Overview

  Activated carbon, (a.k.a.Lignite) is produced from a soft, brownish-black coal in which the alteration of vegetable matter has proceeded further than in peat but not as far as in bituminous coal. Also called brown coal, is the best choice for ponds, organic molecule (pesticides) and color removal, due to it's large pore size.  Lignite has the added advantage of being one of the softer Activated Carbons, which enables you to grind off most of the bio-film accumulated, by kneading the bag during routine filter cleaning. You can also reduce the accumulated bio-film by drying or boiling the A/C. If used in a bead filter, the scrubbing action will expose new surface area during backwash.

  The large pore size is important, because the organics in a pond environment will clog and render ineffective, the smaller-pored, coconut shell and other carbons. 6 Grams of  this type of  Lignite Activated Carbon has the surface area of a football field. Our 4 decades of experience and testing have shown other Activated Carbons, i.e. pelletized, processed, to be almost useless for pond water, but excellent for Chlorine and Heavy metal removal in clear water applications such as swimming pools or drinking water.

  Whole House Filter Cartridge -- Available at most home centers, they are well suited for de-chlorinating tap water for household use. They fall short, however, when filling a Pond. They simply cannot keep up with the water flow from a garden hose. For this reason we cannot recommend them for pond applications.

  Whole House Activated Carbon Filters--Available from plumbing supply houses, ranging in price from $400.00 to over $1000.00 these filters can be used for filling ponds, most have a capacity of 250,000 to 800,000 gallons, some have optional backwash controls for sediment evacuation.

  Replacing your Activated Carbon

Checking your water meter just before installation can give you an idea when to replace the cartridge or the carbon. Manufacturers will write the cartridge capacity on the cartridge itself. Bulk applications of Activated Lignite Carbon 1cu ft. of carbon will de-chlorinate 100,000 gallons of clear water.

 

 Coconut Shell Carbon 

  (Small Pores) will remove Chlorine in seconds and can be used successfully for de-chlorinating city water and other clear water applications that don't contain dissolved organic compounds, but is not be the first choice for recirculating pond applications, due to it's fine and very prone to clogging pore structure.

Cost

  Lignite type Activated Carbon can be purchased on the internet for as little as $2.50lb in 40lb bags. If you purchase Activated Carbon in smaller packages, be prepared to spend more. Make sure the Activated Carbon is dry, some unscrupulous Manufactrers add water to increase the weight.

 

Pond Water Application of Lignite Activated Carbon

  Dosage-- For routine maintenance- 1pound (dry) per 1000gallons -replace in 6 months.

  For known problems i.e. pesticides, soap, detergents etc.--3lbs(dry) per 1000gallons--replace in 1 month. 

  I never wash my new activated carbon, as I believe the Carbon dust is an excellent adsorber and will polish the water initially in it's dust form.

  The best container is a pressurized solid container with a dedicated pump. Lacking a pressurized container, the Activated Carbon can be suspended under a waterfall or even placed in a stream or filter using a mesh bag, or in a pinch, pantyhose. Make sure you rinse and knead the Activated Carbon when you clean your filter to keep water flowing through, instead of around the Activated Carbon. Kneading the activated carbon will remove much of the bio-film and  expose new surfaces, prolonging the life of the product and should be part of your regular scheduled filter maintenance.

 

  Contact Time-- A minimum of five minutes up to one hour depending on the organic content. Recommended flow is 2 gallons per minute. Activated Carbon is less effective at high water temperatures and high PH.

  Regeneration--Activated Carbon can only be regenerated by high heat (900-1600 degrees F. ,certain acids and steam) and is therefore, not economically feasible to recharge. It should be discarded after 6 months of normal use, earlier if used to adsorb heavy known concentrations of pollutants.

 

Adsorption is a process that occurs when a gas or liquid solute accumulates on the surface of a solid or a liquid (adsorbent), forming a molecular or atomic film (the adsorbate). It is different from absorption, in which a substance diffuses into a liquid or solid to form a solution. The term sorption encompasses both processes, while desorption is the reverse process.

  How well the adsorption process works, depends on the time in the  water (and the pollutant), how much water is passing through, how many pores on the carbon, the concentration of the pollutant and the solubility and molecular weight of the compound being removed. De-Absorption properties of Activated Carbon have no bearing on pond water management. The industrial process used to de-adsorb metals is a chemical process that will never happen in a pond.

  Note--A/C cannot adsorb Ammonia, Nitrite or Nitrates, but the surface area of A/C is so large bacterial colonies will be formed after 28 days or so and will convert these substances by the nitrification process.

 

 Activated Carbon Adsorption in Alphabetical order.
  High to very good adsorption on:
Antimony, Arsenic (Treated wood Leaches Arsenic into the Water), Bismuth, Bleach, Chloramines( Chlorine only, see Zeolites for Ammonia adsorption), Chlorine, Chromium, Colors, Dyes, Gold, Hydrogen Peroxide, Insecticides, Monochloramine, Odors i.e. Sulphur, Pesticides, Phenols, Tin, Trihalomethanes.

  Good to Moderate adsorption on: 
Acetic acid, Cobalt, Detergents, Dissolved Organic Compounds (DOC), Hydrogen Sulfide, Mercury, Ozone, Potassium Permanganate, Silver, Soap, Solvents, Vinegar, Zirconium.

