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Chemi pure elite

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Forum Name: Equipment
Forum Description: This is the place to ask question about reef equipment.
URL: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=63705
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Topic: Chemi pure elite

Posted By: dmcrete
Subject: Chemi pure elite
Date Posted: April 14 2013 at 12:12pm

Hey guy's,,

just want to Know which way is best to run this,, I have a cascade mechanical filter i can run right now, i wont put any filter pads or sponges in with it, OR,, do you think running this chemipure elite is best run in a BRS Single reactor???

let me know as soon as possible, Thanks

Dennis

Replies:

Posted By: ClownFishAddict
Date Posted: April 14 2013 at 12:47pm

I would run it in a reactor.

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Posted By: dmcrete
Date Posted: April 14 2013 at 1:39pm

ClownFishAddict wrote:

I would run it in a reactor.

And Can you tell me why you would run it in a reactor?? no sponges, or filter pads in my mechanical filter ,,SO,, what exactly is the difference??dont want to have to spend the money on a reactor if this is working, You think that mechanical Canister is still a nitrate--- nitrite factory,, even without any sponges or filter pads?? let me know your reasoning

Thanks For the help,,

Dennis

Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: April 14 2013 at 3:30pm

Aloha,

A "reactor" is just a fancy way to run filter media. It works pretty much the same as a hang on the back or canister filter. Use what you have. It will work just fine.

I have a question. Why is Chemi-Pure Elite necessary? What's happening in your reef tank that needs that special type of filtration media? There are all kinds of no-cost things that can be done to help a reef aquarium.

Mahalo,
Mark Hug

-------------
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Posted By: dmcrete
Date Posted: April 14 2013 at 4:10pm

Howdy Mark,,

It's Suppose to last APPROX, 2--3 Months, I Have a little 28 Gallon ,I Like to run GAC To Polish the water in this little system, ALSO, Have an issue with over feeding this little tank (Want my fish to grow up and be big and strong) SO I Strugle with a little algea ,, GFO Is too exspensive, and i dont have a reactor (YET) To Run it so it slowly and tumble, all the reading i do, and my imas club member's say its really Cheaper to run than changing out the carbon every couple a weeks, and the gfo every 6 weeks or till it's depleated, SO, I Thought i would try it, I Know Mechanical filtration is a Bad guy Bacteria Trap, BUT, Im Not running any filter pads, Or Sponges, Thanks For the Reply mark

Dennis

Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: April 14 2013 at 9:35pm

Aloha,

Okay, I see.
Ermm

I just thought it might be helpful to mention that Chemipure has had bad effects on some reef tanks, actually causing problems with coral health. If this is a fish only tank then disregard all that I'm saying here. Ying Yang

Based on my experience, AC is the only filter medium that is absolutely needed for reef tanks. Embarrassed

If a reef tank is to be overfed, a mechanical filter and/or oversized skimmer must be used and filter pads/sponges cleaned often to avoid the problem you mentioned. There is really no other safe way to do it, unless you feel like playing with carbon dosing. (Overfeeding is really a form of carbon dosing, but unlike carbon dosing, the overfed tank must be physically cleaned at frequent intervals.)

Personally, being a lazy reefer, I would simply add more snails to keep algae under control and do light gravel vacuuming with each water change.

On the other hand, Brad/Tileman has an elaborate system of expensive equipment to handle the overfeeding of his overstocked 335 gal tank. His tank is on the Reef Tour in May or check in with him before that.

Mahalo,
Mark Hug

-------------
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www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244
Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member

Posted By: dmcrete
Date Posted: April 15 2013 at 7:35am

Mark Peterson wrote:

Aloha,

Okay, I see.
Ermm

Based on my experience, AC is the only filter medium that is absolutely needed for reef tanks. Embarrassed

On the other hand, Brad/Tileman has an elaborate system of expensive equipment to handle the

overfeeding of his overstocked 335 gal tank. His tank is on the Reef Tour in May or check in with him

before that.

Mahalo,

Mark

Thanks Mark,

I Have not read on any BAD effects on corals?? I Do Know if a Hobbies't strips the water TOO MUCH,, that can starve a coral,, Is there something i missed About this chemipureelite Mark??

Posted By: ClownFishAddict
Date Posted: April 15 2013 at 7:52am

I guess it would be personal preference only. Either way will do really.

