Nutrient control question......

[Gwitness]

Carbon dosing is actually a good food source and stimulus for bacteria to grow, multiply and consume nutrients.. The bacteria literally eats the nutrient to survive.. But you increasing the bacteria count massively by providing the food source for them to live multiply and proliferate..

And the skimmer (a very effective one is needed) pulls the excess nutrient and food that the bacteria doesn't consume. That's why there is a very distinct color, look and an unmistakably sickening smell to carbon dosed skim..

Lol, that's another thing to look out for.. Your skim is going to smell horrible..

And there are different bacterial strains that live in different environments. And some, like in a pellet reactor, are much more concentrated and numerous.. Most that I have used like zero at, Dr Tims, etc are multi strained. Goes back to diversity..

Okay got it.....I'm gonna start dosing 20 ml a day of the vinegar todAy....do I treat the vinegar dosing same as I did nopox??? Do I dose for a couple days and then check phosphates and nitrates?? And if they lower do I lower my dosage or something?? How do I know how much to dose accordingly to what my nitrate and phosphates are reading on the tests??

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Okay got it.....I'm gonna start dosing 20 ml a day of the vinegar todAy....do I treat the vinegar dosing same as I did nopox??? Do I dose for a couple days and then check phosphates and nitrates?? And if they lower do I lower my dosage or something?? How do I know how much to dose accordingly to what my nitrate and phosphates are reading on the tests??

Treat the vinegar dosing exactly as you would the NOPOX, except perhaps spread it out more in time due to the pH drop on dosing. If that is too much of an issue, you can add calcium hydroxide directly tot he vinegar to prevent any pH drop at all (which may be best when manual dosing).

That said, there are many ways to go about it. If you are a measuring sort of person, keeping track of nitrate and phosphate is a fine way to control the dosing.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Hmmnnn.. Thought provoking.. Really.. Mine Dont accumulate per Se, to that level, however, with this little tidbit you have dropped (at least on me), it makes so much sense.. Because I tend to employ an all type of methodology to fight phosphate.. Gfo and I use phosguard for silicate. But, with gfo randy, help me understand something.. I kind of think I know the answer, but I need confirmation.. I fed heavy nori, larrys and pe mysis, mixed up with selcon, a little nls pellet and more nori (I have three nice sized tangs, a FoxFace, and a wrasse that eats nori.. Even my file fish munchies on it), with these types of combinations, though, I have always utilized pellets, for example, with brs gfo (honestly, any gfo for that matter.. I always have to use a little more.. The phosphate stays low, but, I am just wondering, after you said this, if this is why?

As you know, I employ the crazy sodium light in the fuge, gfo, and also I place a tiny bit of kalk in my top off water to bring the ph up (to precip the phosphate out). Is there anything else I could be doing? I have always wondered this.. And oh, general question on gfo.. If say, you have a 5" diameter reactor, versus, say a 7" diameter reactor, would the larger diameter reactor work better with tumbling the gfo due to its increased surface area? I find myself running gfo really slow and have thought about this many, many times and never asked.. I'm curious would a larger reactor be more effective with media since it's more thinly spread out to resist channeling? I am wondering if it would be more effective in its reaction with the gfo?

Sorry dude for derailing, but randy just shared some heaviness...

Lots of food will necessitate lots of N and P export somehow (or incorporation into growing tissues that stay in the tank, such as macroalgae, corals, etc.).

I really do not know the engineering optimizations for GFO, but I'd worry that if a reactor diameter got too large, that some of it might just compact itself and only have water flowing through a part of it.

IMO, a smaller reactor with GFO replaced more often might not be any less desirable than a larger reactor.

 

[Gwitness]

Treat the vinegar dosing exactly as you would the NOPOX, except perhaps spread it out more in time due to the pH drop on dosing. If that is too much of an issue, you can add calcium hydroxide directly tot he vinegar to prevent any pH drop at all (which may be best when manual dosing).

That said, there are many ways to go about it. If you are a measuring sort of person, keeping track of nitrate and phosphate is a fine way to control the dosing.

Okay got it thanks....so really ill dose 20ml a day, 10 in morning and 10 at night and then if my nutrient readings get too low on test kits then I lower the dosage....sorry to kinda repeat myself but I just want to make sure I'm gonna do this right [emoji3] thank you for the help

 

[Gwitness]

By the way...Thank you everyone for the input, advice, and I just really appreciate everything so far!!

