Reef Moonshiner's - Catalytic Activated Carbon

For advanced Aquarists, Freshwater & Saltwater

Jug contains 900ml

Reef Moonshiner’s CATALYTIC ACTIVATED CARBON

for targeted DOC (Dissolved Organic Carbon) removal and reduction as well as number one mitigation for removal of very harmful or unwanted substances including many medication and antibiotics residuals, poisons, illegal drugs, and toxins etc.

This is a proven and trusted Brand and type of specific Catalytic Activated Carbon used widely in the Reef Moonshiner’s community as it removes the unwanted substances with very minimal impacts on the dosed minor elements as part of the Water change free Reefing methodology.
As this Carbon is also used in the Drinking Water industry, highest quality can be expected.
Be aware this carbon has been tested and compared against many other Granular Activated Carbons, other Coconut shell based carbons and ROX carbons and it was the best choice under the tested candidates and fulfilled the needed requirements best and sufficiently in the Hobbyists favor.

This CAC is packed in air tight jugs, for repeated easy use, in a conveniently “see through” design with graduated volume markings.

For Saltwater Aquariums:
This Carbon also does improve water clarity and can be used continuously in the tank, however it’s recommended to be used only when needed, as harmful substances have been found in as part of the Reef Moonshiner’s ORGANO-MS test, or potential indicated on the Reef Moonshiner’s ICP-MS SAC254 value which is a reference value for DOC levels as well. If you see SAC254 levels above 3-5 you may already apply this carbon as below described. Also it is very often observed that Coral fluorescence and PE is significantly improving after using this particular carbon on the Aquarium setup.
This carbon can also be used to pre filter VOC’s out of  the Skimmer air on the intake side for weeks, or simply improve PH by absorbing and actively oxidizing acids from decomposition and other biological processes.

For Planted Freshwater Aquariums:
The application as the last stage in a canister filter setup will absorb and scavange the DOC in the water leading to reduced Water changes and will strip the fueling DOC source for hard to manage nuisance algae like BBA algae in planted Aquariums. It is described under the Reef Moonshiner’s Tropical Freshwater method as one of the crucial requirements as part of the setup to be installed at all times and routinely to be replaced whenever the canister filter is maintained.

How to apply the CAC:

Do use this exact CAC if you go this CAC route for DOC/Med/Substances/VOC reduction!

The impact on Trace elements is very very little for the purpose of detoxifying and scavenging the DOC and other undesired more complex chemicals out, that were introduced to your tank in some way through water, skimmer air, hands, body fluids, equipment etc. out.

Other GAC's or other ROX or Hobby grade Catalytic carbons tested have either released certain traces or were absorbing excessively other traces.

Simply add this low dust carbon into a “SEACHEM THE BAG” mesh bag

( https://a.co/d/83V4kWO ) from Amazon or local stores and rinse under tap water.

Leave some space in the bag to be able to close the bag with the special zip tie that is included in the SEACHEM THE BAG.

Rinsing with Tapwater even while potentially chlorinated is not of concern, these days we even dose pure Bleach in small amounts into Reef Aquariums to combat bacterial blooms, Dino or Cyano outbreaks, hence the Tapwater for rinsing or cleaning equipment and washing out the meshbag for future use shall not be of concern to you!

After rinsing just add the bag with carbon (Base amount is approximately 300ml CAC per about 100gallon) passively somewhere in the sumps last chambers post the section where the skimmer is. See below some more ideas how to apply it.
And yes, it is measured in Volume and not weight! Weight can vary based on moisture levels of media, Volume will remain almost unchanged.

You can then keep the bag in the sump for a month at least or longer until the DOC is down into the 2-3 range as per your Reef Moonshiner's ICP-MS test which represents the DOC value in form of the SAC254 value in the test results.

Then as soon SAC254 of 2-3 is reached, remove it or leave it in. As it's very effectively removing DOC for about 3-4 weeks prior saturation is reached.

HOWEVER it also can bring down DOC levels well below 2, into the below 1 range which is where I have seen that stripping the DOC and other biological needed compounds in the seawater matrix out too much, have taken away some fluorescence and caused fading colors. More work to be done on this and to be shared in future but this is a solid start on this subject.

So that means as soon you have reached the lower DOC level, take the CAC off until a newer test show the need to bring it back in the system.

There are many other carbons out there that do not do perform that long or well, and are impacting the trace elements too heavily for the Reef Moonshiner’s system.

Be assured, even while passively in a bag, it will very powerful and gentle attract and absorb the unwanted DOC and substances.

CAC in a reactor is not recommended!!!

It is much finer in granules, and if you apply it into a media reactor, then sandwich it between 2 layers of Sera Filter fleece ideally. Reactors however make Carbon clog, which causes then often that carbon deteriorates inside the reactor and leeches elements out, or even cause fouling/decomposition compounds and acids to be released into the water.

The passive absorption of this carbon in a mesh bag in the sump was doing in all tests so far an excellent and easy job, it even impressed me a lot to see the numbers by this passive method of absorption with this CAC brand.

Another advantage of bagged media compared to use it in a reactor is that the media in a bag is always in oxygen rich water, and the risk of anerobic zones in the media is not truly zero, but much lower than in a detritus clogged media reactor!

Cases where the DOC levels were already low on the ICP-MS tests on the SAC254 value, however had still toxic substances to be removed, a smaller amount of approx. 150ml of CAC per 100gallon is recommended to be used.

If you have bigger systems, then use multiple bags in sump areas with decent flow where the bags can sit.

Try to avoid the bags to float around and bump into other equipment as you do not want to have this super fine media released in the sump or filter sections.

If you notice the bags clog from detritus and floating organics, simply take it out, wash and rinse the bag with carbon under tap water and insert back to the system if the overall use time of a few weeks is not reached.

EMERGENCY USE:
This CAC does also remove harsh drugs such as Fentanyl, Heroine, Crack and a variety of party drugs very effectively along with very toxic Insecticides and herbicides.

IF you detect those on your ORGANO-MS test, and want them to strip asap, use this CAC as described for 48 hours max in the setup and replace it with fresh CAC and continue from there.

Not for Human consumption or pets.

Keep out of reach of children.