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Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: April 15 2013 at 8:45am

Aloha,

If I understand correctly, ChemiPure Elite is the original Chemipure product with added Activated Carbon, right?

dmcrete wrote:

Thanks Mark,

I Have not read on any BAD effects on corals?? I Do Know if a Hobbies't strips the water TOO MUCH,, that can starve a coral,, Is there something i missed About this chemipureelite Mark??

Right here on this forum are the bad experiences people have had with continuous use of ChemiPure. It's not a bad product. It's great for:
- 4-8 week use to remove the toxins put off by dead and dry LR that has been reintroduced to an aquarium
- intermittant use to remove toxins that a skimmer and AC cannot remove, especially if water changes are infrequent

I guess what I'm trying to say is that I would not trust ChemiPure by itself to handle the extra organics and particulates resulting from overfeeding. In this situation I would include the use of heavy skimming and/or mechanical filtration of particulates, including light gravel vacuuming at each water change. I would use the canister filter or an HOB filter with just one pad/sponge and clean it at 1-2 week intervals as needed.

Alternatively, if I needed to feed a lot of fish I would grow a forest of Macroalgae before overstocking the tank. Wink

Mahalo,
Mark Hug

-------------
Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks:
www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244
Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member

Posted By: dmcrete
Date Posted: April 15 2013 at 12:12pm

I dont have a lot of FISH only 4 ,, just hate seein em beg al the time LOL,, i feed a lot when i feed, and i also do Grow Macro Algea's,

Posted By: icenine
Date Posted: April 15 2013 at 1:02pm

Mark Peterson wrote:

Aloha,

If I understand correctly, ChemiPure Elite is the original Chemipure product with added Activated Carbon, right?

The "elite" version adds ferric oxide to the original formula to also remove phosphates and silicates. The original product is pretty much just activated carbon.

Posted By: dmcrete
Date Posted: April 15 2013 at 4:05pm

icenine wrote:

Mark Peterson wrote:

Aloha,

If I understand correctly, ChemiPure Elite is the original Chemipure product with added Activated Carbon, right?

The "elite" version adds ferric oxide to the original formula to also remove phosphates and silicates. The original product is pretty much just activated carbon.

Oopps,, sorry,, CORRECT,, chemipure elite has added Ferricc Oxide,, AND ILL ADD, In the 2 days i have run this, My water Honestly has never been so clear,, Ill Have to check My perimeters,, Kinda scarey ??

Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: April 17 2013 at 8:20am

Aloha,

This from the Boyd Enteprises website regarding Chemipure:
"Chemipure is a nylon filter bag filled with a high grade blend of activated carbons and ion exchange resins."

As was said, Chemipure Elite has the additional function of using Iron Oxide to remove Phosphates and Silicates.

So my original words of caution are still somewhat valid. Depending on the bioload, prolonged use of Chemipure may cause problems. We can get our tanks into trouble if we use filter media to remove organics or add chemicals to replace missing organics without testing the chemical parameters of our tanks to see if that filter media or chemical is really needed.

That said, I suppose that because Chemipure Elite probably has a lesser amount of the ion exchange resins to make room for the added FeO it's less of a worry than using straight Chemipure. I'm also thinking that todays Chemipure is a different product than the original Chemipure. I remember years ago opening a bag and seeing only ion exchange resin and no Activated Carbon.

Now the gears are turning in my head... I have found that AC by itself is all I have needed and I know that it is spent after 2 weeks. My question then is why not just use AC replaced every 2 weeks and use a separate bag of ion echange resin or other Nitrogen removal media for 2 months. Sorry, I'm probably over thinking this. Embarrassed

Mahalo,
Mark Hug

-------------
Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks:
www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244
Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member

Posted By: icenine
Date Posted: April 17 2013 at 9:07am

I never considered a diy version of it. Foster and Smith sells elite for less than a buck an ounce.

Posted By: ajkochev
Date Posted: April 22 2013 at 4:27pm

I run this in my nano, I guess you could run this in a reactor but I use a very fine media sock. Besides the AC, there is very fine red-orange beads in the media(I presume this is what makes this the elite version) in the < 0.5mm size range. Be sure the current in the reactor doesn't sweep them into the tank. Strangely enough the media looks like fish eggs.