After vodka dosing, How do you keep Nitrate/Phosphate stable?

[Subnautica]

I dosed vodka and nitrate + phosphate went down to zero. I didn't want that so I stopped for a few days, then Nitrate went up to 5ppm then 10ppm. I wonder if I'd have to keep dosing to keep at specific numbers or something?

Some info: Skimmer is still running. No water change done before and after dosing.

 

[anth]

You have to slowly adjust the amount of vodka you dose day by day. It may take weeks to get the right balance just persevere.

 

[Subnautica]

You have to slowly adjust the amount of vodka you dose day by day. It may take weeks to get the right balance just persevere.

So you mean i'd have to keep dosing it (by the right amount) to keep nitrate in check?

 

[csb123]

Every day

You’re fertilizing bacteria, that take up nutrients, which are pulled out of the water by your skimmer.

 

[sam2110]

So you mean i'd have to keep dosing it (by the right amount) to keep nitrate in check?

Yes

 

[anth]

By the sounds of it you have only done one dose so far? If so and it bottomed out your nutrients then it was too much so you will need to re duce your dose. I would start off dosing a small amount and work your way up until no3 starts falling, then when it is in the desired range cut your dose in half and adjust every day from then on untill right.
im at work at the moment but i know of a very thorough guide to this, i will try find it when im home

 

[Subnautica]

By the sounds of it you have only done one dose so far? If so and it bottomed out your nutrients then it was too much so you will need to re duce your dose. I would start off dosing a small amount and work your way up until no3 starts falling, then when it is in the desired range cut your dose in half and adjust every day from then on untill right.
im at work at the moment but i know of a very thorough guide to this, i will try find it when im home

Thank you. No I've been dosing it for 1.5 months now and the nutrients went down to zero after one month. Now I only do 5ml for my 75gal and that's enough to bring down no3/po4 to 0. So I just need to cut it in half or so until I get the desired numbers?

 

[anth]

Instead of cutting it in half you could just take 1ml away and dose 4ml every day for a few days ( just because 5ml is probably close to what u need) then test and if nutrients rise then keep dosing 4ml but if you start to overshoot your goal then add maybe 0.5 ml or so.

 

[anth]

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2008-08/nftt/

 

[BanjoMan87]

I run a 70/30 vodka to vinegar mix along with gfo and a small refugium to keep my nutrients in check. Nitrate stays at 7-10 ppm and phosphate at .03 in a mixed reef with moderate feeding. Bio pellets in a reactor work well for alot of folks but ive yet to try that method. Vodka dosing is a proven method as long as you properly increase the dosage in small increments until you reach the desired results. Overdosing can cause some unwanted bacterial blooms or worse.