 

[Gwitness]

Just stopped at home and I did 30 gallons yesterday and siphoned sand and the sand is already turning brown again.....should I do another 20 to 40 gallon water change today??

 

[Damon]

Nope, I wouldn't.. Let the tank and bacteria do its thing.. It may look ugly for a little bit (and don't be down because it happens), but it will work "itself" out as long as your doing the right things and keeping it stable..

 

[Damon]

Lots of food will necessitate lots of N and P export somehow (or incorporation into growing tissues that stay in the tank, such as macroalgae, corals, etc.).

I really do not know the engineering optimizations for GFO, but I'd worry that if a reactor diameter got too large, that some of it might just compact itself and only have water flowing through a part of it.

IMO, a smaller reactor with GFO replaced more often might not be any less desirable than a larger reactor.

And with the reactor, that's my main concern with top small of a diameter. Because on my tank, I add 8 oz of the BRS hc gfo. I'm concerned, that instead of it flowing through all of the media, that it might be channeling. Just because of the depth.. It's usually like 3" thick.. I was thinking, spreading it out, more shallow, it might be easier to get more media in contact?

Lol, as goofy as it sounds, the most difficult time I have is with gfo. I have used the tlf reactors and now, the Avast mr5.. I love the reactor, but was just wondering this.. Maybe I will pose this to Avast and see what they say, sharing my findings..

 

[Gwitness]

Nope, I wouldn't.. Let the tank and bacteria do its thing.. It may look ugly for a little bit (and don't be down because it happens), but it will work "itself" out as long as your doing the right things and keeping it stable..

Dang I read this too late before I did another 20 gallon water change....I DID NOT siphon sand this time and I did my first dosing of white vinegar after the water change and I dosed 20 ml.....From here on out I am going to dose 10ml in morning and 10 ml at night.....

 

[Gwitness]

As for the extra live rock for my tank.....can I just get some of the man made? Or dry rock from my local store or do I need to order actual live rock?

 

[Gwitness]

So instead of live rock now I'm leaning towards getting a new skimmer....when I was dosing nopox it was barely getting stuff out and now with vinegar it is barely getting stuff out.....I know there will be a bunch of different opinions on this but just curious....what skimmers would be good options for what I'm trying to do?? I am keeping a mixed reef with anemones and not an insane fish load but I will keep a nice amount of fish also......I'm not trying to buy cheap or go broke so any ideas?? reef octopus? Vertex?

 

[Damon]

So instead of live rock now I'm leaning towards getting a new skimmer....when I was dosing nopox it was barely getting stuff out and now with vinegar it is barely getting stuff out.....I know there will be a bunch of different opinions on this but just curious....what skimmers would be good options for what I'm trying to do?? I am keeping a mixed reef with anemones and not an insane fish load but I will keep a nice amount of fish also......I'm not trying to buy cheap or go broke so any ideas?? reef octopus? Vertex?

Lol, oh boy! Yes, your setting yourself up.. Lol..

I like my skimz251. A ton! I also liked the skimz 203 I had for a while very much also.. Very easy to adjust skimmers.. But then, I liked my dynamics also..

But most people seem to be using vertex, I think the regals, reef octopus, aquamaxx, and I can't remember the other.. But.. I would check brs.. Read their reviews.. The highest rated with most reviews.. That's how I started with the skimz.. And I don't regret the purchase of this beast at all!

 

[Gwitness]

Lol, oh boy! Yes, your setting yourself up.. Lol..

I like my skimz251. A ton! I also liked the skimz 203 I had for a while very much also.. Very easy to adjust skimmers.. But then, I liked my dynamics also..

But most people seem to be using vertex, I think the regals, reef octopus, aquamaxx, and I can't remember the other.. But.. I would check brs.. Read their reviews.. The highest rated with most reviews.. That's how I started with the skimz.. And I don't regret the purchase of this beast at all!

Okay great!! I will check there and read the reviews and stuff....thanks for the help....how much over my tank gallons should I go?? My tank is like 165 gallons?? Should I go up to 300 or higher or lower?

 

[Damon]

Okay great!! I will check there and read the reviews and stuff....thanks for the help....how much over my tank gallons should I go?? My tank is like 165 gallons?? Should I go up to 300 or higher or lower?

