Question for the Hobbyist-Should I use Carbon or no Carbon in my Reef Aquarium?

I want to start off this post by letting my readers know that running carbon in your reef tank is safe. Whether you choose to do it or not is up to you. I will give a few reasons why it is good and I will also give you some things you need to be aware of. In addition, I will provide you with some source material that will help you to make an informed decision.


Carbon can help in reducing toxins in your water, such as some bad toxins your corals may give off. It can also polish your water, making it crystal clear, and it can keep your water from smelling nasty. 


But you also need to be aware that if you choose to use carbon, you need to change it regularly. Why? Because carbon, once it is 'saturated' with something that it has absorbed, can release it back into the water very quickly. And that, my friends, is something we all want to avoid.


Something else you need to be aware of: cheap carbon can leach phosphates into your tank. If you have carbon already, you can test it by soaking it for a few days in RO, or perhaps distilled water, then do a PO4 test on the water. If your test shows no phosphates then go ahead and use it. Here is an article entitled "Activated Carbon and Phosphates" by Steven Pro - http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ca/volume_4/V4I2/carbon/carbon_comparisons.htm. Steven compares a few carbons available on the market and how much phosphate they have in them.

It doesn't take much carbon to do a good job. As an example of how much, let's say you have a 90 gallon tank, you would only need about 2 or 3 heaping tablespoons of carbon. From this, you can kinda figure out how much to put in your tank.


Hopefully, this post has helped you in your decision to use carbon or not to use carbon. Always do research, keep reading, and keep learning. If you do, your reef tank will be around for a long time to enjoy.