wasp Posted September 20, 2005 Report Share Posted September 20, 2005 The carbon that Jansens sell very cheaply in a plastic bag, with Jansens written across it, is the cheapest i've been able to find. So I'll be testing the phosphate content with a Hanna Digital Colorimeter. Yesterday I put a cup of this carbon in a jar of RODI water, and I'll be testing this water on Thursday to see if any phosphate has leached. I'll update results on this thread. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reef Posted September 20, 2005 Report Share Posted September 20, 2005 you should stir it up now and then to allow water to go through it. would be good if you had a small airstone with the carbon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brianemone Posted September 20, 2005 Report Share Posted September 20, 2005 good stuff wasp, interested to find the outcome as i got some lasttime i was up there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jetskisteve Posted September 20, 2005 Report Share Posted September 20, 2005 pass it thru a coffee filter (paper) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cracker Posted September 20, 2005 Report Share Posted September 20, 2005 I think I have tested it in the past.....was the best I found...same stuff I use. will be interesting with a colourometer! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wasp Posted September 20, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 20, 2005 I thought about the coffee paper, to eliminate dust. But would there be a risk of the paper adding phosphate? If no, I'll do it. The airstone is a good idea, but I don't have that stuff, I'm giving it a shake each time I walk past. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chimera Posted September 20, 2005 Report Share Posted September 20, 2005 I think I have tested it in the past.....was the best I found...same stuff I use. will be interesting with a colourometer! :lol: its not a 'real' test without a colorometer is it? i would put money on it the majority of carbon tests would show up as 'undetectable' on a standard salifert (or others) phosphate kit. only a colorometer will help show the finer detail. wasp, i suggest you do EXACTLY the same test (same amount, same period of time, same container, same batch of RODI) with other carbons from other stores. also do the same test on carbon from 2 different jansens stores at different internals (just incase you get a good/bad batch) its easy enough to do a test and make that 'the statistic' but it doesnt necessarily prove anything unless you show a wider range of results. at the least it should give some peace of mind to most of us....! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wasp Posted September 20, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 20, 2005 Yes that's actually a pretty good idea Chimera. I only have one type of carbon, but if anyone would like their favorite brand tested just give me a cup, and I'll run some comparitive tests between brands. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jetskisteve Posted September 21, 2005 Report Share Posted September 21, 2005 I read that about a coffee filter on the zeovit site, Dont give it a stir with yr finger like i saw some PLONKER doing the other day Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reef Posted September 21, 2005 Report Share Posted September 21, 2005 Stirring with you fingers is not a good idea as it makes a big difference with the PO4 reading. Be interested who the Plonker was Steve. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chimera Posted September 21, 2005 Report Share Posted September 21, 2005 i declare my arms phosphate free Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wasp Posted September 22, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 22, 2005 Test is done, the phosphate reading of the water came in at 0.02 mg/L. Trouble is I don't know if this is good or bad compared to other carbons, but just at face value, I would say it is a very good result. The reason I say that, is that this was a cup of carbon soaked in a cup of water, for 2 days. It then comes out with a reading which would be many multiples lower than found in the water of a lot of tanks. So if this carbon had leached this amount of phosphate into a whole tankful of water, the effect would have been tiny. If anybody in my area has some other carbon please give me a bit to test, the real value will be in the comparisons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chimera Posted September 22, 2005 Report Share Posted September 22, 2005 good start, now buy another batch from another jansens shop and do exactly the same! at least its a low result for the first. try hff too reminds me actually, i owe jss a bag of carbon! sorry steve, will get you it soon! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pies Posted September 22, 2005 Report Share Posted September 22, 2005 Good work Wasp, you should be on target. Good work Jansens, looks like you have a great product there. Can I ask how much a 25kg bag of this carbon would be? Ben PM me if you don't want to publish the price on here. Pie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reef Posted September 22, 2005 Report Share Posted September 22, 2005 I will get you some proper quality carbon from rowa and aqualight and tunze, be interested to see what the reading is . I think all carbon has some phostphates. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wasp Posted September 22, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 22, 2005 That will be great Reef. When we catch up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cracker Posted September 22, 2005 Report Share Posted September 22, 2005 Proper Schmoper!!! I have heard that Jansens is the same as Auckland hospitals. They use it in their dialysis machines. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wasp Posted September 22, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 22, 2005 Of course all we are testing here is phosphate, it may be that some of the more expensive carbons will perform better in other areas such as ability to absorb. That can be tested also, but it's more than I can be bothered with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brianemone Posted September 22, 2005 Report Share Posted September 22, 2005 good to know wasp, thanks for doing that. (your time benefits everyone) be interesting to find out how more expensive brands compare. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cookie extreme Posted September 22, 2005 Report Share Posted September 22, 2005 i declare my arms phosphate free unless you use phosphate and nitrate free laundry detergent and soaps you can't say that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wasp Posted September 29, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 29, 2005 Reef has supplied me with 2 more brands of carbon, they are Rowa and Aqualight, so I'll be able to report on those in a few days. I did a final test on the Jansens one, it's been soaking for 9 days and the phosphate content of the water is now 0.10 mg/L Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reef Posted September 29, 2005 Report Share Posted September 29, 2005 Based on that test the carbon is leeching too much PO4. .10 ppm is very high. Hopefully one of the others will be ok. as far as i understand all carbon will leech some po4, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klaymann Posted September 30, 2005 Report Share Posted September 30, 2005 unless proved wrong .. Jansens and Hollywoods source their carbon from either Kongs or Brooklands so testing their product would be very even with each batch delivered. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reef Posted September 30, 2005 Report Share Posted September 30, 2005 Hollywoods does not source all its carbon from kongs, They also sell rowa carbon and tunze. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jetskisteve Posted September 30, 2005 Report Share Posted September 30, 2005 more self promotion Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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