Activated carbon amount vs change frequency

[ReefBeta]

Can I use more carbon and change it less frequent?

According to BRS calculator, my tank only need 2 tbsp of activated carbon, change every month. That's too tiny bit to run in any reactor. Can I instead run 8 tbsp and change every four months? Does its math work that way?

 

[DED65]

I think you want to change it more often. The bacteria growth on it will clog the pores rendering it useless. Try the amount specified, you can always add more or less, but I think it should be changed more frequently.

 

[Water Dog]

When I run carbon, regardless of volume, it gets changed every 2 weeks. In my Biocube 29, I also run small amounts of carbon and use an Aquamaxx FR-S nano reactor. It works well for smaller amounts of media.