Carbon
 

What brand of carbon do you use and why. :smile: Personally I use Black Diamond but was wondering if there is a cheaper alternative thats just as good. Thanks

Chris, I use Kent because that's what the LFS had at the time. I have thought about switching to black diamond (from Walmart) as it's a lot cheaper.

I was not aware you could buy it at Wal Mart. :smile:

Re: Carbon
 

Don't use carbon unless removing meds from a tank, or to remove toxins from something toxic that has died.

Kent or seachem. Usually latley I use seachem.
Reason-Nice small pellets. :confused:

I'm not sure it is called Black Diamond there, but it IS the same carbon. (I am told).

Black Diamond and I run it continually. It's the only way to remove Caulerpa Toxin's :mrgreen:

I think that Walmart stuff is labeled Marineland carbon. I have read its the same stuff as Black Daimond aswell.

I run Chemi-Pure 24/7 for about 3 month cycles. It's rated at 6 months for my water volume, all though many Mfgs ratings can be sometimes to high/long.

cheers, :mrgreen: Rich

I was wonderin' about the Wal-Mart stuff. I believe it is labelled Marineland. I use Black Diamomd but I bought a container of the Wal-Mart bargain stuff and it's in the same container and I cannot see the difference...? I'll bet it even tastes the same... :rolleyes:

Hey Doug,

I just picked up some of that Wal-mart carbon. It's made by Marineland and it's labeled AQUA-Tech. 4.50$ with tax for 440ml.

Is that good?

PS. You didn't put it in your mouth did you?! :razz: :lol:

I beleive the wal-mart brand is labeled Reagant or Regent one of the two. The walmart in Abby only seems to stock the small jar which is not much larger then a cup. Any one know of a walmart here on the mainland that stocks larger containers?

Jamie,

I got the tiny cup size bottle infront of me and it's got REGENT on it... I guess that's the manufacture. They didn't have the big bottles at the Walmart here :rolleyes:

I have only ever seen the small ones there.. this is what I have been using for 5 years now. I find that size perfect as I use one container per change.

Steve

Out of curiuosity does it even caculate out to be cheaper when buying the small containers vs. the larger ones from a lfs? I've got a container of the BD carbon 3.65L for $35.99 Any one want to figure it out?

What about the stuff you buy at the Grow Stores ?

Someone in the fishroom told me today, 80# sack for $200, anyone ever use this for tanks.


Wendell

So if a 440ml container of the Walmart stuff is $4.50 I guess the Black Diamond is cheaper at $22 with tax for 1.87L. Or am I wrong? :rolleyes:

But for $59 you can get 2 gallon of Kent Carbon or 8 litres.

Thats a better deal.

Only if you like kent carbon and think it works as good or better the the black diamond. I personally don't think it does. Do to the larger size of the kent carbon your covering less water area then the much small BD carbon.

OK, assuming first 2 is with tax and the last 2 were before tax, the AFTER-TAX break down is this:

Walmart 4.50/.440 = $10.23 litre
BD 22/1.870= $11.76 per litre
BD (35.99*1.145)/3.650 = $11.29 per litre
Kent (59*1.145)/8 = $8.44 per litre

The 8 L Kent is the cheapest at $8.44 per litre, followed by the 440 mL Walmart brand at $10.23 per litre, followed by the 3.65 L Black Diamond at $11.29 per litre, followed by the Black Diamond 1.87L at $11.76 per litre.

Wendel,

About that 80lb bag.. if it works we could do a group purchase and divey it up. Saving everyone a lot of money! I don't know if a hydrophonics store would carry high quality activated carbon though? Maybe for those inline house basement air filtration systems though :wink:

Steve,

I agree, the size of those little 4.50$ Walmart carbons are the perfect size for a change. Convienience over savings, eh? :rolleyes:



While we are on the topic, how do you guys rinse your carbon? RO/DI water, tap water...? And are nylon stockings ok to use in the reef tank or what do you guys use?

Nicely done Sam :cool:


Is Black Diamond considered the best?

I use Chemipure in my Aquaclear and Black Diamond in the collection cup of my skimmer to remove odor from the room. If I run out of Chemipure and need something fast, I use the Black Diamond.

Sam,

Do you notice any extra bonus using Chemi-pure over Carbon?

Sorry Jack.

I can't say if there are any real advantages. I haven't actually done any side by side comparisons of the 2.

I do however have Before-Chemipure and After-Chemipure photos though. These pics are under the same lighting and taken probably less than a week apart. Black Diamond might have similar results but I haven't documented anything. I don't use it enough.


http://www.hyperdream.com/~samw/reef...27_img_std.jpg

http://www.hyperdream.com/~samw/reef...32_img_std.jpg

Holy cow. I usually don't run carbon at all but I'm starting tommorow :lol:

I use to run Chemi-pure on my FOWLER but ended up not finding a justifiable reason at the cost of two bags a month. I think with me using the Iwasaki bulbs now on my reef carbon could be a big factor in the "yellow look"

Those are awesome comparison photos.

Black Diamond 24/7.

It would be nice to find a decent carbon that can be purchased bulk @ a decent price. That Kent looks like a decent deal. Is it a dusty carbon?

you can buy the same size at the LFS. I pay about 2.99 for 8oz but the LFS out here charge 8.99 for 8 oz of the same stuff.

Sam this gives me $7.78 per L if I have the add tax but I think the 2.99 is after tax so that dropes it down into the $6.79 /L range

Steve

not as dusty as the seachem. I used to use kent and I had no problems with it. the pellet's are a little on the large size though.

Hey, not fair. Most of us can't get that kind of deal. :smile: If you can get 8oz for $2.99, how much can you get 36oz for?

Back to the first question, usually as you buy larger quantity, it gets cheaper per litre or oz. It looks that way on Big Al's website for example.

how do you guys rinse your carbon? RO/DI water, tap water...? And are nylon stockings ok to use in the reef tank or what do you guys use?

Jack, I use bags I purchase at Dollar Stores, if you can find one...Dollar Stores are as rare as liquor stores in this town :rolleyes: . The bags are intended for filtering the washing machine drain line. They work perfect for carbon.
And to answer the earlier question if I put carbon in my mouth...only if I was out drinkin' the night before. I don't wake up wondering if the cat
$h!t in my mouth... :biggrin:

Haha

Thanks Doug I will check the Dollar Store.

Heres an old carbon comparison if anyones interested http://www.animalnetwork.com/fish2/a...ct/default.asp

I use Hagen power filter carbon bags. Rinse it under filtered well water.