What brand of carbon do you use?

[Mimbler1]

How many of you have actually tested for phosphate from carbon? I detect significant phosphate in both black diamond and hydrocarbon using the Salifert kit.

BTW both are labeled as phosphate free,
Mike

[AEALOVESHERGIRLS]

I have never tested my carbon, but I will tomorrow when i do my water change. I also use salifert. I just recently switched carbons. I was using coconut carbon, but I switched to Kent marine carbon because the pieces in the coconut were getting blown all over the tank. I needed bigger pieces.

Amanda

[reefcam]

Oh great, now I'm off to go test it.... I know both have been tested in the past by a few reefers with Salifert kit too and it came up undetectable. Did you test your water prior to putting the carbon in? I'm sure you did, just had to ask.

[reefcam]

Since I haven't received a response from the manufacturer that got me started with this thread. But with seeing HBH brand carbon in Petsmart (where I get my Marineland Black Diamond), I thought I'll give it a try and see how well it does. Since it also claims to be Phosphate Free.

The carbon tested with 0.5ppm which is already too high for Reef Tank usage. Guess I'll be sticking with Marineland again. It always seem when us reefers are using more of one product, the price of the brand product goes up.

[sparkey65]

what is purigen?? does anyone no what carbons contain phosphate??

[kmk2307]

Does Kent carbon contain phosphates? Now I'm worried...

[tkramer17]

I use purigen, and have never had any problems. It seems to do just as good a job as any carbon i have ever used.

[Mimbler1]

I tested by putting a few grains of carbon in a small vial of RO/DI water, and then testing that water for PO4.
Mike

[Rendos]

I use Black Diamond and/or Kent Marine.

[sparkey65]

ok can someone please tell me what purigen is?

[KRussell]

Kent Marine for me...

[silverstar]

I used Aquarium Pharaceuticals INC. and didnt like it becuse I got dust all over my corals this Time I used HBH brand and it worked alot better no dust and cleaned the water up nice. I may try the black diamond next just to see how well it works.

[reefcam]

silverstar, not sure if you saw my post above, but the last test I did with HBH brand was it leech 0.5 ppm. I'm doing another test tonight and then will do a test on Black Diamond tomorrow night.

Jim

[onefin]

I use Black Diamond.

[Darrell Ward]

Purigen, Mfg. by SeaChem is quote: A macro-porous synthetic polymer that removes proteins,nitrite,nitrate,ammonia,and a broad spectrum of organics at a rate that exceeds all others by over 500%. It significantly raises redox and polishes water clairity.

[sparkey65]

thanks darrell where can i get that?

[reefcam]

Well just retested the HBH Brand of High Density Carbon and the Salifert test showed a slight hint of blue. About 0.03 ppm after 24 hours of soaking. The first test that tesed 0.5 ppm was after 48 hours of soaking. Guess this brand will not be for me. But wanted to let others know.

I also like to use this thread at the end of the day to hopefully create a incomprehensive list of Carbons and ones that leech phosphate. I konw there's PO4 source everywhere, but trying to eliminate many of the source will help reduce build-ups. JMO.

Jim

[Tomzpc]

I use Kent Marine but have never tested it. I used to use Chemi-Pure (for years) until I realized that I couldn't tell if it really did anything that plain old GAC couldn't do so why keep paying SO much more $.

[Darrell Ward]

Sparkey, almost any aquarium supply store that sells SeaChem products. Last time I bought some was at www.customaquatic.com

[reefcam]

what about SeaChem Matrix Carbon? Anyone using it? I have a bucket left so I'm testing for PO4 leech as well as Black Diamond, but will suspect both are undetectable. At least SeaChem does nto claim PO4 free, but <0.01, which the Salifert test will not test that low level.

[Aged Salt]

Jim, plz. post your results on the above two GAC's, thnx. Bob

[apophis924]

Originally posted by reefcam
s13silvia, thanks for the reference. Ahh, but there wasn't a poll. j/k

Since PO4 has been a sensitive subject with me, I'm trying to find an inexpensive alternative to activated carbon and also use it in my RO/DI unit. I am currently packing Black Diamond in a refillable cartridge and using it as the carbon filtration in my RO/DI unit. So far so good, but can get costly over time.

Reefcam if you are using carbon in your ro/di unit. PO4 should not be a problem since the carbon oin ro/di units primary function is the removal of chlorine and chloriames that would damage the ro membrane. Once the water passeds thru the ro membrane and the DI filter any po4 should have been cught by the di resins. if your o/di water is still showing PO4 the problem might be in the di resisn themelves.

[reefcam]

apophis924, I completely agree with you on the DI will remove any phosphate, but if the carbon doesn't leech any PO4, then that will be one less element the DI will need to remove.

I'm also using carbon in my tank and also run Phosban, but would prefer if Phosban is removing PO4 that I'm adding as a result of feeding and not because I'm running carbon. If they are claiming PO4 free, then I would expect the PO4 release to be very very low. SeaChem claims to be very low in PO4 release, < 0.000001, which to me says, your Salifert test kit will not detect it, cause I don't have a scientific grade test kit.

Aged Salt, will do. I think I'm going to let the carbon sit for 48 hours like I did initially with the HBH carbon.

I just wonder if any have thought of using Purigen in their RO/DI unit.

[GSchiemer]

Don't be so quick to assume that your RO/DI unit will remove inorganic PO4. Many do not. The RO membrance won't remove it and most DI resins do a poor job because it's weakly ionized.

Greg

[Aged Salt]

Interesting post, Greg, thnx. How do you prepare your reef water? Bob