Carbon - Yes or No?

[christyf5]

I run carbon, have for years. Would I ever not run carbon? No. If carbon removes some bad juju out of the water why would I not want to run it. I also do weekly 20% waterchanges when time allows (sometimes bi-weekly or tri-weekly but mostly I stick to the schedule).

Would I not run carbon for short periods of time? Sure why not. Sometimes I'm lazy. Then I think, I should get my act together and put some carbon on there. Makes the tank look better, water clearer etc. I've been in the hobby 10+ years now and frankly I wouldn't run my tank without it, but then there's a lot of things I wouldn't run my tank without that others seem to get by without just fine.

Do I think I need carbon? yes.

Do I think everyone needs carbon? No, because the average time of the average joe in this hobby seems to be about 18 months. I think you can "get by" without carbon for about that time, then the **** hits the fan, perhaps from not using carbon, perhaps from a myriad of other factors.

Do I think everyone should use carbon? Yes. Someone needs to open a window sometime when stuck in a small room with a bunch of people.

And thats my two cents