Equipment Review and Discussion :: Need help Recharging Purigen

[Turk]

Thanks for all the recommendations for Purigen. The stuff works great!
I bought two so I can swap them out while one is recharging.

I tried recharging for the first time yesterday.
I used a solution of bleach and water (1:1) for 24 hours and then soaked it in filtered water from my fridge for 8 hours.
The purigen is white again, but it smells like chlorine, but I think the fridge filter needs to be replaced. (Which I do not know how.)

Should I just buy the prime water conditioner for the purigen or is there another alternative?

Also on the side note, are there any recommendations for carbon media for a xp3? The one I have is slightly too big to fit in the basket. (It's wedge in diagonally.)

[PridgNYC]

You need some kind of dechlorinator, Prime would be one.

For carbon, I just buy the loose activated carbon, and put it in a new, clean, knee high nylon stocking. 4 pairs for a dollar at Rite Aid.

[VeipaCray]

The small bottle of Prime is like $3 or $4 dollars at any local petco or petsmart and should last you a year or so of regenerating purigen. After the bleach soak, it gets rinsed (tap water is fine) then a soak in water + prime to dechlorinate.

Agreed on the loose carbon. Grab a 99 cent media bag (also available at your local petsmart or petco) and some bulk carbon. The best deal on bulk carbon is from bulkreefsupply.com. I usually buy the lignite carbon.

[PridgNYC]

I think I got a better deal on media bags, 8 for a dollar. and they are soft, flexible, and stretchy to fit any media basket.

[VeipaCray]

Nice.... where did you get the media bags? You might post that in the deals subforum.

[Turk]

I think he's talking about the stockings

For some reason I thought the conditioner was for the water, not the bleach in the purigen.
Thanks for the info guys!

And we can reuse media bags right?

[VeipaCray]

Pridg> Does the purigen stay in stockings? The resin beads are super tiny.

Yes you can reuse media bags.

If you buy the 100mL (smallest) purigen, it comes pre-bagged and sealed. The instructions tell you to regenerate and reuse but the bag is sealed so it's implied that the bag is reused.

[PridgNYC]

I don't put the purigen in the stockings, just the carbon, I bought the 100mL purigen that comes in a bag, especially after reading about the difficulty and expense of finding media bags with a tight enough mesh. At 8 for a dollar, I can just throw the bag (stocking) out with the carbon.

[VeipaCray]

I put my purigen in the el-cheapo 99 cent bags, have been for years never a problem. No worries about finding a special bag for the purigen or having to buy the Seachem "the bag".

Great Idea for the carbon and the stockings!

[Turk]

Ah Thanks again you two. My internet provider died on me so sorry for late replies.
How do you put the carbon in stockings? Do you tie them? I have actually never examined a pair of stockings before.

[PridgNYC]

They are just like socks, only thinner. Pour the carbon in the open end, and tie it off.

[VeipaCray]

I have actually never examined a pair of stockings before.

That's a completely different forum