Best carbon for your $
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Topic: Best carbon for your $
Posted By: Reefboy4life
Subject: Best carbon for your $
Date Posted: January 13 2017 at 11:31pm
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I was just wondering which carbon you guys run in your systems, and what's the best bang for your buck? I am using the cheap stuff from Walmart and don't like how dusty it is. Anyways thanks for your input! ------------- 90 gallon mixed reef |
Replies:
Posted By: phys
Date Posted: January 14 2017 at 4:56am
| Acurel extreme or premium works really well. Premium has very little dust. Its not bad in price either.... But compared to Wal-Mart, it may seem a bit Benz-y. |
Posted By: Krazie4Acans
Date Posted: January 14 2017 at 3:54pm
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I prefer the Rox .08 from BRS. Almost no dust, very effective, and has great capacity to remove organics. ------------- My ocean. 90g (yup, won it!), 40g, 28g, & 10g Systems PADI Advanced Open Water http://utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=63568&title=krazies-nano-paradise" rel="nofollow - Tank Thread: |
Posted By: Reefboy4life
Date Posted: January 14 2017 at 4:49pm
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Thanks for your input guys, I have been thinking about the brs carbon, what does it run you Krazie? ------------- 90 gallon mixed reef |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: January 14 2017 at 8:30pm
 I know that BRS makes a big deal out of their ROX AC product but it comes at a high price. Yes, there is a difference in AC. Both products remove toxins from the water. More expensive AC removes toxins somewhat faster and may have more capacity, so with Acurel I simply use more and/or change it more often than the expensive stuff. I use about 1-2 cups of Accurel AC per 50 gals and change it every 2-4 weeks. This ensures it does the job right. I drive whatever car gets me from point A to point B at a great price. Aloha, Mark
 ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member 
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Reefboy4life wrote:Posted By: Reefboy4life
Date Posted: January 14 2017 at 10:27pm
I've only been using a half cup and changing once a month  where do you buy your acurel AC in bulk?------------- 90 gallon mixed reef |
Posted By: Electro4112
Date Posted: January 14 2017 at 10:31pm
| Acurel AC can be bought of amazon in bulk. I used it for a while but like brs rox in a reactor better. |
Posted By: phys
Date Posted: January 15 2017 at 4:29am
| acurel can be found at a few different LFS also |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: January 15 2017 at 8:54am
How does AC work? Activated Carbon works when organic molecules stick or adsorb to it's surface. The standard Acurel AC is formed into pellets. The pellets are porous so there is surface area within the pellet as well. When using AC as I do, in a media bag at/near the return pump intake, pellets are great because the bag can be the same bridal veil material as fish nets. During my checking of the sump I turn over the media bag to expose less used portions of the pellets. That's what I do to get the most from the AC before emptying the media bag, massaging and rinsing it off really well. Then I pour new AC into the bag and rinse it in the sink before returning it to the tank/sump. Last I checked, a 52 pound bag of Acurel AC can be purchased for $64 with free shipping at Amazon.  BTW, another media I use in the same place as the bag of AC is a bag of AA (Activated Alumina). AA helps control algae growth and makes coral and anemones grow better by removing excess PO4 (Phosphate) from the water. I buy it in bulk too. It works so well that I place only 1/8 - 1/4 cup in the media bag for 50 gals of tank capacity. Using more than that would remove so much PO4 that coral would not grow and could die. AA typically lasts more than twice as long as AC, that's why it's in it's own media bag. It's actually better than GFO(granulated iron rust) for several reasons. Along with AC, I also make it available to hobbyists for a bargain price. Anyone interested in buying this AC and/or AA can text/call me at 808-345-1049 Aloha, Mark ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member
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Posted By: Reefboy4life
Date Posted: January 15 2017 at 2:21pm
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What brand is the activated alumina? I'm interested ------------- 90 gallon mixed reef |
Posted By: Reefboy4life
Date Posted: January 16 2017 at 2:47am
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Just ordered some Acurel Carbon we will see how it goes ------------- 90 gallon mixed reef |
Posted By: Reefboy4life
Date Posted: February 15 2017 at 7:44pm
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This Acurel carbon is horrible, I rinsed and rinsed and it still was producing dust, after I put it in the sump you could see it giving off a black cloud into the water column for a good 5 minutes, 2 weeks later I pull it out to change it and it looks to be disintegrating. I definitely prefer Walmart carbon but I have read good reviews on the marineland carbon and it is a bit cheaper than the Walmart carbon so I order some and we will see how it goes. ------------- 90 gallon mixed reef |
Posted By: kmtfishchannel
Date Posted: February 15 2017 at 8:30pm
| I've been using the marineland carbon. It cleans fast for me (using a reactor) and you can get a large bottle of it on Amazing for not a high cost. Granted I only use about 1-2 cups so it last me a long time. I've also thought about using BRS carbon but such a high price for me when the marineland has been working so great for me for years (not just on my saltwater) |
Posted By: Reefboy4life
Date Posted: February 15 2017 at 9:32pm
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That's good to hear, what kind of reactor are you using? ------------- 90 gallon mixed reef |
Posted By: kmtfishchannel
Date Posted: February 15 2017 at 10:51pm
| Bulk Reef Supply carbon and gfo reactor works great |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: February 16 2017 at 11:56am
------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member
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