what type of carbon is the best?

r0bin · 01/11/2007, 12:53 PM

I was wondering what types of carbon you guys favor? There are several out there and I want to try something new. I was thinking of using Seagel by Sechem, b/c it has a phosphate remover in it also. I have been using chemi-pure, but the bags I can but locally really aren't large enough for by tank size, but 2 bags won't fit into my magnum filter. Also, my water doesn't smell very clean.

D659600 · 01/11/2007, 01:05 PM

Magnavore makes this stuff called Pura Complete. It is awesome. They make Pura Phoslock, Pura Nitartelock, Pura Carbon and Pura pads. They come pre bagged so you dont have to bag it yourself.

HippieSmell · 01/11/2007, 01:08 PM

Black Diamond is a good brand, and I heard the stuff Wal-Mart carries is re-branded BD.

TexasPete · 01/11/2007, 01:15 PM

I like black diamond.

TimTen · 01/11/2007, 01:23 PM

another Vote for Black Diamond.

btkrausen · 01/11/2007, 01:25 PM

while we're on the subject of carbon, does anyone know why everytime I run carbon, my skimmer goes crazy. Most of the time it overflows the cup, and then I have to run the bubbles really low to prevent the cup overflowing. I was using Black Diamond, in a small mesh bag.

r0bin · 01/11/2007, 01:32 PM

Is it ok to run Black Diamond 24/7? Thats how I run my chemi-pure. Also does anyone use the Seagel? Just wondering b/c it seemed like a novel thing to have the phosphate remover in it. Thanks as usual guys.

btkrausen · 01/11/2007, 02:03 PM

I use a PhosBan reactor running PhosBan, and it drops my phosphates to 0. i just run that whenever they start building up. i can't run my carbon for 10 minutes without the skimmer going berzerk.

Hal · 01/11/2007, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by HippieSmell
Black Diamond is a good brand, and I heard the stuff Wal-Mart carries is re-branded BD.

If you look at the Wal-mart label, their carbon comes out of the same plant/location as black diamond, and is packaged identically. The carbon itself looks the same (size, shape).

Who's to say whether the Black Diamond people have "seconds" carbon that they box for Walmart. Personally, the Walmart stuff has worked fine for me, and it's 1/4 the price. I'll take my chances that the only thing different is the label.

Nano Chris · 01/11/2007, 03:27 PM

I use Matrix Carbon a bit more expensive but worth it. Second would be BD.

dippin61 · 01/11/2007, 04:06 PM

matrix. i like it cuz it's spherical

frederickk · 01/11/2007, 05:43 PM

I use Black Diamond in a phosban reactor (two littlefishies) in my second sump and that way the skimmer doesn't go nuts. I also run a second phosban reactor with Rowa in it.

Tank is doing well.

01/11/2007, 12:53 PM	#1
r0bin Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Earth Posts: 1,132	what type of carbon is the best? I was wondering what types of carbon you guys favor? There are several out there and I want to try something new. I was thinking of using Seagel by Sechem, b/c it has a phosphate remover in it also. I have been using chemi-pure, but the bags I can but locally really aren't large enough for by tank size, but 2 bags won't fit into my magnum filter. Also, my water doesn't smell very clean.

01/11/2007, 01:08 PM	#3
HippieSmell Occupy Reef Central Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Orbiting Posts: 4,141	Black Diamond is a good brand, and I heard the stuff Wal-Mart carries is re-branded BD. __________________ Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like bananas. Current Tank Info: 78"x36"x27" acrylic, 6 Orphek Atlantik V3+ Compacts, MRC Orca Pro II w/washdown, CalcFeeder Pro AC3, Emperor Aquatics 80w UV, 80/20 aluminum stand, Vortech MP60's, Theiling Rollermat, GHL Profilux 3.1T EX, Kessil H380

01/11/2007, 01:25 PM	#6
btkrausen Fish Hoarder Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Bardstown, KY Posts: 1,033	while we're on the subject of carbon, does anyone know why everytime I run carbon, my skimmer goes crazy. Most of the time it overflows the cup, and then I have to run the bubbles really low to prevent the cup overflowing. I was using Black Diamond, in a small mesh bag. __________________ Marineland 220 Build in Progress

01/11/2007, 02:03 PM	#8
btkrausen Fish Hoarder Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Bardstown, KY Posts: 1,033	I use a PhosBan reactor running PhosBan, and it drops my phosphates to 0. i just run that whenever they start building up. i can't run my carbon for 10 minutes without the skimmer going berzerk. __________________ Marineland 220 Build in Progress

01/11/2007, 03:27 PM	#10
Nano Chris Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 2,758	I use Matrix Carbon a bit more expensive but worth it. Second would be BD. __________________ Chris ------- 34 Gallon Red Sea Max 130! Setup (Just got back into the hobby) Current Tank Info: 34 Gallon RedSeaMax!

01/11/2007, 01:05 PM	#2
D659600 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Blue Springs MO Posts: 199	Magnavore makes this stuff called Pura Complete. It is awesome. They make Pura Phoslock, Pura Nitartelock, Pura Carbon and Pura pads. They come pre bagged so you dont have to bag it yourself.

01/11/2007, 01:15 PM	#4
TexasPete Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Dallas Texas Posts: 73	I like black diamond.

01/11/2007, 01:23 PM	#5
TimTen Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Alameda, Ca Posts: 557	another Vote for Black Diamond.

01/11/2007, 01:32 PM	#7
r0bin Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Earth Posts: 1,132	Is it ok to run Black Diamond 24/7? Thats how I run my chemi-pure. Also does anyone use the Seagel? Just wondering b/c it seemed like a novel thing to have the phosphate remover in it. Thanks as usual guys.

01/11/2007, 04:06 PM	#11
dippin61 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oregon Posts: 1,897	matrix. i like it cuz it's spherical __________________ Reefers Law: It can take about 48 hours to brown, and 48 weeks to color back up! Current Tank Info: 55 Gallon BB Low Iron Glass, Dual 110w VHO Actinics, 250w PFO MH 20k XM

01/11/2007, 05:43 PM	#12
frederickk Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 2,712	I use Black Diamond in a phosban reactor (two littlefishies) in my second sump and that way the skimmer doesn't go nuts. I also run a second phosban reactor with Rowa in it. Tank is doing well.