The consciencious marine aquarist.

[CyanoMagnet]

Carbon dosing as a method to cut down on wasted ro/di water and synthetic salts.

Many of you who employ C dosing do so for the sole purpose of putting more food in your tank.

But is it possible to eliminate ,at least partialy , water changes by employing this method? Seems like nirvana to me.

But the guys who distribute that synthetic salt.. well they hate this idea I bet.

 

[lecher]

Removing nitrates and phosphates is not the only reason for doing water changes. It also removes things that we don't test for and replenishes trace elements. That being said many people get away with doing few water changes. These people usually have mature systems with a relatively light bio load. Personally, I change about 5% a week.

 

[snorvich]

Carbon dosing means creating bacteria colonies. That could be good news or bad news, it just depends. Water changes replenish things you do not test for in addition to reduction of things you want to export. Carbon dosing is not nirvana. It has its proponents. But read more before you jump into doing so.