Which Activated Carbon Do You Use?

CCK_8814 · Oct 28, 2018

One other thing before I commit. A lot of you appear to be running it in a reactor. I would be running it in a bag inside my filter socks. I saw a few comments while researching rox of people who also ran it in a bag in their sock and it turning their water black from the Carbon even after they had rinsed it.

scardall · Oct 28, 2018

BRS "ROX.08"

DSC reef · Oct 28, 2018

CCK_8814 said:
One other thing before I commit. A lot of you appear to be running it in a reactor. I would be running it in a bag inside my filter socks. I saw a few comments while researching rox of people who also ran it in a bag in their sock and it turning their water black from the Carbon even after they had rinsed it.

I never ran carbon in a reactor. I'd stay away from putting it in a sock, a lot of turbulence will slowly grind up the carbon. Always had it in a bag in the sump in a good flow area.

Scrubber_steve · Oct 28, 2018

CCK_8814 said:
One other thing before I commit. A lot of you appear to be running it in a reactor. I would be running it in a bag inside my filter socks. I saw a few comments while researching rox of people who also ran it in a bag in their sock and it turning their water black from the Carbon even after they had rinsed it.

I'm not a fan of using ROX in a bag. Its a very fine granule, literally 0.8mm. The mesh grade of the bag has to be so fine it would restrict water flow through it. I made a passive reactor that enables the water to flow right through the granules for complete contact.

Bob Loblaw · Oct 28, 2018

Rox was my go to, think I still have half a 5 gallon bucket of it in the garage. Switched to Purigen for current tank. I like being able to see when it's exhausted and don't like any dust (not much with Rox) in a tank with large angels and tangs.

CCK_8814 · Oct 28, 2018

Brett newell said:
I started using aquamaxx rox .8 from amazon a while back when brs was out of stock. It's a little cheaper and I haven't noticed a difference.

Are you using a reactor or in a filter bag?

CCK_8814 · Oct 28, 2018

Went to 3 out of the 5 LFS I have by me today. None of them carried rox .8. Waiting to hear back from few of people that posted here as to whether they run reactor or a filter bag. Picked up some bulk Kent marine carbon to get me by. Not as pricey as rox but was $25 for 2.5lbs. Believe it’s manufactured and not sourced also guaranteed to be nitrate and phosphate free so went with it for time being to get me through till I decide on a permanent solution. Those running carbon reactors, did you switch from running it in a bag? If so why & also did you have any noticeable differences? There’s plenty of used reactors for sale by me I can pickup. My sump is not that big unfortunately so I want to avoid more equipment in it if at all possible but if there truly is more pros to cons over running a carbon reactor I’m all for it. As I mentioned before, my main reason for using is to filter out toxins due to coral & bta warfare.

Scrubber_steve · Oct 28, 2018

CCK_8814 said:
So what’s the difference between the BRS ROX 0.8 & AquaMaxx ROX 0.8?

Nil. Its manufactured by one company.

CCK_8814 · Oct 28, 2018

Anyone with input/experiences on running carbon in a filter bag vs reactor?

JMetaxas · Oct 28, 2018

I've done both. The Rox 0.8 needs to be in a fine mesh bag, but personally I don't think this is a problem as I normally place it in a high flow area of the sump where water more or less gets forced through it.

I think BRS did a video on a bag vs. reactor and showed a reactor works faster at removing organics, but I'm not sure that's necessary when you leave it in a few weeks at a time.

If you need to remove a contaminate, or medication, then I'd definitely use a reactor.

CCK_8814 · Oct 28, 2018

My issue is my sump has no “chambers”, it’s fully open. Because of this I have to keep the bag inside my filter sock since it’s the only place there really any flow.

that Reef Guy · Oct 28, 2018

CCK_8814 said:
So sounds like rox.8 is the general consensus. I’m guessing none of my LFS will have it in stock so now I’ll ask what would you recommend I use for the time being? I have water changes tomorrow so need something to get me by for that. As I mentioned I have to change carbon every 3-4 days due to warfare but changing tomorrow should get me through till some rox 8 comes in.

Try Pet Connection in Livonia

Its right down the Road from House of Pets

They Specialize in Saltwater too

ReefguyEric · Oct 29, 2018

+1 for me on the BRS Rox .08

CCK_8814 · Oct 29, 2018

that Reef Guy said:
Try Pet Connection in Livonia

Its right down the Road from House of Pets

They Specialize in Saltwater too

I’m at Pet Connection basically every other day. I went there today and that’s where I ended up getting the Kent Marine Carbon in bulk. They did not have the rox .8. House of pets never really has much saltwater dry goods. Plus ever since they moved to their new location their saltwater livestock is still being filled and while they’ve added some dry goods they still don’t carry a whole lot. They’ve started keeping some decent equipment on hand (skimmers, reactors, etc) but that’s about it. I’ve done some work for them in the past so I know the owner well. Ever since the manager, Amber, passed away the saltwater section has gone down hill. The owner also swears that running CaribSea ARM reactor media in a regular reactor without C02 does the same thing as a calcium reactor....

JMetaxas · Oct 29, 2018

CCK_8814 said:
My issue is my sump has no “chambers”, it’s fully open. Because of this I have to keep the bag inside my filter sock since it’s the only place there really any flow.

I'd run a reactor then. I'd be concerned the Rox .8 would get beaten up in there and turn to fine dust.

CCK_8814 · Oct 29, 2018

JMetaxas said:
I'd run a reactor then. I'd be concerned the Rox .8 would get beaten up in there and turn to fine dust.

Ya I was afraid of that. As you can see from the pic of my sump I’m very limited on room. Will have to figure out a way to mount it externally since I do have a small clown that resides in the sump.

scardall · Oct 29, 2018

DSC reef said:
I never ran carbon in a reactor. I'd stay away from putting it in a sock, a lot of turbulence will slowly grind up the carbon. Always had it in a bag in the sump in a good flow area.

I use a reactor for carbon and another for GFO. I use media bags in the reactors. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07FNCCZYK/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 or https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007AA46RG/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1 (1st closes with zipper(all Plastic) (2nd velcro closing)