Marine and Freshwater Carbon Study
Fresh and Saltwater Nitrifying Bacteria Experiment
pH Change in Sample Containers
Tapwater, RO and Saltwater pH Change Study
Tapwater, RO pH Change while Aerating Storage Containers
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Carbon, pH and Other Marine Research

Marine and Freshwater Carbon Study

 

Disclaimer

While the following experiments were completed with the greatest amount of care and precision, they were nonetheless performed in our home with test kits and materials on hand. As such, results should not be considered scientifically conclusive.

 

Carbon Study

Carbon Study Goals:

Using four granulated activated carbon samples in uncycled 5.5 gallon marine and freshwater aquaria:

  • to determine what pH changes occur directly, and in the hours, after adding carbon in fresh and marine environments
  • to document the levels of phosphate that may leach into the water in the days after carbon addition in fresh and marine environments

Carbon Study Equipment:

Hardware

  • All-Glass 5.5 gallon tank
  • Tronic 50 watt heater
  • AquaClear Mini hang-on filter without media
  • Opaque plastic cover to reduce evaporation
  • Nylon bag
  • 1/2 cup of each carbon sample, one sample to be tested unrinsed, one sample to rinsed for one minute in five different one-gallon rinse cycles

Marine Water

  • Water will originate from our 75 gallon reef and will be allowed to circulate in the test tank for an hour before carbon is added and testing begun
  • Water temperature of all test tanks will been maintained at 77 F throughout the experiment

Fresh Water

  • Water will originate from a covered 25 gallon Rubbermaid garbage can used for water changes in our indoor goldfish pond, and is treated with Prime
  • Water is stored at room temperature, but a heater will bring temperature up to 77 F

Carbon Samples

  • AquaClear Premium Research Quality Activated Carbon taken from pre-packaged carbon inserts
  • Generic tapwater purifier activated carbon bought locally in a 20 lb bag
  • Kent Marine Reef Carbon sent by Chris Alonzo, CT USA
  • Anthracite sent by JoAnn Burke of Dandy Oranda's Hideaway, AL USA

Test Kits

  • Salifert PO4 Profi-Test
  • Aquarium Pharmaceuticals KH Test
  • Hanna Instruments HI 931700 pH Probe and Monitor
  • Test tubes, syringes and other test containers will be cleaned with a small brush and tapwater after each use

Carbon Study Methods;

  • Experiment uses equipment currently on hand.
  • Set up identical 5.5 gallon tanks with identical hang-on filters, heaters, plastic covers and water.
  • Since only one 5.5 gal tank is available, one carbon sample will be tested, the tank cleaned in tapwater with a clean sponge, then the next carbon sample will be tested.
  • Water for the marine tests will be taken from our 75 gal reef.
  • Water for the freshwater tests will be taken from an unheated 25 gallon freshwater storage tank treated with Prime.
  • Each tank will be filled with water, with heater and AquaClear Mini turned on, and let run for one hour before testing begins.
  • Testing of all carbon samples will be done at predetermined times for a predetermined period of time as outlined in the data tables below.
  • pH is recorded at two decimal points.
  • KH is recorded to the nearest whole dKH.
  • PO4 is recorded in ppm at two decimal points. The test container and colour swatches are placed nearest the laundry room window with the light on for the most accurate colour matching.

 

Marine Carbon Study A:

Data:

#1 Testing began Sept/29/00.
     Previous water change was 15 gal on September 22, 2000.

#2 Testing began October 1, 2000.
     Previous water change was 5 gal on September 29, 2000.

#3 Testing began October 4, 2000.
     Previous water change was 5 gal on October, 1, 2000.

#4 Testing began October 6, 2000.
     Previous water change was 5 gal on October 4. 2000, after which
     two hours of mechanical filtration and turkey baster storming was done.

#5 Testing began October 8, 2000.
     Previous water change was 5 gal on October 6, 2000.
MARINE
Study A:

Time

 Generic Water Purifier Activated Carbon AquaClear Premium Research Quality Activated Carbon #1 No Carbon
#3 Rinsed #2 Unrinsed #5 Rinsed #4 Unrinsed
pH dKH PO4 pH dKH PO4 pH dKH PO4 pH dKH PO4 pH dKH PO4
Set up tank 9:00 am SG: 1.0225 SG: 1.0225 SG: 1.0225 SG: 1.0225 SG: 1.023
1st readings
no carbon
10:00 am		 8.10 5 .015 8.20 5.5 .015 8.21 5.5 .015 8.23 5.5 .015 8.17 5 .015
carbon in for
15 minutes
10:15 am		 8.53 * * 8.35 *  * 8.42 * * 8.35 * * 8.16 * *
10:30 am 8.62 * * 8.41 * * 8.49 * * 8.41 * * 8.15 * *
10:45 am 8.67 * * 8.45 * * 8.53 * * 8.48 * * 8.14 * *
11:00 am 8.69 * * 8.48 6 * 8.55 * * 8.50 * * 8.14 * *
3:00 pm 8.70 * * 8.67 * * 8.59 * * 8.68 * * 8.05 * *
6:00 pm 8.66 * * 8.67 * * 8.51 * * 8.65 * * 7.99 * *
9:00 pm 8.58 * * 8.64 * * 8.44 * * 8.59 * * 7.95 * *
9:00 am 8.34 * * 8.44 * * 8.21 * * 8.38 * * 7.92 * *
3:00 pm 8.25 7 .1 8.37 7 .1 8.08 7 .1 8.30 7 .1 7.91 5 .015

