Why dissolved organic carbon — and the phenols within it — quietly degrade fish health, growth and FCR in recirculating systems.
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) is a mix of organic compounds that accumulate in the water as a by-product of digestion. In a recirculating system, where water is replaced slowly, these compounds build up over time rather than being flushed away.
Among them, phenols are particularly damaging. As their concentration rises, they place the fish under constant low-level stress — which shows up as poorer growth, compromised health, and off-flavour in the flesh, long before most farmers connect it to the water itself.
If dissolved organic carbon is building up in your system, it typically shows up as:
The link between dissolved organic carbon, phenols and fish performance has been the subject of extensive independent research, conducted as part of a doctorate. We’re making that work available here so that any biologist or scientist can review the evidence for themselves.
We’re preparing the supporting research for publication on this page, so the science behind CarbonClear can be independently verified. Check back shortly, or get in touch if you’d like to discuss it directly.