Dr Randy Carbon dosing help

[JUSKIDN]

So I took your advice Dr Randy and dosed my 55 gallon with 10ml vinegar daily spread out over the day for the last 7 days. As you can see nitrate and phosphate have dropped with no water changes. Should I continue with the 10ml daily this week or increase.

Current readings tonight
Nitrate 13.1
Phosphate 0.00
pH 7.7

Thank you Sir. See pics for readings through the week.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

So I took your advice Dr Randy and dosed my 55 gallon with 10ml vinegar daily spread out over the day for the last 7 days. As you can see nitrate and phosphate have dropped with no water changes. Should I continue with the 10ml daily this week or increase.

Current readings tonight
Nitrate 13.1
Phosphate 0.00
pH 7.7

Thank you Sir. See pics for readings through the week.

I'm not Randy, but you do not want 0 phosphates. Your nitrates are rather low as well, but I don't know what you started with. I think you can (and should) stop carbon dosing for now... maybe see what your numbers look like in 5-7 days and go from there.

 

[piranhaman00]

Carbon dosing doesn’t work after only 7 days

 

[JUSKIDN]

The pics above are dated to show the parameters as the week progressed. I thought the concept was to get to the level you want and then dose that much with a dosing pump to maintain? Sorry new at this and was just was trying to take some of his guidance to cut down on so many water changes. I appreciate any input. Using Hanna checkers BTW.

 

[bushdoc]

When I look at the recommended starting dose of vinegar, it seem that 10ml daily for 55 gal tank is higher than recommended dose.
I agree that it usually it takes a bit longer then a week for carbon dosing to start working and that nitrates are perfect now and phosphates should not be 0.
Perhaps decreasing dose of vinegar or even stopping would be the best method of action.

 

[JUSKIDN]

I went with the 10ml recommended by Dr Randy for my size tank and it appears to be working. Hoping he will chime in with recommendations.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I’d stop dosing if phosphate is undetectable for whatever reason.

 

[JUSKIDN]

I’d stop dosing if phosphate is undetectable for whatever

 

[JUSKIDN]

So last night after water tests I did a feeding of reef roids. I did not dose vinegar and this evening just checked parameters with Hanna and they are as follows:

Salinity 1.026
Temp 77.6
Mg 1450
Ca 433
ALK 10 (I used BRS calculator and dosed 78ml soda ash)
pH 8.0
NO3 26.0
PO4 0.17

any thoughts or recommendations?

 

[bushdoc]

Dose less roids and less frequently, obviously they are not consumed fast enough by your corals.

 

[JUSKIDN]

I only feed reef roids once a week on Sunday by targeting. One of the provided scoops with about 15ml water

 

[xmjxflipx]

I’d stop dosing if phosphate is undetectable for whatever reason.

Randy I wanted to ask in regards to phosphate does adding live mud which helps with microbial diversity and microfauna contain some level of phosphate which can increase the phosphate level in a tank after dosing or adding it

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Randy I wanted to ask in regards to phosphate does adding live mud which helps with microbial diversity and microfauna contain some level of phosphate which can increase the phosphate level in a tank after dosing or adding it

It can, yes. Any calcium carbonate surface will also do that: bind and release phosphate as water levels rise and fall.

 

[JUSKIDN]

I got a dosing pump for my vinegar dosing to be more consistent. My tank in 54.5 gallons and using Hanna Checkers.

Oct 16 readings
NO3 20.1
PO4 0.24
Started with 10ml daily 7a-7p

Monday Oct 23 readings
NO3 24.1
PO4 0.33
Mg 1370
Ca 382
ALK 10.9
pH 7.7
Salinity 1.025 @ 78.2 degrees
Increased dosing to 15ml daily.

Oct 26 readings today
NO3 25.0
PO4 0.32

Should I just continue at 15ml daily or what?

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

I got a dosing pump for my vinegar dosing to be more consistent. My tank in 54.5 gallons and using Hanna Checkers.

Oct 16 readings
NO3 20.1
PO4 0.24
Started with 10ml daily 7a-7p

Monday Oct 23 readings
NO3 24.1
PO4 0.33
Mg 1370
Ca 382
ALK 10.9
pH 7.7
Salinity 1.025 @ 78.2 degrees
Increased dosing to 15ml daily.

Oct 26 readings today
NO3 2.0
PO4 0.32

Should I just continue at 15ml daily or what?

Please stop dosing! You're chasing numbers and that's never good. What problem are you trying to solve??

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Please stop dosing! You're chasing numbers and that's never good. What problem are you trying to solve??

Also, the coral I see in your tank need higher nutrients... You're risking starving them. If you're worried about it, feed less.

 

[JUSKIDN]

Please stop dosing! You're chasing numbers and that's never good. What problem are you trying to solve??

You have to read the start of this I’m trying to lower nitrates and phosphate and cut down on water changes. I just did a recheck of that NO3 and it’s 25.0 so other first reading must have been an error.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

You have to read the start of this I’m trying to lower nitrates and phosphate and cut down on water changes. I just did a recheck of that NO3 and it’s 25.0 so other first reading must have been an error.

You need to understand that your nitrates and phosphates are not high! I read some of your other threads and it seems like you've been chasing numbers for a few years... Stop testing so much and let your coral tell you if there's a problem.
And trying to reduce water changes is fine, but really, why? It's one of the simplest ways to maintain your tank. If it's just that you're tired of doing the work, then stick with soft corals that prefer dirty water. Again, nitrates of 25 are not high!

 

[JUSKIDN]

You need to understand that your nitrates and phosphates are not high! I read some of your other threads and it seems like you've been chasing numbers for a few years... Stop testing so much and let your coral tell you if there's a problem.
And trying to reduce water changes is fine, but really, why? It's one of the simplest ways to maintain your tank. If it's just that you're tired of doing the work, then stick with soft corals that prefer dirty water. Again, nitrates of 25 are not high!

I’ve just started with corals earlier this year and always had fish only so just trying to do what others on here are saying. I thought the goal was to get nitrates down as low as possible and keep consistent with whatever method is doing it.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

I’ve just started with corals earlier this year and always had fish only so just trying to do what others on here are saying. I thought the goal was to get nitrates down as low as possible and keep consistent with whatever method is doing it.

Oh, my... no. The goal is not to eliminate your nutrients. The goal is for stability. If your fish and corals are happy, then don't change anything. *Within reason of course... If you test weekly- or better, monthly- and see a clear trend of nitrates/phosphates rapidly climbing or falling, then that's the time to consider intervening.