Low alkalinity low calcium low ph low nutrients help

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jul 24, 2015

You're welcome.

Good luck with it!

vpustovoytov · Sep 17, 2015

Hi randy
Can u help to explain N/P ration and how u keep it corrected
I have 0 nitrates but high phosphates

Randy Holmes-Farley · Sep 17, 2015

There are many way to export both N and P, or mostly N, or entirely P.

If you have high phosphate, how you lower it may depend on what you are doing to reduce nitrate.

If you are doing nothing special, hand have high P and low N, then a phosphate binder like GFO may be the best bet.

if you already use something like growing macroalgae or an ATS, it might be that you can lower phosphate by dosing nitrate and promoting the growth of the algae.

vpustovoytov · Sep 18, 2015

I think in my case I need to add nitrates because I have cullepra and cheto in my refugium
Using GFO is not really working for me it gets calcium carbonate precipitations
So my question is where and what type of nitrate I can get to dose
Thanks

Randy Holmes-Farley · Sep 18, 2015

vpustovoytov said:
I think in my case I need to add nitrates because I have cullepra and cheto in my refugium
Using GFO is not really working for me it gets calcium carbonate precipitations
So my question is where and what type of nitrate I can get to dose
Thanks

Here's a thread on dosing nitrate:

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/question-about-spectracide-stump-remover-dosing.213281/

vpustovoytov · Sep 18, 2015

Thank you
I assuming spectracide is safe for reef tank ?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Sep 18, 2015

It appears to be, yes. Certainly the main ingredient is (potassium nitrate).

vpustovoytov · Sep 18, 2015

Thank u

Randy Holmes-Farley · Sep 18, 2015

You're welcome.

Good luck.

vpustovoytov · Sep 21, 2015

Randy can u tell me what vodka Brand u using please and how much I should use it and any precautions I should know about
Thanks

Randy Holmes-Farley · Sep 21, 2015

I actually use vinegar, but for folks using vodka, i'd use the cheapest drinking vodka available.

vpustovoytov · Sep 21, 2015

Is vinegar better

Randy Holmes-Farley · Sep 21, 2015

vpustovoytov said:
Is vinegar better

Overall, maybe not.

In my tank. vodka seemed to cause a bit more cyano when I tried it, and I like the fact that vinegar (acetate) is known to be taken up and used by a very wide range of creatures, including corals. That may benefit them all, and it give a relief valve if bacteria are not taking it all up for some reason.

Also, acetate is perhaps somewhat more natural than ethanol in that it is the largest component of the natural cycling of organics in the ocean.

But people do well and also may sometimes have issues with either one.

vpustovoytov · Sep 21, 2015

Can u tell me please your dosing value for a day

vpustovoytov · Sep 22, 2015

Do u mix vinegar with water becomes if u add pure vinegar it drops ph dramatically
Thanks

Randy Holmes-Farley · Sep 22, 2015

vpustovoytov said:
Do u mix vinegar with water becomes if u add pure vinegar it drops ph dramatically
Thanks

There are two ways I've dosed it to prevent pH effects.

1. Take ordinary full strength vinegar and add solid calcium hydroxide (kalkwasser mix) to it until there are excess solids. The clear, settled solution now will raise pH and can be added all at once as needed.

2. Use a dosing pump to split the doses up throughout the daytime hours.

I started with 1, then switched to 2. 2 has the advantage of spreading out the O2 lowering effect.

FWIW, when dosed slowly, vodka and vinegar will have the same overall pH lowering since the both end up as carbon dioxide. Vinegar just has more of its impact at the start while vodka's comes later.

I've dosed anywhere from 25 to 410 ml per day in my system with about 250 gallons total water volume (120 gallon display).

This has more:

http://reefkeeping.com/joomla/index...ar-dosing-methodology-for-the-marine-aquarium

but the dosing chart is a bit odd, IMO and I wouldn't blindly follow it.

vpustovoytov · Sep 24, 2015

So you mixing about 1 litter vinegar and 2 tsp or 1 tsp of caHO ?
And for how long it can be stored for dosing
Thank u

vpustovoytov · Sep 24, 2015

Hope didn't bother u too much
But u are only I think valuable source of info thank u very much

Randy Holmes-Farley · Sep 24, 2015

The amount of solids that dissolves is quite a bit more than that. Something a bit over 60 grams calcium hydroxide per liter. Just keep adding until no more dissolves and you have excess solids remaining.

With significant excess solids in it, it lasts forever (well, years anyway).