Purigen Users....your input!! (1 Viewer)

[Ryguy]

Ok, so I was swapping filter media today as part of my regular maintanance and when I pulled my Purigen bag out this is what I got.....has anyone ever seen this before and if so any idea on why it would have turned red? I have used Purigen in my Nano for about a year now and have never seen this.

Also...do any of you take the chance and re-generate your Purigen? It makes me a little nervous to use bleach on ANYTHING that will touch the water in my tank. I usually purchase a new bag and keep a couple on hand. Thoughts?

 

[Jasonc]

I love the stuff! I use it instead of carbon and it works out really well.

Mine turns brown when exhausted. That kind of looks like GFO dust on your bag. No other idea than that.

I wouldn't stress about doing the re-gen on the purigen. Just make sure you follow the directions and use the dechlorinator (prime) after the bleach bath and you'll be fine. BTW - if that is the color of your purigen it is still good. It really turns brown when it is exhausted.

 

[fightmeaboutit]

Have read that high nitrates causes it to turn redish pink

 

[ReeferMike]

I use purigen and I have had the bag turn slightly red not quite as red as yours. I know that I have met people who said they recharge them but I am in the same boat as you I would rather replace then bleach something and put it back in my tank. 18 bucks for a replacement just sayin

 

[Ryguy]

That kind of looks like GFO dust on your bag. No other idea than that.

I am running ChemiPure Elite with it in the chamber above, but I rinse that stuff really good before putting it it...and I didn't think it contained enough GFO to really make that big a mess....but maybe that is the case.

[quote="fightmeaboutit]Have read that high nitrates causes it to turn redish pink[/quote]

Nitrite level is undetectable according to my Red Sea Pro test kits.....hmmm, I have't heard that. Maybe I need to try another brand just to double check...
I sent an email to SeaChem to see if they had any input.

Everything is doing well in the tank otherwise, so maybe I shouldn't worry about it....I will see if the next bag does the same thing.

 

[Jasonc]

Not sure if it was a typo or not but fightmeaboutit mentioned high NITRATES and you mentioned your NITRITES being undetectable. Might want to check your nitrate if you mistakenly tested for nitrite.

Fill us in on what seachem says would ya?

 

[fishrme]

im like you i dont like to put bleach in my tank ..so i use the purigen ...i used hydrogen peroxide ...you can probably use the drugstore kind but i used the 35% food grade hydrogen peroxide to bleach my purigen back ...i use the 35% food grade in my swimming pool instead of chlorine ..i dont wnt to swim in it ...dont want to drink it and dont want it in my tank ..so the hydrogen peroxide works for me ..i also use it to clean my filter sock

 

[Ryguy]

Not sure if it was a typo or not but fightmeaboutit mentioned high NITRATES and you mentioned your NITRITES being undetectable. Might want to check your nitrate if you mistakenly tested for nitrite.

Yes it was a typo....nitrAtes are undetectable. Thanks!

Still waiting t hear from Seachem.

 

[Ryguy]

Ok, so I JUST got the return email from Seachem and here is what they said:

"Hello Ryan,

Thanks for the email and for using Purigen. This is actually a common occurrence with Purigen. Since one of the benefits of this product is the fact that it removes color bodies from the water, it has more than likely pulled something from the water that has reacted with the resin, causing it to turn pink/red. This is completely normal and I can assure you that it is fine to continue using. Keep in mind that when you regenerate the Purigen, it may not return to the original white color that it once was, and this is a result of staining from the different color bodies that it picks up from the water column.

Let us know if you need any further assistance.

Product Support
100215"

Doesn't really help me much other than apparently something was/is going on in my tank that is causing this to occur. I haven't changed any of the food, supplements, or anything I normally use in my tank....so I find this interesting. I guess I will have to see what the next one turns out to look like when it time to change.

 

[mwilliams62]

Not sure about all the stuff above but mine had brownish/red but I think it might have to do with the flake foods that I sometimes use they are the red ones. Just a thought.