Phoenix Gravity vs. Black Berkey® Elements: What’s the Difference?

If you’re comparing Phoenix Gravity vs Black Berkey for a Berkey® gravity-fed system, the short answer is that both are black filters designed to replace the upper elements in compatible units, but they differ in certification, testing data, media formulation, rated capacity, flow rate, and current stock and distributor availability. For existing Berkey® owners and prospective buyers choosing reliable replacement water filters for drinking water from tap water or another water source, those differences determine which option is the better fit.

The two products serve the same general role in gravity-fed filtration without electricity, but they are not identical, and the distinction matters if you want dependable filtration for sink or tap water, clear documentation behind performance claims, and a realistic sense of what each filter is meant to handle.

Below, we compare NSF certification, independent laboratory testing, filter media composition, gallon life and cost, flow rate, compatibility with Berkey® systems, and the availability issues tied to Black Berkey® elements, including EPA-related claims and stock questions that have pushed many buyers to consider Phoenix.

Phoenix vs. Black Berkey® Water Filters at a Glance

Certification and laboratory testing are not interchangeable. Phoenix has current NSF listings for specified configurations, while its laboratory reports address additional contaminant-specific testing. Black Berkey® has a history of independent third-party testing rather than a comparable current NSF product certification.

The NSF Certification Difference

The most straightforward formal difference is certification.

There are two distinct NSF listing levels to understand. First, the Phoenix Gravity New Millennium Edition Filter Element PGF9-2 itself is currently listed by NSF under NSF/ANSI 42 in the filter-cartridge component category for chlorine reduction and taste-and-odor reduction. NSF notes testing to 4,000 liters for those claims.

Separately, Travel Berkey®, Big Berkey®, and Royal Berkey® systems featuring Phoenix Gravity New Millennium Edition™ Filter Elements are listed under NSF/ANSI 42 for chlorine reduction and taste-and-odor reduction, with a listed 1,050-gallon service cycle. Those configurations are also listed under NSF/ANSI/CAN 372 for lead-content requirements.

These standards have specific scopes. An NSF/ANSI 42 listing should not be interpreted as certification for every contaminant-reduction claim associated with the element. Likewise, NSF/ANSI/CAN 372 concerns the lead content of materials and components that come into contact with water; it should not be presented as certification that the element reduces lead in the water.

The certification also applies to the specified system configurations identified in the listing. In other words, a Phoenix element fitting a particular gravity-fed housing does not automatically mean that the same NSF certification applies to every system or configuration. The current Berkey replacement information distinguishes physical compatibility from certification coverage.

Black Berkey® has a different certification and testing history. Published Berkey documentation describes independent third-party laboratory testing, including testing conducted using recognized NSF/ANSI protocols. Testing to a protocol is not the same as NSF product certification.

Availability has also been affected by EPA enforcement under FIFRA. EPA issued Stop Sale, Use, or Removal Orders to certain Berkey distributors and related parties beginning in late 2022 and 2023; an EPA docket for Berkey International LLC shows an order filed on May 8, 2023. Berkey-related parties have challenged EPA’s treatment of the products in federal court. For a fuller chronology, see our Berkey EPA situation update.

How the Laboratory Testing Compares

Certification is only one part of the comparison.

Both products have extensive laboratory documentation, but the reports were produced at different times, under different test conditions, and for different sets of substances. That makes a simple “200+ versus 200+” comparison less useful than it first appears.

Historical Berkey documentation describes Black Berkey® Elements as tested against 200+ typical contaminants, with published reports covering categories including heavy metals, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, VOCs, trihalomethanes, PFOA, and other substances.

Phoenix publishes testing data for over 200 contaminants and categories, including PFAS compounds, heavy metals, VOCs, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and other chemicals. Black Berkey® has a longer-published history of independent testing, with reports covering a broad range of substances. The overlap includes heavy metals, PFAS, and pesticides, and the published records suggest a broadly comparable contaminant-reduction profile, even though the methodologies are not sufficiently identical to declare a single-number winner.

The important point is that “200+” is not a standardized head-to-head score.

Results can also change depending on the testing setup, including:

• the substance being tested

• starting concentration

• water chemistry

• test method

• flow conditions

• test volume

• detection limits

• the point at which the sample was collected

For that reason, saying one element “handles more contaminants” based solely on a headline number would oversimplify the available documentation.

Phoenix and Black Berkey® Use Different Media

Another real difference is the filter-media formulation.

Phoenix manufacturer documentation identifies premium CTC-60 coconut-shell activated carbon as part of its media formulation. The media mixture is molded and sintered under controlled compression and heat to form a dense, porous filter structure. The manufacturer does not publicly disclose every ingredient or proportion in the formulation.

