DIY Carbon Tube Filtration System: Stan's Notes For Construction
While constructing my own Carbon Tube System for our NEW 55g following Dave's instructions, I had a few challenges. Here is what I did to solve these challenges, along with some additional NOTES OF IMPORTANCE about using this system.
Challenge: I used ASB tube material, but feel thin wall PVC
will work just a well, or better. It's lighter and
cheaper. PVC was not available to me, so I used the
ASB.
Challenge: Found that after washing and "fizzing off" the carbon
there was still some black/gray residue coming out
of the tubes.
Solution: Took a garden hose (did this outside)
and let the
water flush through the tubes to help remove the
residue. This also allowed me to test for leaks.
Challenge: Did not have the right size "tap" for the male hose
fitting hole in the end cap.
Solution: Used regular drill bit, stuck
connectors into snug holes
and used JB Weld around the outside of holes and
connectors to secure and seal. Let dry and cure over-
night.
Challenge: End caps leaked using teflon tape.
Solution: Glued on all end caps.
Challenge: After gluing end caps on, still got some leakage.
Solution: Dabbed more PVC glue around outside
seam
of end caps.
Challenge: Fish were stressed for oxygen.
Solution: Added a couple of airstones.
Challenge: Magnum filters the water well, but needed more
circulation and water movement in tank.
Solution: Mounted a powerhead on one end
of tank.
FOLLOW THE PROTOCOL FOR SETTING UP
THIS SYSTEM AND YOU WILL BE HAPPY WITH THE RESULTS. IT IS
A NEWLY ESTABLISHED CYCLED TANK, DO NOT OVERLOAD IT!!! You can add
another fish every 5-7 days until your tank is where you want it.
You can add live rock and other marine animals by the same method, GRADUALLY
IN SMALL AMOUNTS, but DON'T add a mass amount of new stuff all at once.
Just like ANY new tank, the biological filter needs time to adjust and
grow to the bioload added.
Here is the reason we stress this point! Someone added the carbon, put the RN in and said it didn't work. Upon further inquiry we found this person had put nothing but a hugh load of new live rock in the tank. BINGO! This person bought a lot of live rock that had bunches of dead stuff on it, but could not see it. This really polluted the tank!!! The NH3 was already over 6 when he put in the RN. In three days the tank dropped to zero. The nitrites are slightly rising and some of the Nitrates are going down. Still the customer said he can not see the difference. What he did was just like dropping a pound of dead fish into the tank and didn't remove it. Well, even with the overload the RN is working, it just overtaxed the system and he is getting delayed results.
If you have a new system that is in the cycling process and you convert to the carbon tube filtration system, the RN will work. It just takes a little more time for it to catch up to the cycling process that has already begun in the tank. If you want to add this system to an already established tank, no problem, it will make it stronger and better.
If you have any questions or need more info, please don't hesitate to email to me.
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Aloha,
Stan Hauter
Your About.com Saltwater Aquariums Guide
Swimfish graphic from Fish Link Central's Animated Clip Art Collection
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