{"product_id":"aquaforest-carbon","title":"Aquaforest Carbon 1,000 ml and 5,000 ml — Steam-Activated Phosphate-Free Aquarium Carbon","description":"\u003ch2\u003eAquaforest Carbon — steam-activated phosphate-free carbon, in a 1,000 ml pack or 5,000 ml bucket\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCarbon\u003c\/strong\u003e is Aquaforest's high-performance activated carbon, steam-activated — a process that sets it apart from carbons activated with phosphoric acid. Practical outcome: zero residual phosphate released into the tank at startup. Two formats: the \u003cstrong\u003e1,000 ml resealable pack\u003c\/strong\u003e for mid-size tanks, and the \u003cstrong\u003e5,000 ml bucket\u003c\/strong\u003e for big systems, multi-tank setups and frag farms.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAquaforest presents its activated carbon in this official video:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cdiv style=\"position:relative;padding-bottom:56.25%;height:0;overflow:hidden;max-width:100%;margin:20px 0;\"\u003e\n\u003ciframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gP3SVRZORbg\" title=\"Aquaforest Carbon activated carbon for reef aquariums\" loading=\"lazy\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;border:0;\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat Carbon does for the tank\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRemoves dissolved organic compounds\u003c\/strong\u003e — dissolved pollutants, urea, decomposition products.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBetter water clarity\u003c\/strong\u003e — strips tannins and yellow pigments that filter light.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbsorbs coral toxins\u003c\/strong\u003e — many soft corals release competitive allelochemicals.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRemoves treatment residues\u003c\/strong\u003e — disinfectants, medications, dyes.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePhosphate-free\u003c\/strong\u003e — no PO4 contamination at startup.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eAquaforest official use\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDose:\u003c\/strong\u003e 100 ml of Carbon per 100 L (26 US gal) of tank water.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRecommended flow:\u003c\/strong\u003e about 500 L\/h (132 gph) through the media.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRinse with RO\/DI water before installing\u003c\/strong\u003e to flush carbon fines.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRenewal:\u003c\/strong\u003e every 4 weeks to keep maximum efficacy.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSetup:\u003c\/strong\u003e fluidized reactor (AF90, AF110, AF130) or fine-mesh filter bag in the sump.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhich format for which tank?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e1,000 ml pack:\u003c\/strong\u003e ideal for 100-200 L (26-53 US gal) tanks — about 5 to 10 monthly renewals at the official dose.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e5,000 ml bucket:\u003c\/strong\u003e at 100 ml\/100 L renewed every 4 weeks, it covers about 10 months on a 500 L (132 US gal) tank — and over 2 years on a 200 L. Dry carbon stores well: lid tightly closed, away from humidity.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eOur advice\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\"This is the carbon we run ourselves. I recommend not using too much of it at once, and changing it monthly at most. Carbon that sits in a system too long goes from chemical filtration to biological filtration: bacteria clog the carbon's pores and then empty it out — it releases what it consumed, what it filtered — and it becomes a biological filter. Worse, when you finally change it, it hurts your biological cycle, because the bacteria that settled in the carbon aren't anywhere else: they leave all at once. So: use it, and change it often enough.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e— Stéphane, Aquarium ReefSolution, Laval\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy choose ReefSolution\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAuthorized Aquaforest dealer. In business since 1999 — in-store expertise in Laval and delivery across Canada.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/en\/products\/aquaforest-af90-media-reactor\"\u003eAF90 Media Reactor\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e — the small fluidized reactor ideal to load the Carbon.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/en\/products\/aquaforest-af110-media-reactor\"\u003eAF110 Media Reactor\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e — the mid-tier reactor for 200-400 L tanks with a carbon\/GFO double load.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/en\/products\/aquaforest-af130-media-reactor\"\u003eAF130 Media Reactor\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e — the large-volume reactor sized for the 5,000 ml bucket.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently asked questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhy is steam-activated carbon better?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe steam process activates the carbon without phosphoric acid: no PO4 residue at startup. Some budget acid-activated carbons can cause a measurable phosphate rise during the first hours of use — on a sensitive SPS reef, that difference matters.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eHow long does Carbon stay active?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAquaforest recommends renewing every 4 weeks to hold maximum efficacy. Past that, adsorption capacity drops — and carbon left in too long turns into a biological filter (see our advice above).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eCan I use Carbon in a simple filter bag?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes — place the dose in a fine-mesh filter bag in the sump at a good-flow spot, after an RO\/DI rinse. Efficacy is decent, but a fluidized reactor (AF90, AF110 or AF130) optimizes water\/media contact.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eContinuous or intermittent filtration?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBoth work: continuous gives a permanent effect with 4-week renewals; intermittent runs a few days a month to occasionally polish the water. On a mixed tank with competitive soft corals, continuous stays preferable — leather and gorgonian allelopathy calls for fresh carbon.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Aquaforest","offers":[{"title":"1 000 ml","offer_id":38010912112811,"sku":"AF5056","price":22.99,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"5 000 ml","offer_id":47583528583339,"sku":"AF5070","price":99.99,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0513\/7108\/1899\/files\/carbon-mockup_1-kg_1.webp?v=1704650539","url":"https:\/\/reefsolution.com\/en\/products\/aquaforest-carbon","provider":"Reef Solution","version":"1.0","type":"link"}