Coal in your reef tank: Do you use carbon?

[Peace River]

Coal in your reef tank: Do you use carbon?

When it comes to presents you may wistfully stare at your tank and think, “All I want for Christmas is you” or “I want a Hippopus for Christmas”, but what about your stocking? Were you on the naughty or nice list? Will you get coal in your stocking? Ok, you don’t have to answer that, but we would like to know if you put coal in your tank - I mean, in the form of carbon and carbon dosing? Anyone else use a carbon tower for their RODI water? Do you use carbon? Tell us why or why not and share your experiences.

Photo by @Bulk Reef Supply

If you must know, I did actually get a large hunk of coal in my stocking when I was twelve. My dad filled the Christmas stockings that we opened on Christmas Eve and my mom was in charge of the presents that we opened on Christmas morning. I got a train set on Christmas morning, but many, many years later I still remember the coal. I deserved it and my dad got his message across. I made extra sure that I was on the nice list the next year. If you do get coal this year (and a few of you probably deserve it), I hope that it comes in the form of carbon!

 

[Scorpius]

1-3 tablespoons in a mesh bag in my filter sock changed weekly. I have several large leathers and softies.

 

[Kristopher Conlin]

I have carbon and gfo in a reactor. It's always on my tank but not always running. I turn it on maybe twice a month or so as needed when my phosphates creep up. It keeps my water pretty clear running it that often as well.

 

[shakacuz]

does running chemi pure blue count?

 

[SauceyReef]

I am running no carbon or any media! Just chaeto in my mixed reef! I will run carbon for a few days if doing fragging. Check my build thread to under my name!

 

[stoney7713]

Always because you never know when a kid might put their hand or something in the tank.

 

[flagg37]

I have in the past, I’ve just never seen a difference from when I don’t run it.

 

[jft]

I have used carbon and polyfilter for 25 years running and ALWAYS great results across FO Reef tanks Paludariums and Freshwater.

 

[jajasonson]

No carbon. Heard it can cause hlle in tangs.

 

[NabberNate]

For water, just the pellet charcoal that comes in my aquatop uv filter cartridges. I have the ability to run my skimmer output through a sock with carbon but never really saw the need. I have an external air line now that I think could benefit from running through a carbon container.

 

[MoshJosh]

I pretty much always have a bag of chemipure in my filtration. . . I probably don't change it often enough. . . but thats why I always way oversize it.

 

[Sink_or_Swim]

I have used ChemiPure Blue if that counts... I have a few large leathers, and am wondering if I SHOULD be running extra carbon. I have tangs though, so want to make sure it's not one that's been known to contribute to HLLE.

 

[nuxx Verified Sponsor]

One of the fish I got was only because of accident with carbon that slightly disfigured it (healed)...

So I just stayed clear

 

[Manny’s Reef]

I am always running carbon 24/7. Have been in every tank since I started in 2013. Never had an issues.

 

[KQuillan]

I always run a bag of carbon in my canister.

 

[Patientman]

I use carbon about every other month for about a week in mesh bag in sump near return pump ... seems things are happy with the regiment. I get COAL in my Christmas stocking!

 

[A Young Reefer]

Yes I use it.
Why? I have no idea I just got used to using it for many years.

 

[jmichaelh7]

Maybe once or twice a month since I don’t do water changes as frequently

 

[HankstankXXL750 Verified Sponsor]

I always ran it when I first got started in the 90’s. Was told didn’t need to when I got back into the hobby two years ago. But I run it now in tanks just to avoid contamination. Also I carbon dose vodka/vinegar mix if that counts.

 

[ClownSchool]

Recently moved everything into a tank with twice the volume, so I added a carbon bag to the sump to help with any possible ammonia spike associated with only having half the live rock and sand recommended for the new sized tank. I’m hoping it will help the biome until it can gradually grow to meet the larger bio-load.