| Reef aquariums are beautiful structures teeming with | | | | the buildup of metabolic waste released by the |
| life and color. However, they require a lot of care. | | | | organisms inside the reef aquarium. Even with |
| One of the ways to care for them is to use | | | | simulated water movement, the waste is not |
| aquarium carbon to keep the water clean. | | | | washed away from the fish and coral because it has |
| In the vastness of the ocean, there is a natural | | | | nowhere to go. |
| system of waste recycling which involves organisms | | | | Aquarium carbon takes care of removing odor and |
| that process waste. Underwater movement ensures | | | | color. It does this by attracting organic waste matter |
| that waste is washed away from the fish and coral | | | | into its porous surface. Thus, it keeps the water in |
| that produce them and toward the organisms that | | | | the tank clear. It also removes any medication, which |
| process them. Essentially, the water in the ocean is | | | | should not be left in the water for too long, and |
| constantly cleaned and refreshed. | | | | contaminants such as the chemicals corals release to |
| But a reef aquarium is a contained environment. It | | | | fight each other. This results in healthier-looking coral. |
| houses a lot of living organisms like fish and coral, but | | | | A small amount of carbon can do the job of |
| not enough organisms that process waste and keep | | | | removing waste and color pigments. As the carbon's |
| the water clean. Over time, the water can develop | | | | pores fill up with organic waste, its effectiveness |
| an odor and turn yellow, which not only affects the | | | | begins to diminish, so it needs to be replaced every |
| beauty of the aquarium but can be harmful to its | | | | two weeks or when the water begins to turn yellow. |
| living organisms as well. The yellow color is a result of | | | | |