Carbon

What exactly does carbon in filters do for your tank?

 

Helps to remove DOC (dissolved organic compounds) that would otherwise pollute your water. A lot of the DOCs that carbon removes will reduce the "yellowing" of water due to excess suspended particles/nutes.

Also, if you have leathers, zoas, or certain other corals in your tank you will need to run carbon as these corals exude certain toxins which are not tolerate by other inhabitants of the tank.

In addition, the carbon provides a HUGE source of surface area for benificial bacterial colonization.

 

Removes dissolved organics so they don't degrade into Nitrogenous compounds, removes yellowing agents so that water is clear, removes coral and plant defensive toxins, removes medicines after treatment is done.

 

LOL

M Ocean Man, I think your answer is better.

 

Well thats a very good thing! would it be safe to run a carbon bag in my filter as well as the carbon filled filters?

 

It is a very good thing krg212

but if your running your carbon passively and not tumbled in a reactor
the problem with running to much of it, is that you get no extra benefit
the bags clog up, as do the pores in the carbon and water flows over and around rather than through in this situation
bacteria then colonise this carbon and it becomes more biological in its ability to filter, than chemical.

using a cup of carbon per 50 gallons of water, and changing it once every 4 weeks, or when you notice the water is starting to get discolored when you look down your tank sideways, is a more effective option, than adding to much carbon, that you only partially get the benefit from

Steve