  Fair adsorption on:

Copper ( If Complexed), Iron(as FE 3+), Lead, Nickel, Titanium, Vanadium.

  Low to no adsorption on:
Alkalinity, Ammonia (See Zeolite ), Barium, Beryllium, Cadmium, Carbon Dioxide, Copper, Hardness, Iron(as FE 2+), Lime, Manganese, Molybdenum, Nitrates, Selenium, Tungsten, Zinc.

Here's another adsorption chart:
0 - Not an application for AC
1 - POOR not recommended use
2 - FAIR limited application
3 - GOOD very acceptable results
4 - VERY GOOD a proven application
5 - EXCELLENT a proven application
AC -  Activated Carbon is one of the most powerful and efficient methods for improving  water quality. The table shows many of the problems that are addressed by AC. Keep in mind that with municipally treated water it is highly unlikely that the majority of these contaminants will  be present. Chlorine (and its derivatives), is the primary concern. THM's & PCB's may also be a concern. As shown, \AC is excellent at treating these problems.
Acetaldehde 4
Acetic Acid 3
Acetone 4
Alcohols 4
Alkalinity 1
Amines 3
Ammonia 1
Amyl Acetate 5
Amyl Alcohol 5
Antifreeze 4
Arsenic 1
Benzene 5
Bleach 5
Boron 1
Butyl Alcohol 5
Butyl Acetate 5
Calcium Hypochlorite 5
Carbon Dioxide 0
Chloral 5
Chloramine 4
Chloroform 5
Chlorine 5
Chlorobenzene 5
Chlorophenol 5
Chlorophyll 4
Citric Acid 4
Cresol 5
Defoliants 5
Detergents 3
Diesel Fuel 5
Dyes 5
Emulsions 2
Ethyl Acetate 5
Ethyl Acrylate 5
Ethyl Alcohol 4
Ethyl Amine 4
Ethyl Chloride 4
Etyl Ether 4
Fertilizers 1
Flourides 2
Formaldehyde 2
Gasoline 5
Glycols 5
Hardness 0
Heavy Metals 3
Herbicides 5
Hydrogen Bromide 2
Hydrogen Chloride 1
Hydrogen Flouride 1
Hydrogen Iodide 2
Hydrogen Peroxide 5
Hydrogen Selenide 3
Hydrogen Sulfide 3
Hypochlorous Acid 5
Inorganic Acids 1
Inorganic Chemicals 1
Insecticides 5
Iodine 5
Isopropyl Acetate 5
Isopropyl Alcohol 5
Ketones 5
Lactic Acid 4
Lead 3
Lime 0
Mercaptans 4
Metal Salts 1
Methyl Acetate 4
Methyl Alcohol 4
Methyl Bromide 5
Methyl Chloride 4
Methyl Ethyl Ketone 5
Naptha 5
Nitrates 0
Nitric Acid 3
Nitrobenzene 5
Nitroluene 5
Odors (general) 5
Oil - dissolved 5
Oil - Suspended 2
Organic Acids 4
Organic Esters 5
Organic Salts 4
Oxalic Acid 5
Oxygen 5
Ozone 4
PCB's 5
Pesticides 5
Phenol 5
Phosphates 0
Plastic Taste 5
Plating Wastes 3
Potassium Permanganate 4
Precipitated Iron 2
Precipitated Sulfur 2
Propioc Acid 4
Propionaldehyde 3
Propyl Acetate 4
Propyl Alcohol 4
Propyl Chloride 4
Radon 4
Rubber Hose Taste 5
Sea Water 1
Sediment 2
Soap 3
Sodium Hypochlorite 5
Soluble Iron 2
Solvents 4
Sulferic Acid 1
Sulphonated Oils 4
Suspended Matter 2
Tannins 4
Tar Emulsion 4
Tartaric Acid 4
Taste (DI Water) 4
Taste (From Organics) 4
THM's 5
Toluene 5
Toluidine 5
Trichlorethylene 5
Turpentine 5
Urine 2
Vinegar 3
Xanthophyll 4
Xylene 5

 

Guest Editorials

  I would like to publicly say, without reservation, that everything I write or say about activated carbon was learned from Werner of Werner's Water Gardens.

  All I did was to try to help Werner to explain it to the ponding public by publishing my own experiences using it. Everything else came from Werner.

  My other comment is that Sue wrote the article by editing Werner's comments to this board, with a few of mine, then sent it to Werner and myself to make sure she had edited it correctly. So Sue did a great job on the article as editor.

Roddy Conrad
Charleston, WV
"Have a pleasant day"

 

Hello Werner,

I enjoyed you article on activated carbon in the pond. A little F.Y.I. on lignite carbon.  Lignite activated carbon is not a wood-based carbon. It is a true coal based product. Lignite coal is mined from the ground like other coals. We are the largest lignite carbon supplier to the aquarium industry and the only supplier of lignite carbon to the pond market. We also sell peat-based (also a coal product) and bituminous coal activated carbon. The lignite coal is superior in ponds due to the unique pore structure and adsorption properties.

I wish more folks would use activated carbon in the pond. It can really work wonders in improving water quality and color removal.

Best regards!

James Layton

Aquatic Biologist

Aquarium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

 

:

http://www.marineland.com/articles/17RevisActCarb.html 

http://www.alcoholpurification.com/recycling_with_steam.html

http://www.ext.nodak.edu/extpubs/h2oqual/watsys/ae1029w.htm

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

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