Ace25's 75G Build Thread

Ace - I still think Chemipure is a darn good product, but nowadays reputable vendors make the specs available on their quality carbons and we can now make informed choices and save on bulk purchases. Chemipure will always be there for those who must rely on prepackaged store products, but it's time for frugal Flomojo to move on to bulk savings.

Never thought of running a carbon reactor either, until recently. Just seems to me that pushing water up through carbon makes for better surface contact and dwell time. I did read on BRS that it should NOT be made to "percolate" in a reactor like GFO, so that kind of negates the anti-caking function. Now I'm thinking it's just easier to use bags and periodically give it a tank water shake/rinse.

I know exactly what you're saying with an LPS/softy/nem tank. SPS keeping is so much more mentally, physically and financially demanding. There have more times than I care to openly admit after devoting entire weekends to tank tinkering when I stop and think "What am I doing? This is voluntary enslavery!" However, I suspect we're such hopelessly obsessed aquaholics that we will never "willingly" give up one for the other. Was that a sea whip cracking in the distance?

Amphiprion - Man, 10-15% increased longevity doesn't justify 100% increase in cost. Even 50% increased longevity doesn't cut it. Clarity within hours is spectacular and I'm sure that's critical in some situations, but overnight delivery is just fine for this Kmart shopper. I see why you went back.
 
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Ace, Hope your tank will recover quickly...Have you checked the TDS of your RO unit. Lompoc has some heavy water. I added two extra DI's just to keep it extra clean. Werks also mentioned that he could see the difference in water chemistry from moving from SB. Anyway just some local info for you....
I have been a fan of ChemiPure for 10+ years also. I tried the Rox .8 and am very happy with also. It definetly works better in a bag than a reactor. It cleared the waters of my frag tank in a few hours after first applying it. I normally change it out about three weeks. Its time to buy some more so if anyone wants to split a bucket(any size) let me know, I get a few bucks off at BRS.
 
Amphiprion - Man, 10-15% increased longevity doesn't justify 100% increase in cost. Even 50% increased longevity doesn't cut it. Clarity within hours is spectacular and I'm sure that's critical in some situations, but overnight delivery is just fine for this Kmart shopper. I see why you went back.

Well, that and I can get a 5 gal bucket of lignite for the same price as a much smaller container of ROX 0.8. What ROX did with efficiency, I can more than make up for it with quantity--and for a lower price.
 
Brian, ya, I changed out all my filters and DI media the day I moved into my new place to make sure I was starting off with good "0" TDS from the start. I also bought a new Brute trashcan to mix my water in since my old mixing can I think was contaminated from the landlord doing work around the house right before I moved. Lots of wall paper glue in the air and in the trashcan when he decided to strip the walls a few days before I was supposed to move out.

After reading Amphs review I will probably go his route with the carbon next time. I was ordering a bunch of stuff from BRS and the carbon was just something I threw in to try out. I would rather save a little $ though and go the lignite route like I am going to do with my GFO... no more RowaPhos, I will stick with BRS bulk GFO from now on to save money. The Rox carbon was around $17 for the container and I filled up 3 old Chemi-Pure bags with the container, so for me it was a break even thing when comparing to chemi-pure.
 
^^Exactly. Plus a 5 gallon bucket will last a while, even on a 75 gallon.

Don't get me wrong--I love ROX 0.8. Again, it's the best carbon I've ever used, hands-down. I'd just go broke in the process of continually using it.
 
The BRS GFO is crap. It will save you money(int he beginning) but not the headache of having to change it out every week(like I used to do). With the Rowa, I would change it out of the reactor every 4-5 weeks. It ends up being about the same amount of money for 5 times the product but just more maint. The HC GFO is a little better, but I still believe in the RowaPhos for PO4 removal. It may be expensive but well worth it. I have 1 lb of GFO here at the house that I wont even use....
Are you still going to get a booth at the MASVC Swap? I may get one just to try to get rid of all these corals I have here in the frag tank. Want to split a larger booth?
 
There's a very compelling time lapse video comparing all the grades of carbon's performance in a controlled test. The use of molasses and methyl blue as test indicators is the standard for some ratings of carbon. Molasses reps larger mols, Methyl blue reps the medium sized mols.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVpRGzerJFI&feature=player_embedded#

I guess one could actually replicate a similar test using lignite and ROX to see for themselves.

Interestingly, the ROX removed at least twice the amount of pollutants in less time it took for the others to remove less than half (upon exhaustion)

There are also some links to interesting articles on the product pages for carbon. Some info is conflicting, but "what else is new?"

Perhaps ROX deserves more consideration?

I'm going to ask BRS to see if they can come up with something similar for their grades of GFO's and Rowaphos. I would venture to guess there's something that could visually indicate phosphate sized mols, which my guess would be small?

BTW, anyone know where to get Rowaphos for less than at MD?
 
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BTW, anyone know where to get Rowaphos for less than at MD?

There is a pretty tough market for RowaPhos. The best price I can find is a 5kg bucket for $250 shipped. Its only about $0.02 per ml cheaper to buy it this way. MD would be the best for smaller quantities. If you or anyone else (locally) wants to split(or any portion) a Rowa or BRS ROX(any size) LMK. With all the tanks you have Alan it wouldnt hurt to buy in quantity. I get a few bucks off at BRS each order.
 
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