Boiling carbon?

[regent2009]

thx Justin brot this up. i'm just about to replace it.

[Snaz]

You can reactivate carbon a couple of times by placing in an old frying pan and cooking on the BBQ as hot as you can get it.

[GreenSpottedPuffer]

I don't have a microwave but I will try boiling it and see what happens.

[GreenSpottedPuffer]

Originally Posted by Snaz

You can reactivate carbon a couple of times by placing in an old frying pan and cooking on the BBQ as hot as you can get it.

Good to know!

[fkshiu]

Originally Posted by Snaz

You can reactivate carbon a couple of times by placing in an old frying pan and cooking on the BBQ as hot as you can get it.

I seem to remember that you would need to get the carbon up to temperatures only an industrial kiln can achieve to properly "recharge" the carbon. Not sure of the exact numbers, though.

[Snaz]

Originally Posted by fkshiu

I seem to remember that you would need to get the carbon up to temperatures only an industrial kiln can achieve to properly "recharge" the carbon. Not sure of the exact numbers, though.

Certainly the hotter the better but in my experience you can get quite a bit out of the carbon with a BBQ. My only measure is after being cooked the carbon will again "snap, crackle and pop" when wet albeit to a lesser extent than if new.

[shrimpchips]

Originally Posted by Snaz

Certainly the hotter the better but in my experience you can get quite a bit out of the carbon with a BBQ. My only measure is after being cooked the carbon will again "snap, crackle and pop" when wet albeit to a lesser extent than if new.

Does it really retain the ability to absorb and adsorb things as well? The crackling is just the carbon rehydrating - the same crackle as your rice crispies. I'm guessing you can "burn off" some of the crap, but does it all come out?

[fkshiu]

Did some searching around and this patent application for a carbon recharging kiln heats it up to 800-1000 degrees F.

http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/51...scription.html

That's hotter than on top of a BBQ.

Then there's this exchange involving melev and Boomer suggesting a microwave method:
http://www.petkb.com/Uwe/Forum.aspx/...arbon-Recharge

Boomer knows his crap so perhaps its worth a try, although the missus probably wouldn't take kindly to such unauthorized use of "her" microwave

[Myka]

I would never microwave anything that's going into the tank. I rarely use it for food for myself. Microwaves are horrible.

I do soak my carbon in RO overnight just room temperature.

[Ian]

Myka, what is your issue with the microwave? It leaves no residual energy other than heat that I am aware of. Fill me in please.
Good thread...any 4 saving means more new corals