Solid Carbon Dosing - Bio-Pellets vs Bio-Cubes

More and more people are beginning to use carbon dosing to reduce nitrate and phosphate in both freshwater and marine aquariums. Carbon dosing involves adding an organic source of carbon to encourage the growth of bacteria that consumes nitrate and phosphate along with the carbon source.

The benefits of reducing nitrate and phosphate includes the reduction or elimination of nuisance algae, better coral growth, more vibrant colours and with the increased population of bacterioplankton, it can also provide a food source for many corals and invertebrates.

While there are liquid forms of carbon dosing, solid carbon dosing has gained a reputation for being the easiest method to use. Popular Solid Carbon Dosing products include NPX bio-pellets and Nitra-Guard bio-cubes.

Bio-pellets have been around the longest and therefore tend to be the most popular. They are designed to be placed in a chemical reactor so they can be tumbled vigorously. This is achieved using a power head or water pump. The flow rate will require some adjustment as the bacteria accumulates in the reactor and as the pellets are consumed. As a result the reactor tends to require regular attention.

The Nitra-Guard Bio-cubes are more effective and offer a simpler approach. They are designed to be added to a filter media bag with air bubbled through an air stone located at the bottom of the media bag. The air is provided by a small air pump and the bag can be simply placed in your sump. They are perfect for those who don't want the hassle of dealing with a chemical reactor.

While both products work well, for those who are new to Solid Carbon dosing, we recommend using the Nitra-Guard Bio-cubes because of their ease of use.