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[Dave]

Have you ever taken a magnet over your carbon?  Does it stick?

I recently tested two brands of carbon I have based on a thread in a different forum.

One of the two carbon brands stuck to the magnet.  Only about 10% stuck, but it still raised my eyebrows.

Should our aquarium carbon have metal content where it can actually stick to a magnet?

What metal would it be?

Should I be concerned?

[Mbodell]

I don't know if iron in the carbon will hurt anything. I dose iron daily.

[redfishbluefish]

Are you sure you haven’t confused your GFO bucket with the carbon bucket?

The reason I say that is that I never labeled my carbon and GFO until recently.  The way I figured out which was which was using a magnet.  GFO is an iron oxide.  Carbon is carbon, and definitely not magnetic!

[Dave]

Are you sure you haven’t confused your GFO bucket with the carbon bucket?

100% certain - It was the first time I opened the carbon that I bought during a group buy.

[john90009]

i remember a thread on reef central- i think it was posted from old guy, his carbon got rusty and cause everything in his tank to slowly die.

[redfishbluefish]

This is wild stuff.  I found this link which will lead you to many other links that discuss this.  Who would have ever guessed, in a million years, that carbon could take on magnetic properties.  I actually went back and checked the two different brands of carbon that I use.  Both exhibited magnetic properties.   Anyway, here’s the link that also talks about magnetic carbon.

http://forum.marinedepot.com/Topic106426-9-1.aspx#bm106480

[Boomer]

Well, carbon does not make on magnetic properties but Iron impurities of iron converted to magnetite, a natural magnetic iron in great quantities in the iron mines of Minnesota is magnetic, hence the name. It will do about as much harm as GFO, it is just a iron oxide, it is not like it is actual metal, as in steal. All GAC have what we call iron soluble ash, often found on GAC data sheets. I do not buy into the claims made by a few, that some GAC with an iron oxide killed their corals at all. One is always looking to blame things on soemthing and GAC is often the blame for erogenous reasons. And lets not forget it is quite easy for GAC to take on a static charge which will give the same results.

[Dave]

Thanks Boomer.

Have been reading on some forms of carbon that have diamagnetic properties.  Do not know what to make of it.

I suspect the carbon I have, has some traces of Iron in it.  BTW no impacts on anything in my tank has been seen, just thought it interesting.

http://physicsworld.com/cws/article/news/3412

[Boomer]

Well, Dave, there are GAC that had magnetic inclusions in it or maybe I should say a patent on it

Processing and characterization of activated carbon coated magnetic particles for biomedical applications

R.V. Ramanujan, a, , S. Purushothama and M.H. Chiaa

aSchool of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639798, Singapore

Received 7 December 2005; revised 9 May 2006; accepted 7 June 2006. Available online 13 July 2006

Abstract
Synthesis and characterization of Magnetically Targeted Carrier (MTC) powders consisting of activated carbon coated iron particles were carried out. Powders with activated carbon content of 5% by weight (Fe5C) and 35% by weight (Fe35C) were studied. Powders were synthesized via the high energy ball milling route, and the influence of milling time on the morphology, magnetic properties and drug adsorption and desorption characteristics was investigated. Physical and structural characterization included electron microscopy, size analysis, and X-ray diffraction. The magnetic properties, and theophylline adsorption and desorption characteristics were studied. Fe35C milled for 10 h was found to be a suitable candidate for MTC applications with fine size, stable magnetic properties, and superior drug adsorption and desorption behavior.



Magnetic activated carbon and the removal of contaminants from fluid streams
USPTO Application #: 20080226523
Title: Magnetic activated carbon and the removal of contaminants from fluid streams

Abstract: Magnetic activated carbon and the removal of contaminants from a fluid stream using the magnetic activated carbon is described. The magnetic activated carbon is preferably magnetic powdered activated carbon and may contain titania. The magnetic activated carbon may be used to remove contaminants such as mercury from fluid streams including flue gases from a combustion plant. (end of abstract)



And a very interesting article you posted THANKS

[JRWOHLER]

We should give you a nickname like "Boomer the Science Guy" ... well something better but you get the idea.  Thanks as always for the good posts. 

[jimroth]

My first thought was static charge, like rice grains in a plastic jar...but that is really interesting.

As a lifelong member of the Iknowitall Tribe, I am always amazed at how much there is left to learn in this hobbby!