Since this thread has popped up I have been doing so thinking on other causes for the problems and also doing a little reading on the subject.
Let me explain what carbon dosing really is.
Carbon can get consumed rather fast in a reef aquarium and can become a limiting factor in our aquarium for the growth of bacteria. Bacteria require carbon, nitrogen and phosphates to survive. With carbon dosing we are trying to increase the amount of carbon so there is a increase in the amount bacteria in the system.
Bacteria then provide food for some corals and can get skimmed out removing some of the phosphates.
I think imbalances can happen in the aquarium when carbon dosing .. Do people monitor their phosphates and nitrogen.. Could these other things be getting to low like phosphate and nitrogen which coral also need to live?
Another issue is the bacteria it’s self. If it grows to fast it can remove allot of oxygen from the water. Especially in the beginning.
Also there can be bad bacteria in a reef. Carbon dosing can increase the amount of this bacteria. This could help accelerate bacteria infections on coral like the brown jelly infection. How about cyanobacteria? Seen a rise in the amount of this in people tanks lately.
One issue I have is I think too many people use carbon doing as a crutch instead of proper husbandry. I really see too many people suggesting other people use this method when they should look elsewhere first.
Dave Polzin
