAC. I don't know enough about them to know which is best but it all boils down to pore size and pore density. What sized things the carbon can trap, and how much of it will get trapped before it's full.

also purity come into play, you don't want to use a product that may leach into your tank.

five.five-six · 03/28/2020, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scuzy

The round beads help with water flow and clogs less. It still will remove things.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

and the flakes have a lot more surface area, there is give and take on every aspect

scuzy · 03/28/2020, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by five.five-six

and the flakes have a lot more surface area, there is give and take on every aspect

Of course i just hate to keep cleaning out the reactor cause detritus get stuck and it stops the flow. With the seachem matrix carbon i have to clean it less. Of course it depends on how much work you want to do.

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five.five-six · 03/29/2020, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scuzy

Of course i just hate to keep cleaning out the reactor cause detritus get stuck and it stops the flow. With the seachem matrix carbon i have to clean it less. Of course it depends on how much work you want to do.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

After 3-5 days carbon is generally been depleted. All it’s doing after that is hosting bacteria.

coralcruze2020 · 04/20/2020, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by five.five-six

There are significant differences in various types of GAC. I don't know enough about them to know which is best but it all boils down to pore size and pore density. What sized things the carbon can trap, and how much of it will get trapped before it's full.

also purity come into play, you don't want to use a product that may leach into your tank.

the purity of GAC is different between types but was hoping someone here smarter than I am can tech me.

bertoni · 04/21/2020, 07:25 PM

There might be some types with significant impurities, and bad batches of an otherwise good product can be an issue, but I haven't heard of a significant risk of contamination from a major brand.

Nanook · 04/22/2020, 07:50 AM

https://reefs.com/magazine/granular-...arine-aquaria/

bertoni · 04/22/2020, 02:18 PM

Thanks for the link!

coralcruze2020 · 04/22/2020, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nanook

https://reefs.com/magazine/granular-...arine-aquaria/

Perfect... what I was looking for. Although some of it is over my head

03/12/2020, 08:15 PM	#1
coralcruze2020 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2020 Location: NY Posts: 115	Gac I will be honest I rarely use the stuff... is there a real differance in some of these carbon products? I know that surface area and pouricity matters. but arent most commercialky available GAC products in the market today all the dane?

03/12/2020, 10:49 PM	#2
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	I don't know of much objective data on the subject. Personally, I stuck with SeaChem but the ROX 0.8 is supposed to be very good, as well. SeaChem is easy to get, and works well enough. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

03/13/2020, 10:54 PM	#4
Scrubber_steve I'm really very likeable Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Down Under Posts: 676	From what I have read GAC sourced from Lignite coal is superior to GAC sourced from bitumous coal when used for aquarium applications. The difference is in the pore size matching the size of the organic molecules that need removing from water. But there are other factors that count & I wouldn't bother with cheap stuff. __________________ Create a Concept & Reality Leaves the Room. Current Tank Info: Algae scrubbed. Last edited by Scrubber_steve; 03/14/2020 at 03:50 PM.

03/14/2020, 11:48 PM	#10
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Smaller will have more surface area, but it might clog more rapidly, depending on the organic load, etc, in the tank. The ROX 0.8 is supposed to be good stuff. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

03/18/2020, 10:30 PM	#11
sdbc Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: San Diego Posts: 94	I recently switched to the ROX 0.8 and my SPS seemed to like it. I have a large Sarchophyton leather, so I use GAC to keep the toxins down. The particles are quite small, so make sure your media bag isn't too large of a mesh. __________________ Bob - San Diego Current Tank Info: 125g mixed reef, 20g F/W planted

03/13/2020, 12:14 AM	#3
scuzy Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 6,499	I like the seachem mateix cause the round beads makes it clog not as fast compare the regular carbon chips. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

03/14/2020, 10:24 PM	#5
coralcruze2020 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2020 Location: NY Posts: 115	Bertoni... do you know what the .08 designation means? Or its classification? thanks for the tip. already started looking at the seachem.

03/14/2020, 10:25 PM	#6
coralcruze2020 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2020 Location: NY Posts: 115	scuzy... isnt the idea to have an uneven surface so it captured more water going through it rather than around it?

03/14/2020, 10:27 PM	#7
coralcruze2020 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2020 Location: NY Posts: 115	@SCRUBBER thanks for the info but from what I am seeing most of the manufacturers dont even say what type of carbon it is...

03/14/2020, 10:29 PM	#8
coralcruze2020 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2020 Location: NY Posts: 115	so as I continue to resuch I am seeing differant granual sizes... should I be looking for the larger sized or smaller? from what I am reading it seems that most say smaller is better as it has greater surface area and mkre carbon would fit into a container. is this true?

03/23/2020, 09:17 AM	#12
bdare Salty Dude Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Rockwall, TX Posts: 1,322 Blog Entries: 3	There is a really good video on BRS comparing the efficiency of different types of carbon. Definitely worth a watch. __________________ 220 Mixed Reef GeoCaRx, GHL Profilux 4, Octopus Skimmer, Kessil 360X 2 x Maxspect Gyre XF350

03/28/2020, 10:08 AM	#13
coralcruze2020 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2020 Location: NY Posts: 115	The problem with those is that they all promote their own brand and probably very biased.

03/28/2020, 10:44 AM	#15
scuzy Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 6,499	The round beads help with water flow and clogs less. It still will remove things. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

03/28/2020, 11:03 AM	#16
five.five-six Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Corona Posts: 7,827 Blog Entries: 6	There are significant differences in various types of GAC. I don't know enough about them to know which is best but it all boils down to pore size and pore density. What sized things the carbon can trap, and how much of it will get trapped before it's full. also purity come into play, you don't want to use a product that may leach into your tank. __________________ Originally posted by yellowslayer13: "I hate that hole" Current Tank Info: SCMAS Member 225 peninsula euroreef RS180 Apex 400W X 3 20k radiums / Spectra mixed SPS

04/21/2020, 07:25 PM	#21
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	There might be some types with significant impurities, and bad batches of an otherwise good product can be an issue, but I haven't heard of a significant risk of contamination from a major brand. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

04/22/2020, 07:50 AM	#22
Nanook Ancient Eskimo Legend Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Saint Louis, MO Posts: 41,852 Blog Entries: 11	https://reefs.com/magazine/granular-...arine-aquaria/ __________________ The wind blew, the chit flew, and then they came two by two. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Current Tank Info: 375g Tanganyikan Tank & 470g mixed reef

04/22/2020, 02:18 PM	#23
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Thanks for the link! __________________ Jonathan Bertoni