Nitrates 100+ppm, Need help with Dosing Vodka

[Ashish Patel]

IMO, most foods represent a pretty even balance of N and P, since they reflect the sorts of biomolecules needed by cells.

Thanks Randy, your research and posts are top notch. I am not going to put that much stock in the shrimp but will use little less than I was on my last batch. Last thing I have to try is just build a large ATS but it seems the P dosing is helping. I have a Millie and Pink lemonade clearly loving the tank and showing very good PE at night. These 2 corals where dormant for practically 2 years and that is a good sign NO3 is likely dropping per day. My skimmer is producing 5 gallons of wet skimmate per day so I have to replenish that daily. which i am hoping is just removing

 

[Ashish Patel]

This Mille and Pink Leomonade are very happy. I know it's not fake bc the night time PE is great. I know this is a great sign but still wish more acros follow along.

 

[Ashish Patel]

Last time I checked NO3 it was still 100ppm+. I stopped feeding shrimp 2 weeks ago so interested if I see a difference.

I build this ATS and very happy with it so far. The pump is a bit too strong so going to have to find something more energy efficient

 

[Ashish Patel]

Last time I checked NO3 it was still 100ppm+. I stopped feeding shrimp 2 weeks ago so interested if I see a difference.

I build this ATS and very happy with it so far. The pump is a bit too strong so going to have to find something more energy efficient

 

[Ashish Patel]

Also its time for the Orange Shoulder to go. He knocks over nearly every new frag and even larger chunks of acros from encrusted base. I found a local buyer who's ready but I just have to figure out how to catch this monster. It stinks but will be better for my system that's been a challenge dealing with Nutrients. I am also getting rid of 4 of the large turbo snails. I suspect this alone will start helping me lower NO3

 

[Miami Reef]

A fish trap will be your best friend. I highly recommend this one:

Get size large: https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/asse...TMCyM22d7vtLVIk8MX3ujr3ixoGlBICRoCQDEQAvD_BwE

 

[Ashish Patel]

A fish trap will be your best friend. I highly recommend this one:

Get size large: https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/assembled-acrylic-fish-trap-bubble-magus.html?ab_version=B&utm_term=&utm_campaign=EL+|+ACQ_Prospecting_PMax+|+ROAS+|+Open+Targets+|+High+Margin&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&hsa_acc=7373341438&hsa_cam=17740353356&hsa_grp=&hsa_ad=&hsa_src=x&hsa_tgt=&hsa_kw=&hsa_mt=&hsa_net=adwords&hsa_ver=3&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwi_exBhA8EiwA_kU1MurTQgahEc8dn8uU1Y0K05TMCyM22d7vtLVIk8MX3ujr3ixoGlBICRoCQDEQAvD_BwE

Good one. I was thinking about building one but not sure I have the patients. I just want something that is big enough since this fish is almost the size of the largest option

 

[lmfbs]

Also its time for the Orange Shoulder to go. He knocks over nearly every new frag and even larger chunks of acros from encrusted base. I found a local buyer who's ready but I just have to figure out how to catch this monster. It stinks but will be better for my system that's been a challenge dealing with Nutrients. I am also getting rid of 4 of the large turbo snails. I suspect this alone will start helping me lower NO3

What's the rationale for getting rid of the turbos?

 

[Ashish Patel]

What's the rationale for getting rid of the turbos?

I know they are adding to the NO3 problem. They probably have more mass than all my tangs combined and the amount of poop they leave behind it insanity. Also my NO3 started going up after adding them. Obviously it was overfeeding and fish growing but I think I need to get rid of 50% of the inverts

 

[Ashish Patel]

Tested today. Phosphates are 14ppb (dosing continuously otherwise it bottoms out). NO3 seems to be getting lighter but still has to be 100ppm

 

[Ashish Patel]

Tested NO3 today. Finally feel like I am dropping from 100ppm and between 50-100ppm. Past month I removed 5 large turbo snails. They were massive. Medium apple size. ATS Is finally working and working well. I also did a 25% waterchange.
I have to still catch my Orange Shoulder and remove him.

 

[Ashish Patel]

NO3 still high but this is the first test I actually felt like the purple was slightly lighter than the 100ppm marker, which has never happened. I am currently dosing 34ml vodka per day. I am looking forward to ramping that down bc it creates too much slime on my equipment and reduced PH by alot. I felt when dosing 15ml/day everything just stayed better and I would not even have to dose Phosphates nor worry about slime in the skimmer or pipes

 

[Ashish Patel]

When comparing my last picture of my test it definitely seems to be getting lighter.

 

[SueAubu]

Did I mention to go slow? If you overdose, the bacteria can multiply so quickly that your fish can suffocate - literally. It is not good and has happened to too many folks.

Been there done that... I can only hope my fish were good and drunk when their went to the big reef in the sky because I can't move decimal points...

 

[Ashish Patel]

My ATS after 3 weeks. I am really impressed with the performance thus far.

 

[Ashish Patel]

Success. NO3 FINALLY dropped to 25-50ppm. I tested PO after 1 month and it's af 74ppb. Last month it was 19ppb. I stopped the phosphates dosing so I can test next week and see if It's rising or falling. Hopefully I don't have to add LC later. I think the ATS and removing 5 large turbos surely speeded things up but I am glad that 8 months in I finally feel like everything I've done was a success.

I am Upgrading my skimmer soon to 16" reefoctupus. The 10" was good for the first year but it's proven to be undersized for my system. I am leaning towards this one

Reef Octopus SRO XP-8000-E Recirculating Protein Skimmer

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Thanks to all that helped me on this page.

 

[Ashish Patel]

Time has finally come to cut back the carbon dosing. I got a reading of 25ppm and my phosphates are 5ppb. Which is on the lower side and alot of corals are not really happy since returning from vacation.


I am concerned the nutrients change is for sure affecting them. Cutting back the vodka dosing from 35ml per day will increase the phosphates so I'll have to monitor phosphates more carefully than Nitrates. Any suggestions?

I only test phosphates every 3 weeks right. Bc it's pain so hoping it just stays above a certain amount moving forward. It's very surreal being at a low NO3 after a 9 months Battle.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I would not assume the vodka change will impact phosphate much, so feeding more or dosing phosphate may be desirable.

 

[Ashish Patel]

I would not assume the vodka change will impact phosphate much, so feeding more or dosing phosphate may be desirable.

I am dosing Phosphates continuously but it has dropped from last months when it was 27ppb. today I reduced my vodka to 17ml/day. I will test Phosphates in a few days and see if they go up or down. i suspect they will go up but looking forward to concluding if the vodka dosing is actually reducing them or if its just the ATS or absurd algae growth in the system.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I am dosing Phosphates continuously but it has dropped from last months when it was 27ppb. today I reduced my vodka to 17ml/day. I will test Phosphates in a few days and see if they go up or down. i suspect they will go up but looking forward to concluding if the vodka dosing is actually reducing them or if its just the ATS or absurd algae growth in the system.

Ok, let us know. Algae and the ats are good ways to reduce phosphate, organic carbon dosing, not so much.