No carbon media and reef is thriving
- Thread starter kuansreef
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shovelrider
Active Member
Do you run socks to catch debris?
mcarroll
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- Virginia
Carbon is definitely not a requirement for growing coral - it's a cleanup tool much like GFO, etc. 
I keep my bio-load very reasonable in my tank, so my water never takes on any color. Water change water is visually indistinguishable from newly mixed water. Depending on your set up, there's no reason yours can't be the same.
For those trying to keep a heavy bio-load, carbon can be useful to clear up color, odor and even some aspects of nutrient accumulation.
If you are going to use carbon, use a little and change it frequently vs using more or leaving it in for long periods. When the water looks clear and smells clear, there's no need to treat with carbon - trust your senses! Ignoring this usage advice (and overdoing it) is where most harm from carbon comes from. Anything is potentially harmful if you overdo it. Part of "Nothing good happens fast in a reef tank..."
-Matt
I keep my bio-load very reasonable in my tank, so my water never takes on any color. Water change water is visually indistinguishable from newly mixed water. Depending on your set up, there's no reason yours can't be the same.
For those trying to keep a heavy bio-load, carbon can be useful to clear up color, odor and even some aspects of nutrient accumulation.
If you are going to use carbon, use a little and change it frequently vs using more or leaving it in for long periods. When the water looks clear and smells clear, there's no need to treat with carbon - trust your senses!
Ignoring this usage advice (and overdoing it) is where most harm from carbon comes from. Anything is potentially harmful if you overdo it. Part of "Nothing good happens fast in a reef tank..."-Matt
Sugo
Active Member
Carbon is definitely not a requirement for growing coral - it's a cleanup tool much like GFO, etc.
I keep my bio-load very reasonable in my tank, so my water never takes on any color. Water change water is visually indistinguishable from newly mixed water. Depending on your set up, there's no reason yours can't be the same.
For those trying to keep a heavy bio-load, carbon can be useful to clear up color, odor and even some aspects of nutrient accumulation.
If you are going to use carbon, use a little and change it frequently vs using more or leaving it in for long periods. When the water looks clear and smells clear, there's no need to treat with carbon - trust your senses!
-Matt
Great advice!
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