Aquarium Carbon and Organic Waste

Reef aquariums are beautiful structures teeming with life and color. However, they require a lot of care. One of the ways to care for them is to use aquarium carbon to keep the water clean.

In the vastness of the ocean, there is a natural system of waste recycling which involves organisms that process waste. Underwater movement ensures that waste is washed away from the fish and coral that produce them and toward the organisms that process them. Essentially, the water in the ocean is constantly cleaned and refreshed.

But a reef aquarium is a contained environment. It houses a lot of living organisms like fish and coral, but not enough organisms that process waste and keep the water clean. Over time, the water can develop an odor and turn yellow, which not only affects the beauty of the aquarium but can be harmful to its living organisms as well. The yellow color is a result of the buildup of metabolic waste released by the organisms inside the reef aquarium. Even with simulated water movement, the waste is not washed away from the fish and coral because it has nowhere to go.

Aquarium carbon takes care of removing odor and color. It does this by attracting organic waste matter into its porous surface. Thus, it keeps the water in the tank clear. It also removes any medication, which should not be left in the water for too long, and contaminants such as the chemicals corals release to fight each other. This results in healthier-looking coral.

A small amount of carbon can do the job of removing waste and color pigments. As the carbon's pores fill up with organic waste, its effectiveness begins to diminish, so it needs to be replaced every two weeks or when the water begins to turn yellow.