best carbon?

Until now I've been using Seachem Matrix Carbon in a phosban reactor for my tank. It has worked very well, but is quite pricey. I notice that Marineland's Black Diamond carbon is much cheaper. Does anyone have experience with these and can anyone give me their opinion on whether Black diamond carbon is as good?

 

Seachem Matrix is by far superior for those who run carbon passively in a filter bag. The flow characteristics are the reason that it is shaped the way it is. However, if you're running carbon actively in a reactor, you'll like Black Diamond a lot as it is one of the best out there.

Click on chart to enlarge

 

Great information, Inwall! Now one further question. I actually have 2 phosban reactors. In the past, I have run carbon in one, and chemipure elite in the other for further purification and phosphate removal. If I am going to run Marineland carbon in the one, what would you run in the other for phosphate absorption? I like chemipure elite, but again, very pricey. Just want to be aware of my alternatives.

 

Both Marineland Black Diamond or Seachem Matrix are good enough carbons that they should do a great job at removing DOC's. Chemi-Pure Elite is a mix of carbon and phosphate remover. I don't really think you need to double up on the carbon so I would go for a phosphate remover only in the second reactor. Phosban, Rowaphos, Phoslock, etc. There's many brands. I would stick with the Iron oxide based ones (brown vs white).

 

Great! Thanks again.

 

Just to add to what was already said there's a lot of info out here (click on the products) and pretty cheap, high quality carbon.

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