Seachem Purigen or Carbon (Granular Activated Carbon) - Which is a Better Filter?

that Reef Guy · Jan 30, 2015

Seachem Purigen or Carbon (GAC Granular Activated Carbon) - Which is a Better Filter?

I have included a Poll so please Vote on which one you like better and Post Why you like the product you picked below.

Here are two links for both of the products.

Please click on them for more info.

Seachem. Purigen

Filter Media Aquarium Carbon Black Diamond | Marineland

gtbarsi · Jan 30, 2015

They do different things, you really can not compare them.

BetURWrasse · Jan 30, 2015

use both

LetItReef · Jan 30, 2015

Can you use both of these product at the same time? I am just using GAC now and my water is clear. If it is ok to use both of them at the same time what will Purigen act as? I am taggin' along.

that Reef Guy · Jan 30, 2015

gtbarsi said:
They do different things, you really can not compare them.

What are the Differences?

BetURWrasse · Jan 30, 2015

I've been using Purigen, carbon and PhosGuard for 5 months and everything looks great. Tried just running ChemiPure Blue and everything went to crap. Now I run everything and the tank is fine. When I say everything I mean carbon, Phosguard, chemipure blue, and phosguard.

that Reef Guy · Jan 30, 2015

The reason that I posted this Thread was because I read some posts that stated that Carbon caused Corals to Fade in Color (Especially SPS).

And I have a few SPS that do not look like other people's SPS that I know.

So I wanted to stop Carbon and maybe replace it with Purigen.

Has anybody tried this with Success?

Or would Purigen just cause Corals to Fade in Color too?

BetURWrasse · Jan 30, 2015

You don't want to do that, they work in different ways. All my corals look great including my SPS. Just search on this site, you will find your answer. I did

that Reef Guy · Jan 30, 2015

Rsaalman said:
You don't want to do that, they work in different ways. All my corals look great including my SPS. Just search on this site, you will find your answer. I did

What do I not want to do?

Please elaborate.

Don't try both at the same time like someone stated?
Don't stop using Carbon to get SPS to Color Up?
Don't use Purigen?

What are you referring to?

BetURWrasse · Jan 30, 2015

As I stated earlier, use both. They work in different ways. This has been covered in multiple threads, I know because I researched them all before putting in my Purigen with my Carbon. Carbon gets changed every two weeks and purigen every few months. SPS like very clean water.

KorD · Jan 30, 2015

I use perigen in my 10 gal or less tanks... it keeps things more leveled out I feel so i'm not testing the water levels. I have had good results with the stuff.

that Reef Guy · Jan 31, 2015

Rsaalman said:
As I stated earlier, use both. They work in different ways. This has been covered in multiple threads, I know because I researched them all before putting in my Purigen with my Carbon. Carbon gets changed every two weeks and purigen every few months. SPS like very clean water.

So you have noticed any of your SPS Fading in Color from the Carbon?

I have talked to a few people that are anti-carbon for this reason.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jan 31, 2015

Purigen and other organic polymers bind organics in somewhat different ways than GAC, but they both bind a lot of organics. Since the types of organic matter bound may be slightly different, using both is a fine plan and may be somewhat preferable to using only one of them.

That said, I've not used Purigen.

46gReef · Jan 31, 2015

I use chemi pure elite and purigen together FWIW.

Aqua fire/medic · Feb 3, 2015

46gReef said:
I use chemi pure elite and purigen together FWIW.

I use to do this with my nano and had good results. I recently shut down my gfo/carbon reactors due to sump space in my 60g cube and switched to chemipure blue. I gotta be honest..... I have seen no negative effects and actually think it's more convenient. This chemipure product contains the gfo as well as something that looks like purigen.

BetURWrasse · Feb 3, 2015

Aqua fire/medic said:
I use to do this with my nano and had good results. I recently shut down my gfo/carbon reactors due to sump space in my 60g cube and switched to chemipure blue. I gotta be honest..... I have seen no negative effects and actually think it's more convenient. This chemipure product contains the gfo as well as something that looks like purigen.

I attempted this a month ago, pulled my Phosguard/Carbon/Purigen and just put in the Blue and the tank went to crap within a week. I just put all the there stuff back in and left the Blue where it was also. Tank looks great now.

that Reef Guy · Feb 4, 2015

Rsaalman said:
I attempted this a month ago, pulled my Phosguard/Carbon/Purigen and just put in the Blue and the tank went to crap within a week. I just put all the there stuff back in and left the Blue where it was also. Tank looks great now.

I heard someone else complain about the new Blue version.

What is causing the problems?

It is designed for Saltwater.

You would think it would do a better job than regular Chemi-Pure?

philfree · Feb 5, 2015

Ive been looking into putting in either Chemipure, purigen, or carbon in my 29g anemone tank. Feel torn on which to do. i have a pretty light bioload (one melanopus clown and a sixline), i feed the fish once a week, and the anemones i feed once maybe twice a week. any suggestions?

Aqua fire/medic · Feb 6, 2015

that Reef Guy said:
I heard someone else complain about the new Blue version.

What is causing the problems?

It is designed for Saltwater.

You would think it would do a better job than regular Chemi-Pure?

I've only heard good things about the Blue. I read somewhere where someone had an ALK swing while using the product, but honestly think it's unrelated. I've had a good experience for the month or so I've been using.