Main Page | Report this Page
Hobby Forum Index  »  Aquaria  »  Activated carbon lifespan
Page 1 of 1    

Activated carbon lifespan

Author Message
Logic316
Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2005 1:46 am
Guest
Hi folks,

I use activated carbon in a power filter for my aquarium. I probably
don't really need it since I do 20% water changes each week anyway, but
I like to have the water as free of impurities as possible and it does
seem to make it smell cleaner Smile I'm interested in knowing how to tell
exactly when a batch of activated carbon has absorbed as much organic
waste as it can hold and has reached the end of it's lifespan. I
regularly change it every month, but I don't like having to guess as the
stuff is probably still good and I'm wasting money and effort and
throwing away whatever beneficial bacteria has gathered on the granules.

I'd also like to know if it can be easily cleaned and recharged. I read
in a few places that the absorbed waste material can be separated from
the carbon by baking it at a high temperature but I can't find the
details of the process. Can it be done in my oven at home? Also, is it
possible that by tapping and breaking the carbon granules with a mallet
you can expose fresh unused areas of the carbon and extend it's life
that way?

Thanks for any tips!

- Logic316


"Bureaucracy: The process of turning energy into solid waste."
 
Logic316
Posted: Wed Nov 09, 2005 4:28 pm
Guest
~Roy wrote:
Quote:
If you simply have to have osmehting to keep purifyiing water, try any
of the new compounds out there like Purigen.....I have not used ac in
years myself and have nbever looked back. I use purigen for 3 or 4
days in the tanks once a month or so........Its completely
rechargeable so there is no continual expense of buying and throwing
out ac.......A proper running and setup filter/tank should really
eliminate a need to run it 24/7/365.


That Purigen stuff sounds pretty good, though I have to run my overhead
filter anyway since that's what aerates the water.

- Logic316



"Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. Security is mostly a
superstition. It does not exist in nature."
-- Helen Keller
 
 
Page 1 of 1    
All times are GMT - 5 Hours
The time now is Fri Nov 27, 2009 5:16 pm