Rox alternative

[nassar0505]

I'm assuming nobody locally sells rox .08 and i've looked at some of the comparing reviews of the available GAC out there, it seems to be the best.

Is there an alternative for rox .08 or anything somewhat comparable that i could get locally.

Or should I just suck it up and order it. I hate waiting for orders to come in especially when I have a new piece of equipment ready to be used:thumbs:.

thnx in advance.

 

[ripped tide]

Seachem matrix carbon is pretty good. I still order the ROX

 

[nassar0505]

Ripped Tide;810971 wrote: Seachem matrix carbon is pretty good. I still order the ROX

It's amazing no one has created an equal product. Is the effectivness due to its small size, or is there a completely different chem make up in it?

Eithere way looks like i'm stuck ordering :sad:.

 

[acroholic]

Rox has a ton of surface area due to the size. That small size also makes it a bit of a pain when dealing with it in a reactor. I just started using it in my 465, and it can.

Just a guess, but I'd think that Rox is more expensive to make as well in that small size, which probably helps make it more expensive than other types of carbon, outside of any better performance it may have.

I really have not seen a difference in anything since I started using it. I was using the middle of the road BRX carbon, the middle cost one, just below the Rox in cost. I'm just assuming it is the best 'cause of all the glowing reviews I have read.

 

[nassar0505]

hmmmm well now you got me thinking... What would be the difference in taking the middle of the road stuff and grinding it up a bit to give it a smaller size and thus obtaining the greater surface area?

Yes the reviews are very appealing so are the test results, sometimes its hard to weed threw the B/S and fact in this hobby.

 

[acroholic]

nassar0505;811019 wrote: hmmmm well now you got me thinking... What would be the difference in taking the middle of the road stuff and grinding it up a bit to give it a smaller size and thus obtaining the greater surface area?

That would be a really messy proposition. I'd just use the Rox and decide for yourself. You can always go to another type.

Just 'cause I haven't noticed a difference doesn't mean it is not great stuff. Anyone that keeps up on their maintenance really should not notice a huge difference in one small change in their routine, meaning if I keep up on WCs, cleaning filter socks, changing out GFO and carbon regularly, switching to a different brand of any type media, carbon or otherwise, should not affect the whole all that greatly, unless one of the media was actually hurting the system or something similar.

I ordered a 5 gallon bucket of Rox on my last BRS order, so I'll use it up, then decide if it was worth the higher price.

 

[nassar0505]

Good point.. My maintenance is very good and tank and clarity are already very clean. Just never run carbon before, got a reactor and figured everyone else is running it why not give it a try and see what it does.

I like the fact of switching one thing not effecting anything greatly but like most things I find in this hobby im chasing perfection when most the time perfection has a broad range.

Thank for the input!!

 

[jhutto]

Seachem Renew is an alternative to carbon.

 

[ralph atl]

That Rox carbon hardly needs to be rinsed at all and all those gazillion pores really help make it work at the highest level of all carbons.

I use little and change often (weekly), however I hear you can rinse it with RO weekly to last longer.

Bacteria will coat carbon and GFO usually within 2 weeks anyway and render it useless.

 

[acroholic]

mysterybox;811091 wrote: That Rox carbon hardly needs to be rinsed at all and all those gazillion pores really help make it work at the highest level of all carbons.

I use little and change often (weekly), however I hear you can rinse it with RO weekly to last longer.

Bacteria will coat carbon and GFO usually within 2 weeks anyway and render it useless.

So Ralph, can I use less Rox compared to, say, the lignite brand BRS sells? If I use 4 cups of the lignite, how much Rox should I use to get the same effect? Any ideas?

 

[ralph atl]

Acroholic;811101 wrote: So Ralph, can I use less Rox compared to, say, the lignite brand BRS sells? If I use 4 cups of the lignite, how much Rox should I use to get the same effect? Any ideas?

At least 1/2....