Carbon Dosing Question

piranhaman00 · Nov 4, 2020

Hello,

I started carbon dosing about 3 months ago in a 220 FOWLR. The vinegar is dosing in the first section of the sump with the skimmer. I run two return pumps both go through a 40 watt UV. I am up to about 70mLs of vinegar a day. I increase 6mls each week.

Since starting, my skimmer pulls a lot more junk out of the water (I am assuming bacteria?) but I am also dosing vibrant and reef flux so there is stuff dieing all over.

My nitrates are still not coming down. Should I see some results by now? Is using UV negating the effects? I have to think that even with UV carbon dosing will work might just take more time.

Any thoughts on this? THanks.

TheGerm · Nov 4, 2020

I'd say give it some time...

BUT what are your Nitrates and what is your end goal? Remember that Vibrant also contains vinegar, not sure about reef flux (never used that).

As for UV, when i started carbon dosing, i put my UV on a schedule (comes on when display lights are off). Not sure there are any tangible effects from doing that, but thought i'd add it. I guess it depends on why you are using your UV as well. If mine i off for a week or two, my tangs start to get tiny white spots (ich). Not sure if the UV is preventing it, but when it runs on the schedule i have, tangs are fine.

piranhaman00 · Nov 4, 2020

I keep the UV for disease control. I do QT so the tank does not have ich and I do not add more fish but I just like the insurance in case something were to happen with cross contamination or something.

NO3 is around 50ppm right now, would like it around 10.

piranhaman00 · Nov 6, 2020

Bump.

I am also have big cyano blooms from carbon dosing I believe. However, my nutrients were high 50ppm/5.0ppm. I have since dropped PO4 to near zero.

Will running chemi clean rid the cyano or will it just come back with more carbon dosing? I have no way to reduce nitrate besides water change which is what I am doing, was hoping carbon dosing would be more beneficial.