Phoenix Gravity New Millennium Edition Filters - Black Berkey Element Alternative

Is Phoenix Gravity the Replacement for Black Berkey® Elements?

Yes—as a current compatible replacement option. Phoenix Gravity New Millennium Edition™ Filter Elements are designed to fit Berkey® gravity-fed systems and are currently the primary replacement option available through normal authorized U.S. distribution for customers who previously relied on Black Berkey® Elements.

However, Phoenix Gravity elements should not be described as simply renamed Black Berkey® Elements. The media formulation, designed gallon capacity, flow characteristics, laboratory documentation, and certification status differ.

Why Choose Phoenix Gravity New Millennium Edition™ Filters?

• Current compatible primary replacement option for Berkey® gravity-fed systems
• Officially endorsed by New Millennium Concepts, Ltd.
• Premium CTC-60 coconut-shell activated-carbon-based media
• Approximately 2,750 gallons of designed capacity per element
• Approximately 5,500 gallons of designed capacity per set of two
• Up to approximately 4.2 gallons per hour per pair with a full upper chamber
• Independent laboratory testing for multiple drinking-water substances
• Compatible with Berkey PF-2™ Fluoride & Arsenic Reduction Elements
• Designed to retain ordinary dissolved minerals such as calcium and magnesium
• Not designed to significantly lower TDS
• Re-cleanable during useful filter life
• One-year limited warranty

NSF Certification: Exactly What Is Certified?

NSF/ANSI Standard 42

For the currently listed Travel, Big, and Royal Berkey® configurations featuring Phoenix Gravity elements, the certified Standard 42 claims include:

• Chlorine reduction
• Taste-and-odor reduction

Standard 42 addresses aesthetic effects. It should not be interpreted as certification for every substance evaluated in separate Phoenix laboratory reports.

NSF/ANSI/CAN Standard 372

Standard 372 addresses lead-content requirements for drinking-water system components and materials that contact water.

Standard 372 is not a lead-reduction performance certification. Lead-reduction testing, where discussed, comes from separate laboratory documentation and should be evaluated on its own test conditions.

Phoenix Gravity Laboratory Reports

Yes—laboratory documentation belongs on this page because test evidence is one of the most important questions customers have when comparing Phoenix Gravity with Black Berkey® Elements and other replacement filters. Rather than reproducing every report in the product description, this page summarizes selected results and links to our dedicated test-results library where customers can review the available documentation in greater detail.

When reviewing a laboratory result, pay attention to the substance tested, starting concentration, reported result or detection limit, test conditions, and the number of gallons processed. Results from different laboratories or protocols should not be treated as directly interchangeable.

Independent Testing: Separate From NSF Certification

Phoenix Gravity elements have also been evaluated in separate independent laboratory testing for substances outside the limited scope of the current NSF-listed claims. Those results should be described as independent laboratory results under the documented test conditions, not as additional NSF-certified claims.

These examples are not presented as universal performance guarantees. Test conditions and reporting limits matter, and performance can vary as elements accumulate gallons and encounter different source-water conditions.

What Can Phoenix Gravity Filters Help Reduce?

Independent laboratory testing has evaluated Phoenix Gravity New Millennium Edition™ Filter Elements across several drinking-water categories. Results differ by substance and test condition.

For broader educational information, visit our Drinking Water Contaminants Reference Guide.

How Phoenix Gravity Filter Elements Work

CTC-60 Coconut-Shell Activated Carbon

Phoenix Gravity elements use premium CTC-60 coconut-shell activated-carbon-based media. Activated carbon contains an extensive network of microscopic pores that creates a large internal surface area for adsorption.

Adsorption

Selected chemical compounds are attracted to and retained on internal carbon surfaces. Activated carbon is especially useful for many compounds associated with taste, odor, chlorine-related concerns, and selected organic chemicals.

Particulate Reduction

The dense media structure also helps reduce suspended material such as rust, silt, sediment, cloudiness, and other particulates.

Gravity-Fed Contact Time

Water moves through the elements without electricity or household water pressure. Gravity-fed operation provides contact time between the water and filtration media as water moves into the lower chamber.

Mineral Retention & TDS

Phoenix Gravity elements are not designed for reverse osmosis or demineralization. Ordinary dissolved minerals such as calcium and magnesium generally remain, so a TDS meter may show little or no change after filtration.

Compatible Berkey® Gravity-Fed Systems

Phoenix Gravity New Millennium Edition™ Filter Elements are designed to fit compatible Berkey® gravity-fed systems, including:

• Go Berkey® Kit
• Travel Berkey® Water Filter
• Big Berkey® Water Filter
• Royal Berkey® Water Filter
• Imperial Berkey® Water Filter
• Crown Berkey™ Water Filter
• Berkey Light® Water Filter

The elements may also fit some gravity-fed systems from other manufacturers. For non-Berkey systems, compare element dimensions, stem configuration, mounting-hole size, and available chamber clearance before ordering.

PF-2™ Compatibility & Fluoride Guidance

Phoenix Gravity elements are compatible with Berkey PF-2™ Fluoride & Arsenic Reduction Elements. Install one PF-2™ for each compatible primary Phoenix element.

• 2 Phoenix Gravity elements → 2 PF-2™ Elements
• 4 Phoenix Gravity elements → 4 PF-2™ Elements

Independent April 2026 testing reported a reduction in fluoride from 8.0 mg/L to 1.96 mg/L, equivalent to approximately 75.5% under that specific test condition.