* No data collected at this time

Observations:
  • 15 minutes after carbon was added, a large increase in pH is recorded in all samples. 
  • The highest immediate increase in pH was with the rinsed carbon samples.
  • The highest overall increase in pH was with the unrinsed carbon samples.
  • There was a slight, steady drop in pH in the no carbon sample.
  • Except for the no carbon sample, an increase of 2 dKH was recorded in all samples.
  • Except for the no carbon sample, an increase of almost 1 ppm in PO4 was recorded in all samples.

Conclusions:

The addition of carbon to saltwater results in an immediate sharp increase in pH as well as an overall increase in PO4.

 

Freshwater Carbon Study B:

Data:

#6 Testing began October 23, 2000.

#7 Testing began October 25, 2000.

#8 Testing began October 27, 2000.

#9 Testing began October 30, 2000.

#10 Testing began November 1, 2000.

#11 Testing began November 3, 2000.

#12 Testing began November 6, 2000.

#13 Testing began November 8, 2000.

#14 Testing began November 15, 2000.

#15 Testing began November 17, 2000.

 
FRESH
WATER
Study B:

Time

 Generic Water Purifier Activated Carbon AquaClear Premium Research Quality Activated Carbon Kent Reef Carbon Dandy Oranda's Anthracite #6 Prime- Treated Tapwater No Carbon #7 Untreated Tapwater No Carbon
#8 Rinsed #9 Unrinsed #10 Rinsed #11 Unrinsed #12 Rinsed #13 Unrinsed #14 Rinsed #15 Unrinsed
pH dKH PO4 pH dKH PO4 pH dKH PO4 pH dKH PO4 pH dKH PO4 pH dKH PO4 pH dKH PO4 pH dKH PO4 pH dKH PO4 pH dKH
Set up tank
9:00 am		 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 7.60 7
1st readings
no carbon
10:00 am		 7.82 6 0.00 7.64 7.5 0.00 7.83 7 .01 7.84 7 0.00 7.75 7 .01 7.92 6.5 .01 7.75 7 .01 7.89 7.5 .015 7.65 6.5 0.00 7.65 *
carbon in for
15 minutes
10:15 am		 8.03 * * 7.86 * * 8.02 * * 8.09 * * 7.88 * * 8.00 * * 7.72 * * 7.77 * * 7.66 * * 7.67 *
10:30 am 8.14 * * 7.98 * * 8.11 * * 8.20 * * 7.95 * * 8.03 * * 7.73 * * 7.76 * * 7.68 * * 7.71 *
10:45 am 8.19 * * 8.04 * * 8.17 * * 8.26 * * 8.00 * * 8.05 * * 7.74 * * 7.75 * * 7.71 * * 7.74 *
11:00 am 8.24 * * 8.09 * * 8.20 * * 8.30 * * 8.03 * * 8.07 * * 7.75 * * 7.77 * * 7.73 * * 7.76 *
3:00 pm 8.23 * * 8.28 * * 8.19 * * 8.22 * * 8.18 * * 8.13 * * 7.93 * * 7.93 * * 7.87 * * 7.94 *
6:00 pm 8.11 * * 8.15 * * 8.09 * * 8.09 * * 8.15 * * 8.10 * * 7.98 * * 8.00 * * 7.91 * * 7.97 *
9:00 pm 8.04 * * 8.02 * * 8.02 * * 8.01 * * 8.12 * * 8.05 * * 7.99 * * 7.99 * * 7.96 * * 7.96 *
9:00 am 7.94 * * 7.95 * * 8.00 * * 8.00 * * 8.04 * * 8.05 * * 8.01 * * 8.04 * * 7.90 * * 7.99 *
3:00 pm 7.93 7 .01 7.95 7 .015 8.00 7 .03 7.98 6.5 .015 8.06 6 .015 8.06 6 .015 8.04 7.5 .01 8.03 7 .01 7.92 7 0.00 8.04 6

* No data collected at this time

Observations:

Too complex for simple old me to digest all the data.  Please look through the data and make your own observations.

Conclusions:

Again, there is too much data to sort through for me to make valid conclusions.  Please make conclusions of your own for this study.

 
Home      1999 - 2004 © Beverly Wladyka Edmonton AB Canada