Page 39 - Water and the Aquarium

GARGAS: Water and the Aquarium Page 39
GARGAS: Water and the Aquarium Page 39

Carbon Review Part 4

Before we close our series on carbon I would like to briefly talk about
types of synthetic carbon that are often available. Synthetic carbon, also known
as organic scavengers, are plastic beads. With this category there are two types:
Type one is called a “functional” (ion exchange) organic scavenger. It is actu-
ally an anion resin having a negative charge – the
resin will turn dark as it becomes loaded with
organics and it will give off the chloride anion
in turn. An example of this is a product called
Purigen. This product does work well. However
to clean it you put in water with a little bleach the
bleach in turn will oxidize the organics and the
chloride ion from the bleach will in turn attach
to the resin. The resin must be rinsed well and a
chlorine neutralizer added to it and it can be use
over again.
The Type two organic scavenger is a non
functional (no ion exchange) group that looks like
a resin bead but cleans up with steam or dena-
tured alcohol this group is noted for removing

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