This result should not be interpreted as a sustained fluoride service-life rating. Customers specifically targeting ongoing fluoride reduction should consider compatible PF-2™ Elements and review the applicable PF-2™ testing and replacement guidance.

PFAS Testing

Independent third-party laboratory testing has evaluated Phoenix Gravity elements for their ability to reduce PFAS compounds, including PFOA and PFOS.

PFAS is a broad class of chemicals, and reduction performance can vary significantly among compounds and with challenge concentration, water chemistry, flow, and total gallons processed.

Customers concerned about PFAS should review the available Phoenix laboratory data alongside local water-quality information. For additional context, see our PFAS in Drinking Water Guide.

TDS, Minerals, Hardness & Limescale

Does Phoenix Gravity Lower TDS?

No significant TDS reduction is normally expected because the elements are not designed to remove all dissolved minerals and salts. A TDS meter measures electrical conductivity associated with dissolved ions; it does not directly measure chlorine, PFAS, VOCs, pharmaceuticals, or many other compounds that may be addressed through adsorption.

Does It Remove Beneficial Minerals?

The elements are designed to retain ordinary naturally occurring dissolved minerals such as calcium and magnesium.

Does It Soften Hard Water?

No. Phoenix Gravity elements are not water softeners and are not designed to remove calcium and magnesium, which cause hardness and limescale.

See our guide to what causes hard water and why most water filters do not remove it.

Phoenix Gravity Filter Specifications

Flow decreases as the water level in the upper chamber falls and can also vary with priming, source-water quality, sediment loading, element condition, and maintenance.

Priming & Initial Installation

Proper priming is important because activated-carbon media contain microscopic air pockets that must be displaced with water before normal flow can develop.

1. Wash and dry your hands before handling the elements.
2. Remove the elements from the packaging and inspect the element bodies, stems, washers, and hardware.
3. Prime each element according to the current included instructions.
4. Install the sealing washer in the specified position.
5. Insert the threaded stem through the mounting hole in the upper chamber.
6. Secure the element with the supplied hardware without overtightening.
7. Install blocking plugs in any unused mounting holes.
8. Perform the recommended assembly-verification test after installation.

Improper priming can result in unusually slow flow. Improper installation can allow water to bypass the element through an opening or seal.

Assembly Verification: Red Food Coloring Test

The Red Food Coloring Test helps verify that the elements and blocking points are installed and sealed correctly.

1. Remove PF-2™ Elements before performing the test.
2. Use only the artificial red food coloring specified in the current product instructions.
3. Add the specified amount to water in the upper chamber and allow the system to filter.
4. If the lower-chamber water remains clear, the installed elements and seals have passed the assembly-verification check.
5. If red or pink coloring appears below, inspect the element installation, seals, hardware, and unused openings, correct the issue, and repeat the test.

The Red Food Coloring Test is an installation check. It does not measure reduction of every substance evaluated in laboratory testing.

Cleaning & Maintenance

Phoenix Gravity elements are designed to be re-cleanable during their useful service life.

1. Remove the filter elements from the system.
2. Use cool running water.
3. Clean the exterior according to the current included maintenance instructions using the recommended method.
4. Do not use soap, detergent, bleach, or household cleaners on the filtration media.
5. Rinse thoroughly.
6. Reprime if required.
7. Reinstall with seals and hardware correctly seated.
8. Repeat the assembly-verification test when appropriate.

What Can Affect Filter Life?

The designed service life is approximately 2,750 gallons per element, but actual useful life can vary.

• Source-water quality
• Chlorine or chloramine concentration
• PFAS, VOC, or other adsorbable-compound concentration
• Sediment, rust, and turbidity
• Water hardness
• Daily water consumption
• Cleaning and maintenance
• Flow conditions
• Storage practices between uses

Water with high sediment levels may require more frequent surface cleaning, while higher concentrations of adsorbable compounds can deplete carbon capacity more quickly.

When Should Phoenix Gravity Filters Be Replaced?

Replacement is appropriate when one or more of the following applies:

• The applicable designed gallon capacity has been reached
• Cleaning no longer restores acceptable flow
• The element body, base, or threaded stem is physically damaged
• The element has been exposed to inappropriate cleaning chemicals
• There is concern about contamination during storage or handling

Tracking approximate household filtered water usage can make replacement planning easier, but source water conditions and actual use should also be considered.

Softened Water & Salt Water

Why Buy Phoenix Gravity Filters From The Berkey?

The Berkey has been an authorized Berkey® dealer since 2016. As replacement options evolve, our goal is to provide customers with clear information on compatibility, current availability, test documentation, and the differences between Black Berkey® and Phoenix Gravity elements.

• Authorized Berkey® dealer since 2016
• Current compatibility guidance for Berkey® systems
• Direct access to Phoenix laboratory results
• Clear distinction between NSF-listed claims and separate independent testing
• Guidance for PF-2™, system compatibility, and replacement timing

Frequently Asked Questions

A Current Replacement Option for Berkey® Gravity Systems

Phoenix Gravity New Millennium Edition™ Filter Elements provide Berkey® owners with a current replacement path, including clearly documented media, capacity, compatibility, independent testing, and specific NSF-listed system configurations.

For customers transitioning from Black Berkey® Elements, the most important point is not that Phoenix is “the same” filter—it is that Phoenix is a current compatible alternative with its own specifications, testing, and certification story.