Carbon Grade

[jchakraborty]

How to select the best grade of Carbon for my carbon reactor. How can I make sure that I'm unnecessarily paying for the carbon I buying from a vendor is of superior quality.

 

[Bogue Chitto]

I got some from Dr. Foster and Smith, can't remember the name but it is packed in a bag, not a box. It has no phosphates in it. Check that one out. I have used it for quite a while with good results.

 

[jraker]

use some BRS ROX 0.8 carbon. that stuff is good.
http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/bulk-premium-rox-0-8-aquarium-carbon.html

either that, or marineland's black diamond carbon will work great.

what kind of reactor do you have?

 

[brewtus]

I also use brs never had a prob

 

[d-man]

Brs +1

 

[KingTriton1]

Seachem Matrix

 

[jayball]

Seachem Matrix

That does not serve the same purpose as Carbon. Matrix is just to house nitrogen cycle bacteria.

 

[srope]

+2 on brs rox 0.8.

 

[Indymann99]

BRS RoX, it rinses clean in about 2gallons through my BRS reactor.

 

[C.Eymann]

use some BRS ROX 0.8 carbon. that stuff is good.
http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/bulk-premium-rox-0-8-aquarium-carbon.html

either that, or marineland's black diamond carbon will work great.

what kind of reactor do you have?

Black Dimond is no where near the quality of ROX.

I personally use vertex ROX. 20$ for a liter, not bad imo

 

[Syntax1325]

I don't think it is possible with 100% certainty to know that you are purchasing the best performing carbon for the money, unless you have the ability to perform some kind of scientific experiments that can determine the efficiency and potency of a particular carbon. I guess you are at the mercy of the manufactures claims and other hobbyist experiences.

Fwiw, I used to use Seachem Matrix but have switched to large particle lignite from BRS to save a few bucks. I can not tell a difference in performance between the two carbons, they both seem to last about the same time, 10 days, in my tank. I'm sticking with the lignite due to cost savings. My tank seems to be doing just as well with the lignite as it was with the Matrix, I don't see a difference in the general health of my tank between the two.

1.25 cups of lignite takes a little less than 3 gallons of water to rinse clean in a phosban 150. For comparison, the Matrix took 1.5 gallons to rinse clean.

Never had experience with Rox; however, you need to make sure your reactor can hand the tiny particle size or be able to come up with diy solution... it's very small.