Do you carbon dose?

[WrasseyReefer]

Do you carbon dose? If so, what do you use? What volume do you dose and in how many gallons? Do you also dose phosphates? Do you think carbon dosing has been useful? Have you had any negative effects from carbon dosing?

 

[bureau13]

I was dosing vodka for a while in my 240, I was ramping up the dose per the recommendations I found online, however the nitrates never really came down, and I had what I can only assume was a significant algae bloom, so I stopped. I might give it another try, but I'm not sure yet.

 

[WrasseyReefer]

I was dosing vodka for a while in my 240, I was ramping up the dose per the recommendations I found online, however the nitrates never really came down, and I had what I can only assume was a significant algae bloom, so I stopped. I might give it another try, but I'm not sure yet.

Maybe try a different reagent for carbon dosing in the future. Might have better luck with something other than vodka. I use nopox and have had great success with it reducing my nitrates.

 

[vtecintegra]

60% vodka/40% vinegar. 11ml a day into 120g. It's done more for nitrate than phosphate. Working ok for me and simpler than running a refugium or scrubber.

 

[WrasseyReefer]

60% vodka/40% vinegar. 11ml a day into 120g. It's done more for nitrate than phosphate. Working ok for me and simpler than running a refugium or scrubber.

Just curious, why the mixture? I dose nopox and don’t have experience dosing vodka or vinegar.

 

[vtecintegra]

Nopox is vodka and vinegar according to others, with some water. If you want to make your own, https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/nopox-recipe.322503/ I anticipated dosing more than I am, and shifted the balance to more vodka, not wanting to lower my pH with the vinegar. So far I'm not dosing much, so I doubt it would matter if my mix was closer to nopox.

 

[UtahReefer]

I've been using the Aquaforest System. Keeps my PO4 at .02 - .03, NO3 between 2 and 3ppm.

 

[0MNSH1ZLLC]

Switched from the Petco brand of carbon to Redsea and the difference is unreal. Absolutely worth the additional cost.

 

[bushdoc]

I found that my maricultured and original ocean Live Rock harbor enough nitrifying and denitrifying bacteria to lower my Nitrates to the level when I occasionally had to add Nitrates.
I used to dose vinegar with mixed results, it lowered nitrates, but I had one instance of heterotrophic bacteria bloom. It works well, but you have to be vigilant not to overdo it.

 

[TheSheff]

Switched from the Petco brand of carbon to Redsea and the difference is unreal. Absolutely worth the additional cost.

I think you're thinking of the wrong carbon lol. Carbon dosing refers to things like vinegar, vodka, sugar, etc. that feeds the bacteria in our tank which in turn lowers out nutrients.

 

[TheSheff]

I only carbon dose when I need it

 

[0MNSH1ZLLC]

I think you're thinking of the wrong carbon lol. Carbon dosing refers to things like vinegar, vodka, sugar, etc. that feeds the bacteria in our tank which in turn lowers out nutrients.

LOL, my bad...yes then I have dosed with NoPox, Vibrant, etc but I prefer just changing the water. Rather than have additives that mess with my ORP.

 

[Dbichler]

I dose 30 mls of diy nopox daily and phosphate dose just to not bottom then out. You have to dose phosphate if it’s not bringing nitrates down has been experience. Yes I’ve had bacterial blooms when finding the right amount. 60 mls was that number and cut in half now my nitrates sit around 15-20. 210 gallon tank with 40b sump.

 

[14 foot reef]

Do you carbon dose? If so, what do you use? What volume do you dose and in how many gallons? Do you also dose phosphates? Do you think carbon dosing has been useful? Have you had any negative effects from carbon dosing?

1) Yes I carbon Dose
2) Tropic Marin NP Bacto Balance, tried many others, best consistancy and less negative with TM Bacto Balance
3) I dose 17ml per day - .8 ml 20 times per day from 12 noon to 6:00pm
4) my system is 850 gallons
5) I do NOT dose pO4
6) When I stop carbon dosing, both nO3 and pO4 both rise beyond my limits I want (.1 pO4 & 10 nO3 is my target)
7) When not using TM Bacto Balance, I find huge imbalances in pO4 and nO3

 

[Gribbles]

I used to dose carbon but my ph already runs low-ish (7.8 to 8.15 daily)

Is dosing carbon worth lowering it even further?

 

[rtparty]

NP Bacto Balance or Elimi-NP depending on my mood lol. Usually depends what bottle I grab as I am feeding the tank

 

[WrasseyReefer]

I used to dose carbon but my ph already runs low-ish (7.8 to 8.15 daily)

Is dosing carbon worth lowering it even further?

Carbon dosing lowers my pH as well, so I use a CO2 scrubber to counteract the lowering effect.

 

[Gribbles]

Carbon dosing lowers my pH as well, so I use a CO2 scrubber to counteract the lowering effect.

What if you still ran the scrubber but didn't carbon dose Your ph would be even higher!

Seriously for those reef veterans, what are your takes on the cost vs reward for my case (carbon dosing when ph is already a struggle)?

 

[14 foot reef]

I used to dose carbon but my ph already runs low-ish (7.8 to 8.15 daily)

Is dosing carbon worth lowering it even further?

Here a great way to minimize PH drop, advice from @Randy Holmes-Farley

Carbon Dosing Tropic Marin Bacto Balance

Been looking into pH trends from my Apex lately and noticed something that happens exactly the same everyday. I dose 14,000ml of Kalk from a Avast marine K-2 Kalk stirrer from 10pm until 11:59 am the next day. My light cycle runs from 10:00am to 10:00pm with that kalk dosing schedule my pH stays...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[UtahReefer]

Yep sure do, have for many years. Previously used the Zeovit System on a 180g SPS system with great success. Moved across country so that tank came down about 8 years ago. Currently use the Aquaforest System on a 100g IM with a 57g sump. I can easily maintain my PO4 at .02 to .03, NO3 at 2 to 3ppm and that's with feeding a lot. I feed fish three times per day, corals every night, and dose amino's over a 24 hour schedule.