Nitrates/vinegar

[muggle0981]

Anyone does tank with vinegar

was told that helps to control nitrates as well

right now sitting at about 15 for nitrates

Wondering what else can do to manage

limit feeding
Water changes

7 fish in 180 mixed reef of lps and softies

 

[Duffer]

I did it based on the chart below, worked like a charm

 

[muggle0981]

So go vodka route

any ol vodka?

 

[nereefpat]

So go vodka route

any ol vodka?

Any vodka is fine. You do need a skimmer, however.

 

[Spare time]

15ppm is also a decent number that you shouldn't be concerned with.

 

[MaxTremors]

Carbon dosing won’t work if you are phosphate limited, so that may be something to look into. Randy recommends vinegar saturated with kalkwasser (calcium hydroxide), so that’s what I use, it keeps the vinegar from negatively affecting PH (just put several teaspoons in a gallon of vinegar and shake it up periodically, the kalk will settle on the bottom, you can reuse it in your next gallon). 15ppm is almost ideal unless you’re doing an SPS dominant tank, but if you want to lower it more you can up the dose (again need to have enough phosphate), or try running a refugium/algae scrubber (that has been more effective for me than carbon dosing, I do both, but between the two methods, macroalgae is far more productive).

 

[G Santana]

IDK about vinegar but Vodka works. 15 weeks ago I was at 48 on my Hanna checker as if today I'm at 10 and I haven't done any water changes during that time.
I used that schedule posted above.

 

[Dan_P]

Anyone does tank with vinegar

was told that helps to control nitrates as well

right now sitting at about 15 for nitrates

Wondering what else can do to manage

limit feeding
Water changes

7 fish in 180 mixed reef of lps and softies

15 ppm does not qualify as high but if you want a lower concentration, vinegar dosing can bring it down. I wouldn’t starve the fish to manage nitrate concentration.

 

[BroccoliFarmer]

IDK about vinegar but Vodka works. 15 weeks ago I was at 48 on my Hanna checker as if today I'm at 10 and I haven't done any water changes during that time.
I used that schedule posted above.

So what..you just drop a few ML of vodka directly in the tank on a daily basis?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Not a dangerous level and if you want it to be stable, adding a pouch of chemiPure Blue will keep it in check safely while reducing any toxins if present and polishing water clarity

 

[Duffer]

So go vodka route

any ol vodka?

Yep, just make sure it’s 80% proof..it really worked for me

 

[ColoredRock]

Go SLOW and test as you go.



My water volume is 80 +/- I dose 3 mg a day of NOPOX (same idea) .. manually.

phos .003
Nitrate 20.1
for me.. Im just looking for consistency.. on all parms.. still trying to get there.

 

[GARRIGA]

WWC runs nitrates at 20. Don’t think 15 is a concern but do know carbon dosing works.

I prefer using NoPox because it’s a combination of using both vodka and vinegar. Each offsetting the others affect on PH. That’s my understanding and what I’ve seen.

Vinegar alone like any acid will temporarily drop PH and alkalinity. I prefer stability.

 

[G Santana]

So what..you just drop a few ML of vodka directly in the tank on a daily basis?

Exactly, I bought the cheapest Vodka unflavored, no additives and I followed the schedule above.
Below you will see how the nitrates have dropped over time. Today's reading had me at 10. Again, during all these weeks I did not do any water changes.
BTW 16 weeks ago when I started nitrates were at 48.

So what..you just drop a few ML of vodka directly in the tank on a daily basis?

 

[BroccoliFarmer]

Pardon my ignorance...but dosing vodka is a method of 'carbon dosing'. Wouldn't running carbon (as the filter media) get you the same results? Feel like I am missing something.

 

[ColoredRock]

Pardon my ignorance...but dosing vodka is a method of 'carbon dosing'. Wouldn't running carbon (as the filter media) get you the same results? Feel like I am missing something.

2 completely different methods..

Carbon as a solid helps remove particulates from the water.

"Carbon" as a liquid...vodka/ vinegar.. is added as a nutrient to help feed bacteria.

 

[ColoredRock]