Does a Reef Tank Need Carbon?

[Blue Ocean Aquariums]

A good article about Dissolved Organic Compounds (DOC) and use of Carbon in a Reef Tank.

DOC could be cause of the following. If your experiencing these this article will help you out to combat it with larger WC's....................

(1) Persistent hair algae problems despite low nutrient levels,
(2) Some foaming in the sump or in the corners of the tank,
(3) An oily film or cloudy layer on the water surface where even a tank overflow cant seem to get rid of all of it, and
(4) small growths of Cyanobacteria spotting on rocks and the gravel.

https://joejaworski.wordpress.com/2008/05/09/does-a-reef-tank-need-carbon/

 

[touchingstoves]

That was an amazing read! It helped me in understand why certain things were happening in my tank. Thank you for sharing



I like seahorses. I got nothing clever to say. Boo.

 

[lowbudget]

yes and no. i think

 

[touchingstoves]

yes and no. i think

Thoughts on it? I'm curious. My failure to understand the big picture on how carbon plays a factor in my tank really got me thinking. I don't have enough active carbon in my tank that makes a ton of organic waste. (Seahorses are really messy)

I know that the active carbon that I'm using is a quality product (as I bought it at SPS coral), but I realize I'm under dosing.

I hope that some of the small spots of cyano and the sometimes cloudy tinted water start to diminish with just a simple adding more carbon. I mean why not try?!




I like seahorses. I got nothing clever to say. Boo.

 

[crabbysd]

Organic carbon is different than activated carbon.
All life is based upon carbon exchange so carbon is quite important.
the use of activated carbon is generally to remove unwanted compound from the water colom .See carbon water filter. Same principal. However it is actually not necessary to run a reef.
For very good reading google randy holmes farley carbon dosing. In carbon dosing you are directly feedin bacterial colonies in the water and in your sand and corals as well. It promotes a more active cycle and results in cleaner water condition as ther are more healthy bacteria breaking down the poop. Carbon dosing is done by adding vodka, vinegar or sugar to the tank. If you curious as to why take a look at a sugar or alcohol molecule and count the cabon atoms.

Oh last thing there is a difference between organic and inorganic carbon sources.

vodka dosing is organic carbon dosing.


like all things you can overdose even with activated carbon. Its charcoa. Ecosystem the people who invented the miracle mud refugium system began testing an activated carnbon reactor and had major problems. You can find it on you tube. And stopped producing the reactor.

 

[crabbysd]

Hey touchingstoves i like seahorses too.
most cyano is from too much phosphate build up. Most phosphate is fromm food and poop.
For sea horses you probably want a really good skimmer to get the poo out.

Organic carbon dosin could help with that but it is one more thing.