Syris
05-06-2004, 12:20 PM
I ran across an article a few weeks back on the benefits of running carbon and the best way to do it.
http://www.pets-warehouse.com/carbon.htm + http://www.pets-warehouse.com/carbon_1.htm with the second link being the more interesting of the 2 to me.
I have always ran carbon 24/7 in a mesh bag in my sump on a tray that water flows over. But after reading the article and a few others I see that this is not the best way to do it. As quoted from the linked article "Granular activated carbon is a valuable tool for the reef hobbyist. It can play a significant role in maintaining a healthy tank. The hobby?s traditional approach to the use of carbon, however, has been misguided. Optimum use of carbon requires only periodic use. Slow circulation of water through small amounts of carbon will remove significant amounts of color."
With this in mind I built a very simple carbon filter from PVC.
List of Materials
1.25" PVC @14" long(holds about 1-2 cups of carbon, use larger dia PVC if you require more carbon capacity)
1.25" Union
(2) 1.25" PVC End Caps
(2) 1/4"x3/8" hose barb
3/8" ID hose
I cut the PVC to length and then PVC cemented the End Caps to the ends and the union near one end. I then drilled and tapped the sides of the end caps for the hose barbs to thread into.
http://www.wildbillreef.net/images/DIY/CarbonFilter4-29-2004.jpg
For incoporating into my setup I "t" into my return plumping and put a gate valve in before the carbon filter to control flow.
http://www.wildbillreef.net/images/DIY/CarbonFilter2-4-29-2004.jpg
I run a very slow flow thru it and only run it for 24hrs a week. The benefits I have seen so far are more clear water which have allowed some of my SPS to deepen in color :cool: (especially a green M. cap that has always been tan for me but is now showing some green finally). Its been in place for a few weeks now and every month I plan to replace the carbon in it. I use Marineland BlackDiamond carbon which has shown to be the best bang for your buck carbon.
I ran into some problems with carbon escaping thru the hose. But that is only happening if the flow is too high which it should not be.
If anything else I now have piece of mind that tank water is filtering thru the carbon and not around it anymore like when it was in the sump.
http://www.pets-warehouse.com/carbon.htm + http://www.pets-warehouse.com/carbon_1.htm with the second link being the more interesting of the 2 to me.
I have always ran carbon 24/7 in a mesh bag in my sump on a tray that water flows over. But after reading the article and a few others I see that this is not the best way to do it. As quoted from the linked article "Granular activated carbon is a valuable tool for the reef hobbyist. It can play a significant role in maintaining a healthy tank. The hobby?s traditional approach to the use of carbon, however, has been misguided. Optimum use of carbon requires only periodic use. Slow circulation of water through small amounts of carbon will remove significant amounts of color."
With this in mind I built a very simple carbon filter from PVC.
List of Materials
1.25" PVC @14" long(holds about 1-2 cups of carbon, use larger dia PVC if you require more carbon capacity)
1.25" Union
(2) 1.25" PVC End Caps
(2) 1/4"x3/8" hose barb
3/8" ID hose
I cut the PVC to length and then PVC cemented the End Caps to the ends and the union near one end. I then drilled and tapped the sides of the end caps for the hose barbs to thread into.
http://www.wildbillreef.net/images/DIY/CarbonFilter4-29-2004.jpg
For incoporating into my setup I "t" into my return plumping and put a gate valve in before the carbon filter to control flow.
http://www.wildbillreef.net/images/DIY/CarbonFilter2-4-29-2004.jpg
I run a very slow flow thru it and only run it for 24hrs a week. The benefits I have seen so far are more clear water which have allowed some of my SPS to deepen in color :cool: (especially a green M. cap that has always been tan for me but is now showing some green finally). Its been in place for a few weeks now and every month I plan to replace the carbon in it. I use Marineland BlackDiamond carbon which has shown to be the best bang for your buck carbon.
I ran into some problems with carbon escaping thru the hose. But that is only happening if the flow is too high which it should not be.
If anything else I now have piece of mind that tank water is filtering thru the carbon and not around it anymore like when it was in the sump.