Do you always run carbon if you keep gorgonians?

[Amelanchier]

Hi all,

My subject line pretty much says it all. If you keep gorgonians:

1) Do you run carbon?
2) What other corals do you have in your tank?

Thanks!

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

I have a now large gorgonian in my tank that needs trimming, I dont run carbon. I have lots of other corals close to it, it doesnt bother anything. Its a pretty easy coral, medium light, medium to higher flow.

Any reason you think you need carbon for gorgonians?

 

[maleks.reef]

Ive had carbons since the day i started my tank but recently I have ran out and didnt have time to buy more. My tank is 30% leathers and a few lps and other softies. Everything looks ok despite the lack of carbon. However I am still a believer that carbon is very important in a reef tank and i will be getting more when I can.

 

[Amelanchier]

Thanks! It’s less that I think one definitely has to run carbon with gorgonians and more that I’d like to hear people’s experiences/see if it is necessary.

I’ve read lots of vague references to running carbon for chemical warfare with softies, and gorgonians are sometimes mentioned as being particularly “bad”. I’ve also found several TOTM threads where the tank had gorgonians and carbon. I’d like to add a photosynthetic gorgonian or two to my new tank which currently only has ricordea. Just trying to see what others have found to be helpful before I try so I can hopefully avoid making an obvious mistake.

 

[maleks.reef]

Thanks! It’s less that I think one definitely has to run carbon with gorgonians and more that I’d like to hear people’s experiences/see if it is necessary.

I’ve read lots of vague references to running carbon for chemical warfare with softies, and gorgonians are sometimes mentioned as being particularly “bad”. I’ve also found several TOTM threads where the tank had gorgonians and carbon. I’d like to add a photosynthetic gorgonian or two to my new tank which currently only has ricordea. Just trying to see what others have found to be helpful before I try so I can hopefully avoid making an obvious mistake.

The toxins released by softies are really not as bad as people make them out to be. They may or may not slow down other corals growth, but thats all they can do as far as i know. Again, i do encourage you to use carbon either way, not only for the toxins but for anything else that found its way into the tank. Goodluck!

 

[Grsfish]

I have mainly soft coral in my tank and a few Lps and sps and I have 7 different kinds of gorgonians and don’t run carbon. No problems as far as I can see

 

[Amelanchier]

Thanks for sharing your experiences everybody!

 

[<*]]]<]

I haven't found a need to use carbon and my gorgs are growing great (Enicea, Pseudopterogorgia elisabethae and Muricea elongata). Stablemates in the tank are a torch, a hammer, a frogspawn, tubipora and zoas. I find them to be the most undemanding of corals and look healthy no matter what changed I make to the tank.

Hi all,

My subject line pretty much says it all. If you keep gorgonians:

1) Do you run carbon?
2) What other corals do you have in your tank?

Thanks!

 

[AcroNem]

Photosynthetic gorgonians aren't very demanding, and will likely do just fine whether you run carbon or not. I run carbon in every system, but specifically speaking about Photosynthetic gorgonians you likely wouldn't see a difference in an otherwise stable system.