Advice On Using Purigen

My Marine Penguin hob has an extra media slot in front of the floss and carbon pad. I'm wanting to us purigen in that slot but I have read horror stories about fish dying off after people reactivate. My guess is they weren't using prime in the reactivation process. Is re activating it worth the risk or is it better to just replace? If replacing is best how often? I know purigen changes color when depleted but I haven't seen a time frame listed (x amount of weeks or months)

 

Ive read its because bleach has a high Ph, so when it’s placed back in right after the treatment, then it spikes the Ph really high. it’s best to let it sit in water(after removing the bleach) for a few days to allow the Ph to settle.

The duration depends on how long whatever you’re trying to remove leeches. It lasted me around 5 months until it got dark brown from all the tannins my driftwood leeched. I ended up throwing it away.

 

Ive read its because bleach has a high Ph, so when it’s placed back in right after the treatment, then it spikes the Ph really high. it’s best to let it sit in water(after removing the bleach) for a few days to allow the Ph to settle.

So it's best if using it to have enough on hand to allow for a good clean water soaking

 

So it's best if using it to have enough on hand to allow for a good clean water soaking

yeah, you can have 2-3 on hand. and swap them between cleaning. or just store a spare just in case.

 

yeah, you can have 2-3 on hand. and swap them between cleaning. or just store a spare just in case.

I'm assuming it's like other filter media and you can use it constantly? It's not like treat the tank with it until your parameters improve then have to stop using it. Thanks for the great advice

 

I'm assuming it's like other filter media and you can use it constantly? It's not like treat the tank with it until your parameters improve then have to stop using it. Thanks for the great advice

Yup! you can use it like normal media. It works great to get your water crystal clear.

 

Just don't use it when you are first cycling a tank. It really slows things down.

 

Is there a reason you want to use purigen...

 

Is there a reason you want to use purigen...

No reason other then looking for a good media to put in the secondary slot of my Hob to get the best filtration possible. The hob has dual bio wheels otherwise I'd put a biological filter in the slot

 

I can't imagine your tank would suffer if you removed the purigen for a week while recharging it.
I do a double-dechlor on mine after bleaching it. Massively overdosed dechlor each time (I use Seachem Safe, however Prime is equally effective, just not as concentrated), 24 hrs cycles. Then a very thorough rinse in running tap water and a final rinse in tank water.

 

No reason other then looking for a good media to put in the secondary slot of my Hob to get the best filtration possible. The hob has dual bio wheels otherwise I'd put a biological filter in the slot

If there is no reason then you can use matrix or biorings then you don't need to worry about recharging it every 3 months or so...

 

If there is no reason then you can use matrix or biorings then you don't need to worry about recharging it every 3 months or so...

Forgive me because I'm unfamiliar with those, what sort of things will they remove from the tank?

 

Forgive me because I'm unfamiliar with those, what sort of things will they remove from the tank?

Those don't remove anything. They give your good bacteria more places to grow. Seachem Matrix is what I use.
Purigen is more of a polisher on steroids. Or it can be used to remove meds. But truly, if your water is clear I wouldn't deal with the hassle. I had it in both of my canisters and have already removed it (because they slow down the cycle). I should have just taken Cichlidude's advice in the first place (different thread) and just filled up with matrix. Which is what I eventually did.

 

I have purigen in my 10g. As long as you let it soak long enough after a recharge, you don't have to worry about bleach causing issues. I recharged mine and didn't have prime at the time, so I let it soak in tap water for a couple days then in dechlorinated water for a couple days after bleaching. The main thing to note is that it no longer smells like bleach. If you still smell bleach, it needs to soak longer. When it doubt, give it more time to soak.

 

Those don't remove anything. They give your good bacteria more places to grow. Seachem Matrix is what I use.
Purigen is more of a polisher on steroids. Or it can be used to remove meds. But truly, if your water is clear I wouldn't deal with the hassle. I had it in both of my canisters and have already removed it (because they slow down the cycle). I should have just taken Cichlidude's advice in the first place (different thread) and just filled up with matrix. Which is what I eventually did.

Good advice, I'll try adding the matrix if nothing else it will complement my bio wheels

 

Good advice, I'll try adding the matrix if nothing else it will complement my bio wheels

If you can remove the bioballs they hold very little BB and add more matrix the matrix holds 10x the BB compared to bio balls.

 

If you can remove the bioballs they hold very little BB and add more matrix the matrix holds 10x the BB compared to bio balls.

My HOB is old school it uses rotating bio wheels just before it drops the water back into the tank, the second media slot is about a 5 in long 3in wide and 6 in deep open area I could fill with the matrix

 

Here is a link to matrix at Amazon you can read up on it



Yes do you have any sponges in there to or filter floss for polishing the water

 

Yes do you have any sponges in there to or filter floss for polishing the water

It has the filter floss/carbon combo. Thanks for the link I'll do some research on it

 

Ok then all you need is to add the matrix and you all set

 

Fishdad85 , I have 3 bags of Purigen and have recharged them many times with zero issues.

The main key to recharge it correctly is to agitate the bag while it soaks in bleach a couple of times during the soak.

After it soaks in the bleach solution, run it under the faucet for a min or 2 to get the majority of the bleach off.

Then soak it in the dechlorinator per instructions.

The bag also has to be agitated in the container a couple of times during the last soak.

Halfway through, I sometimes empty the container, rinse under the faucet again and do another soak in dechlorinator.

Although I still use Prime for my 10g, 20 gallon and for bucket top offs on my 75g, I now use Seachem Safe to dechlorinate my Purigen and when doing large water changes on my 75g.

Once the Seachem Safe runs out, I am buying pure Sodium Thiosulfate to use as a dechlorinator from .

One pound mixed in a gallon of water will dechlorinate over 37,000 gallons of tap water, for only $3.25 !!!!!!

 

Fishdad85 , I have 3 bags of Purigen and have recharged them many times with zero issues.

The main key to recharge it correctly is to agitate the bag while it soaks in bleach a couple of times during the soak.

After it soaks in the bleach solution, run it under the faucet for a min or 2 to get the majority of the bleach off.

Then soak it in the dechlorinator per instructions.

The bag also has to be agitated in the container a couple of times during the last soak.

Halfway through, I sometimes empty the container, rinse under the faucet again and do another soak in dechlorinator.

Although I still use Prime for my 10g, 20 gallon and for bucket top offs on my 75g, I now use Seachem Safe to dechlorinate my Purigen and when doing large water changes on my 75g.

Once the Seachem Safe runs out, I am buying pure Sodium Thiosulfate to use as a dechlorinator from .

One pound mixed in a gallon of water will dechlorinate over 37,000 gallons of tap water, for only $3.25 !!!!!!

Great info!! I'll definitely do that to insure I get it recharged properly thank you for the great tips

 

I've used purigen before, then I switched to good ol filter floss and get the same results.

 

If you can remove the bioballs they hold very little BB and add more matrix the matrix holds 10x the BB compared to bio balls.

Actually, 170x more than bio balls.