Carbon Brand?

[ianward]

Just out of curiosity.
What do you think is the best brand? Money no object.

Ian Ward

[seagirl]

i'll tag along on this one too, i read some have phosphate in them, so i'm curious which ones don't and are the best to use in a reef.

[michaeldaly]

I think all of the decent brands are mre or less equal, that being said I use either, sechem, HBH or Auqa clear(Hagen).

[ianward]

I personally just switched from Black Diamond to Kent mostly because the kent is much easier to handle (less messy).
I can also get Seachem.
Ian Ward

[pjf]

Carbon media is often activated with phosphoric acid. This was the case with the carbon media in my Kold Ster-il unit. The first several gallons of filtered water registered phosphate levels on my Salifert test kit. After 30-50 gallons, the phosphates were rinsed away.

We cannot pre-rinse our sump-installed carbon media with 30 gallons of pressurized water. So detectable phosphate levels are unacceptable.

If anyone has tested their carbon media for phosphates, will you please post the results? What is the best way to test for phosphates in the carbon media? Should we soak the media overnight in water and measure phosphate levels with an aquarium test kit?

[pjf]

Here's what Wikipedia says about phosphoric acid that may be used in the production of activated carbon:

“Chemical activation: is the other method used for the preparation of activated carbons, which involves impregnation with chemicals such as acids like phosphoric acid or bases like potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide or salts like zinc chloride, followed by carbonization process at temperatures in the range 450-900°C.� (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Activated_carbon).

When I discovered that my Kold Ster-il unit tested positive for phosphates, Poly-Bio-Marine’s response was: “All food grade (NSF / US FDA) approved activated carbon have a slight Total phosphate (Ortho + Hydrolyzable + Organic) throw of 50 part-per-billion (0.05mg/L) for the first 30-50 gallons.�

The following review is old (1997) but it does show phosphate levels in 17 different samples of activated carbon: http://web.archive.org/web/200303151...ct/default.asp

[HowardW]

I like Seachem Matrix carbon because its small spherical shape makes it less likely to packing and chanelling and is well suited for water flow. I am also told that while ALL carbons will leach small amounts of phosphates, Seachem is one of the lowest.

[Henry Bowman]

There was a lenghty thread on the Chemistry forum regarding this subject. IIRC Randy Holmes-Farley uses the ML Black Diamond due to its near 0 phosphate levels.

[ianward]

Thanks guys an gals (seagirl?)
I was just curious to see what else is working for you all.
Cheers