Black Berkey® uses a proprietary multi-media blend formed into a compact filter matrix. The Berkey Knowledge Base describes that formulation as proprietary and does not provide a public list of individual media components.

Phoenix identifies specific components of its construction, while Black Berkey® documentation describes its media formulation as proprietary. Phoenix documentation also states that its filters reduce contaminants such as heavy metals and chemicals while allowing naturally occurring minerals to pass into drinking water. There is no need to speculate beyond what the manufacturers disclose.

Capacity: Black Berkey® Has the Higher Stated Rating

Capacity is easier to compare because both products publish a gallon rating.

Black Berkey® Elements are rated for approximately 3,000 gallons per element, or 6,000 gallons per set of two under the manufacturer's stated conditions. The Berkey Knowledge Base recommends replacement at approximately 3,000 gallons per element.

Phoenix Gravity New Millennium Edition™ Elements are designed for approximately 2,750 gallons per element, or 5,500 gallons per set of two.

That gives Black Berkey® a stated capacity advantage of about 500 gallons per pair, or roughly 8.3%.

Do not confuse Phoenix's designed replacement capacity with its NSF certification service cycle. The manufacturer recommends replacement at about 2,750 gallons per Phoenix element, while the separate NSF/ANSI 42 system listings for Travel, Big, and Royal Berkey® configurations show a 1,050-gallon service cycle for the listed chlorine and taste-and-odor claims.

Capacity should be viewed as a guide, not a target to guarantee equal service life for all households. Actual service life may vary depending on factors such as water conditions, water usage, maintenance, and the number of installed elements.

Flow Rate and Everyday Use

Phoenix currently lists a maximum flow rate of approximately 4.2 gallons per hour per pair, measured with the upper chamber filled to the top. The manufacturer notes that flow decreases as the water level falls.

Element condition, water level, priming, and maintenance can also affect flow in actual use. Do not use the published figures to make general statements about the relative speed of one element over another, as there is no direct comparison of the two elements tested under identical conditions.

Compatibility With Berkey® Systems and PF-2® Elements

Phoenix Gravity New Millennium Edition™ Elements and Black Berkey® Elements are designed for standard stainless-steel gravity housing systems used in compatible Berkey-style units, with the filters fitting into the top chamber and each element stem secured through the chamber base with a sealing washer and wing nut. Phoenix Gravity New Millennium Edition™ Elements are designed to fit Berkey® gravity-fed systems, including Go Berkey®, Travel Berkey®, Berkey Light®, Big Berkey®, Royal Berkey®, Imperial Berkey®, and Crown Berkey™ systems. Phoenix also states that its elements are compatible with most other brands of gravity-fed systems.

Physical compatibility does not necessarily mean the same NSF certification applies. The current listing identifies the Travel, Big, and Royal Berkey® configurations as those covered by the applicable Phoenix NSF listings.

Phoenix and Black Berkey® primary elements can be used with compatible Berkey PF-2® Fluoride and Arsenic Reduction Elements. PF-2® elements are separate post-filters, not replacements for the primary elements. Phoenix documentation also states that Phoenix and Black Berkey® Elements can be used together in compatible systems. When they are mixed, the manufacturer instructs users to use the Phoenix capacity and contaminant-reduction performance expectation for the combined setup rather than the Black Berkey® rating.

Which Differences Matter Most?

The better choice depends on which factor matters most for your situation:

• Want current NSF listings? Phoenix has applicable listings for specified Travel, Big, and Royal Berkey® configurations.

• Want the higher published capacity? Black Berkey® has the higher stated rating.

• Want a longer historical testing record? Black Berkey® has a longer published history of independent third-party laboratory testing covering a broad range of substances.

• Need a currently available replacement? Phoenix is the current primary replacement option described here.

The distinction between certification and laboratory testing matters most when evaluating each product's documentation. Phoenix has current NSF listings for specified configurations, while Black Berkey® has a longer published history of independent third-party testing. Neither testing history should replace checking the specific claims, test conditions, and certification coverage that apply to the product and configuration you are considering.

No single specification determines which element is right for every system. Check the certification that applies to your configuration, review the relevant testing documentation, and then consider capacity and current availability.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Bottom Line

Phoenix Gravity New Millennium Edition™ and Black Berkey® Elements serve the same general role, but they are not interchangeable in terms of published specifications and documentation. Phoenix currently has NSF listings for specified Berkey® configurations, while Black Berkey® has a longer-published history of independent third-party laboratory testing.

When considering a replacement, consider these factors for your system: certification coverage, relevant laboratory documentation, published capacity, and current availability. Most of all, confirm that the element is physically compatible with your system and review the certification and performance documentation that applies to the specific configuration.