Phosban Reactor Stupidity

[lastlight]

What's your reason for boiling the carbon? And do you boil it in ro/di?

Currently I only have the TLF reactor for bio pellets but undecided if I'll stick with those.

My carbon ran passively on the Solana and will on the big tank for now. I plan to sit the bag in my baffles so water has to pass through them. Of course I won't make the bag the full width of the baffles just in case.

[Myka]

Ya, I boil in RO/DI. Being the coal leftover from burning organics, most carbons will release some phosphates, although not a significant amount. Soaking will leach the phosphate, but boiling releases it quicker. I have been able to confirm this using a Merck test kit. When you boil it, depending on brand, there is often a kind of greasy film that goes on the pot at the water surface...not sure what that is, but I'm glad it doesn't make it to my tank!

Some people think boiling used carbon will clean it so you can use it again, but that is not the case.

[Lance]

I run the BRS dual reactor and find it superior to the TLF reactors. It doesn't clog up as quickly. I change the media once a month and I can never go a whole month with the TLF before it clogs. The BRS does it easily.