Description
Granular Activated Carbon + Macroporous Resin
Concept:
MICROBIAL MARINE REDUCE DOC/ORGANICS is a blend of specialty coconut-based, low-dust, steam-activated carbon (GAC) and macroporous adsorption resin.
Running activated carbon alone may only address part of the problem of high dissolved organic carbon (DOC). Due to the surface chemistry of activated carbon, it cannot adsorb all organics present in a system. REDUCE DOC/ORGANICS overcomes this limitation by combining activated carbon with a selective resin. This blend can adsorb both labile (short-chain/low molecular weight) and refractory (long-chain/high molecular weight) dissolved organics.
Coconut-based granular activated carbon removes short-chain organic compounds. These organics are easily degraded and act as food for bacteria in the tank, which can lower ORP and oxygen levels, shifting the system into a "microbialized" state - an undesirable condition for coral growth. Over time, some of these organics can break down into nitrates and phosphates. Many systems with consistently high nitrates and phosphates often have elevated levels of short-chain organics, continually fueling this issue.
Macroporous adsorption resin removes long-chain organic compounds. Long-chain organics can yellow the water, reduce PAR, bind to essential trace elements (making them unavailable to reef animals), and even create chemical conditions that favor the growth of dinoflagellates. Over time, some long-chain organics can act as a persistent "pool" of DOC, slowly breaking down into short-chain organics and causing constant disruption to the microbiome.
Beyond addressing long- and short-chain organics, this product is also highly effective at removing odor-causing compounds, medications, and other organic contaminants such as pesticides, herbicides, and likely even toxins produced by corals, cyanobacteria, dinoflagellates, and flatworms. It can also be used on the intake of a skimmer or in an air filter to prevent airborne volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from entering your system. This blend is also ideal for use with ozone, as it removes dangerous oxidized byproducts and excess ozone.
Instructions:
Use the included bag and run on a 1-2 week on/off cycle. If tests indicate high levels of DOC or organic contamination, a reactor can be used to lower these levels more aggressively. If the system has a high continual organic input or test values show high DOC levels, the media can be run passively. If you choose to run the product passively, use a smaller amount than usual to reduce the risk of stripping too many organics from the system. Running passively can create a "ceiling" for organics, helping to prevent overdosing of common additives such as carbon dosing, amino acids, vitamins, or coral and fish foods.
Dosage:
- Low DOC = 10 mL or less per 10 gallons (dosage to maintain current DOC level)
- Moderate DOC = 50 mL or less per 10 gallons
- High DOC = 100 mL or less per 10 gallons
* Internal test demonstrate 1 mL of resin measured volumetrically added per gallon of tank water reduced SAC254 by 0.5 (note because organics differ system to system this trend may not hold true if specific organic compounds are elevated.)
Technical (carbon):
- Surface Area (BET) = 1050 m2/g
- Ash Content = 4% (max)
- Iodine Number = 1000 mg/g (min)
- CTC Adsorption = 50% (min)
- Moisture Content = 5% (max)
- Ball-pan Hardness = 98% (min)
- Density = 430 - 540 kg/m3
Technical (macroporous adsorption resin):
- TOC Capacity = 5 - 20 grams per liter of resin (min)
- Total Capacity = 0.8 eq/L 7.5 Kgr/ft3 (min)
- Particle Size Range = 300 - 1200 µm
- Uniformity Coefficient = 1.7 (max)
