Aqua Medic Carbolit

• Removes discolouration, turbidity and odours – the standard job for carbon in a running system.
• Clears medication residue – run it after a treatment course to strip out what's left before returning fish or invertebrates to the display.
• pH-neutral – won't push pH around the way some cheaper carbons can.
• Pellet form, not powder – easier to rinse, less prone to dusting the tank on first fill, and simple to bag or load into a reactor.
• Fresh and saltwater safe – one product across both setups.

The two pellet sizes do the same job. The 1.5 mm pellet packs more surface area into the same volume for slightly faster initial action; the 4 mm pellet is easier to rinse clean and less likely to work its way through a coarse media bag. Either works loaded into a reactor or a media bag in the filter or sump.

Aqua Medic does not publish an exact dosage rate per litre for Carbolit, so none is stated here as if it were their figure. As a general guide used across activated carbon products in the hobby – not an Aqua Medic-specific number – many reefers start around 100 g of carbon per 100 L of tank water and replace it every 2 to 4 weeks, introducing new carbon gradually rather than all at once, since a large dose can shift water chemistry quickly enough to stress corals. Treat that as a starting point to adjust from, not a fixed rule.

Suitable for: ongoing water polishing, post-medication clean-up, and general odour and discolouration control in both freshwater and marine systems.

Not suitable for: removing ammonia, nitrite or nitrate – carbon is not a biological filter substitute for those; it also won't remove dissolved copper or heavy metals reliably, so don't rely on it after a copper treatment.

• Rinse pellets under running water before use to clear dust.
• Replace on a rolling schedule rather than leaving it in indefinitely – spent carbon can start releasing what it's absorbed back into the water.
• Run carbon in a bag or reactor with reasonable flow through it, not a dead spot in the sump.

• Aqua Medic Multi Reactor Gen II – a media reactor sized to run Carbolit with proper flow through it.
• Red Sea Filter Media Bags – for running Carbolit loose in a sump or canister without a reactor.

Covered by Aqua Medic's standard manufacturer warranty against defects, in addition to your rights under Australian Consumer Law. Ships as a standard parcel.

What's the difference between the 1.5 mm and 4 mm pellet?

Both are the same activated carbon; the pellet size differs. The 1.5 mm pellet has more surface area for its volume, while the 4 mm pellet is easier to rinse and less likely to escape a coarse media bag. Either works well in a reactor or bag.

How much do I need, and how often do I replace it?

Aqua Medic doesn't publish an exact dosage figure for Carbolit. As general practice across activated carbons, many reefers run roughly 100 g per 100 L and replace every 2 to 4 weeks – use that as a starting point and adjust to your system rather than treating it as fixed.

Will this remove ammonia or nitrate?

No. Activated carbon targets dissolved organics, discolouration and medication residue – it isn't a substitute for biological filtration or nitrate export.

Can I use it straight after a copper-based medication?

Don't rely on carbon to clear copper reliably. Use a water change and, if needed, a product specifically rated for metal removal before returning sensitive livestock.