[Jeremy0322]

I finally got a few of the books that i ordered in and the one that i am reading now talks about "GAC" of granulated activated carbon. I was just wondering what peoples experiences have been with this stuff and if it was a good idea or not. This book mentions it but does not go into great deal with frequency of changing or anything like that so i was just wondering if it was a pain the but butt or if it was actually worth it. Any one with first hand experience would be awesome to hear from...

[SweeTang22]

i used it towards the begining of my tanks life and i found it to release phosphates. i read on the process of making the carbon and it said it was coated in a phosphate coating to make it more absorbant. idk if this is a true thing or not but that was my experience!

[NATIVEVAMAN]

there are many carbon makers who claim they have no phosphates in there product and a few of them actually dont.I have used Kent marine for a long time and it is ok.If you take a bowl of tank water and put some of your carbon in it,stir it up and let it set for 30 minutes and do a phosphate test on it.
carbon is a great water polisher,odor remover and it readily soaks up chlorine,amonia some metals and if you are using an ozonizer you have to use it.
you can just float a bag of it in your sump.hang a bag of it in your overflow.put a bag in your over under.put it in an unused canister filter.Put a bag in a phosphate reactor.
I guess you get the point,its easy and safe to use as long as you are sure its phosphate free.

[SweeTang22]

Originally Posted by NATIVEVAMAN

there are many carbon makers who claim they have no phosphates in there product and a few of them actually dont.I have used Kent marine for a long time and it is ok.If you take a bowl of tank water and put some of your carbon in it,stir it up and let it set for 30 minutes and do a phosphate test on it.
carbon is a great water polisher,odor remover and it readily soaks up chlorine,amonia some metals and if you are using an ozonizer you have to use it.
you can just float a bag of it in your sump.hang a bag of it in your overflow.put a bag in your over under.put it in an unused canister filter.Put a bag in a phosphate reactor.
I guess you get the point,its easy and safe to use as long as you are sure its phosphate free.

good info native. ill have to try those ideas next time i decide to use carbon. seems like common sense but i wasnt sure if youd notice right away.