Black Diamond Carbon

[Ralph ATL]

I have 2, TLF reactors in series that I change out both every 2 weeks. The first 1 has the carbon, the second has phosar/ROWA. From what I understand, this is about as best as you can get concerning carbon as a function of removing crap from your water. However, I read somewhere that it also leaches the most phosphates? Without trying to get an endorsement, which brand do you use?
Ralph

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I use Marineland Black Diamond.

 

[dadonoflaw]

i used black diamond and had undetectable phosphates using a salifert kit. i now use the lignite from bulkreefsupply.

 

[packer]

I am just now using Warner Marine GAC (lignite) with good results. I used Seachem Matrix prior and did like it. I went to ESV once between the Seachem and my present Warner, and did not care for it as much as Seachem or now the Warner Marine.

 

[m2434]

Tends to be fairly dusty, you'll need to rinse it a bit, but other than that works great.

 

[Trotter]

Aren't they all dusty? I use Black Diamond also.

 

[m2434]

Black Diamond seems to be more so than others IMO, but works great regardless.

 

[mixed_reefer]

I have seen soooo many people say black diamond was the way to go, that i went and bought an 80 ounce jug. Turns out i confused something.

I was like how can soo many people love this stuff, it has so much dust that i have to soak it in a bucket and do like 5 water changes before i use it. I just went and looked I got some stuff called black magic super activated carbon. I guess i failed to realize magic/ diamond and grabbed the wrong stuff. Im jealous now, i want to try the black diamond.

 

[Boomer]

You are best not to soak any GAC but run it under a faucet in a mesh bag and tumble it as you rinse it for 2-3 min.

 

[Ralph ATL]

Thanks for everyone's input! I'll stay with black Diamond!

 

[mixed_reefer]

I soak it in ro/di. This is wrong? Why?

 

[Ralph ATL]

I release about a gallon of water when I put it in my reactor.

 

[DrBegalke]

I am using super activated carbon from API. I have used black diamond in the past and find the API version to be just as good and for roughly the same price I can get more then twice as much of the API brand:

http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewI...ies_Filter_Media_Chemical_Carbon~vendor~.html
http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewI...ies_Filter_Media_Chemical_Carbon~vendor~.html

 

[Billybeau1]

I use Matrix by Seachem. But have used Black Diamond in the past.

 

[Boomer]

I soak it in ro/di. This is wrong? Why?

It needs to be rinsed, which removes the fines and other substances much quicker. Soaking does not do all that much.

 

[sabbath]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11624444#post11624444 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Boomer
I soak it in ro/di. This is wrong? Why?

It needs to be rinsed, which removes the fines and other substances much quicker. Soaking does not do all that much.

I always thought using RO/DI water was the way to go. Are you saying to use tap water to rinse carbon/GFO...

 

[m2434]

RO/DI is great, but the water needs to pass through the carbon with enough velocity to remove the dust. Soaking dosn't do this regardles of the water.

 

[Fraggle Rock2]

I use Black Diamond because it's 50% off after Christmas here. I recently picked up some ROX carbon from bulkreefsupply.com and my last GAC change I put some of both into my TLF reactor.

Whether it's working or not, I have no idea.

 

[Boomer]

I see no issue with tap water, I did it for 30 years. RO/DI would be better if you hooked up a bucket to a power head with a hose or a gravity feed from a bucket. As I and m2434 stated, soaking just does not cut it. You need pressure of some kind to wash it out. Carbon needs to be rinsed not soaked.

Fraggle

Oh it is working alright and much better.

 

[mixed_reefer]

Thank you for the input, i will try that the next time i run it. I was swishing it and stirring it with a large spoon but i was using alot of ro/di water to get it clean...