My display is 180 and another 35 in the sump. It was easy for me(well relatively) , because I just went with the BRS size recommendations for a high bio load system with the skimz(simply because of the pellets). There is like a massive jump between I think 130(of I remember correctly) and then to like 270 to 280 sized recommends..

But the skimmers are absolutely massive in the higher size range.. Mine has a 10" chamber(it looks bigger than that to me to be honest) and the collection cup diameter is easily as large as, if not larger than a basketball.. Big skimmers dude.. Not tall like the asm at all, but very fat and squat.. So make sure you can fit it in your sump.. That's if your going with the bigger size(which I did and would in a heartbeat of I had to do all over again)..

 

[Gwitness]

My display is 180 and another 35 in the sump. It was easy for me(well relatively) , because I just went with the BRS size recommendations for a high bio load system with the skimz(simply because of the pellets). There is like a massive jump between I think 130(of I remember correctly) and then to like 270 to 280 sized recommends..

But the skimmers are absolutely massive in the higher size range.. Mine has a 10" chamber(it looks bigger than that to me to be honest) and the collection cup diameter is easily as large as, if not larger than a basketball.. Big skimmers dude.. Not tall like the asm at all, but very fat and squat.. So make sure you can fit it in your sump.. That's if your going with the bigger size(which I did and would in a heartbeat of I had to do all over again)..

Okay we'll that's perfect the. Cause it's right around my tank size then so I'm guessing I could get same one you got or had then....I will check reviews on the three that you used and just compare and go from there....any idea which one you liked the best for performance, ease of use, and cost?

 

[Damon]

Okay we'll that's perfect the. Cause it's right around my tank size then so I'm guessing I could get same one you got or had then....I will check reviews on the three that you used and just compare and go from there....any idea which one you liked the best for performance, ease of use, and cost?

Honestly, with cost, on our size tank, I've just yielded.. Lol, this is the most expensive skimmer I have ever purchased, and I'm not shy to spend money.. I would, as long as you want to pay, just look at the higher 2 numbers in their series.. Any of those are for big tanks.. Like the 251,263,253, 261,etc.. And they're all around that 750 to 900 price range.. Lol, I just went with the two pump honestly because I have never owned a two pump skimmer, and it looked clever.. Lol.. But I also like the ovals and dc powdered models.. Any of them will honestly kick the pants off the asm.. And that is the absolute truth..

I just this morning almost fell out from the smell of that stuff.. I normally only use the collection cup, but I recently set up a jug.. I have a valve on it, so, it only will fill when I choose to.. Lol, well the jug was full, and it needed to be emptied.. I smelled it when I pulled the tube out and thought "hmm, that's kinda stronger than normal", but when I took the cap off to flush it, omg, I started coughing and gagging.. It was the most putrid skim, in 20 plus years of saltwater that I have ever smelled.. And this is wet skim.. I had to open the windows and doors and go sit down for a minute.. Lol, funny now, but that stuff was horrible.. Even for skim..

And they do produce a lot of skim.. Both of them(including this one) that I have had.. Lots of skim.. And adjustable! Very, very adjustable.. I've personally never experienced anything like it out of a skimmer..

 

[Gwitness]

Honestly, with cost, on our size tank, I've just yielded.. Lol, this is the most expensive skimmer I have ever purchased, and I'm not shy to spend money.. I would, as long as you want to pay, just look at the higher 2 numbers in their series.. Any of those are for big tanks.. Like the 251,263,253, 261,etc.. And they're all around that 750 to 900 price range.. Lol, I just went with the two pump honestly because I have never owned a two pump skimmer, and it looked clever.. Lol.. But I also like the ovals and dc powdered models.. Any of them will honestly kick the pants off the asm.. And that is the absolute truth..

I just this morning almost fell out from the smell of that stuff.. I normally only use the collection cup, but I recently set up a jug.. I have a valve on it, so, it only will fill when I choose to.. Lol, well the jug was full, and it needed to be emptied.. I smelled it when I pulled the tube out and thought "hmm, that's kinda stronger than normal", but when I took the cap off to flush it, omg, I started coughing and gagging.. It was the most putrid skim, in 20 plus years of saltwater that I have ever smelled.. And this is wet skim.. I had to open the windows and doors and go sit down for a minute.. Lol, funny now, but that stuff was horrible.. Even for skim..

And they do produce a lot of skim.. Both of them(including this one) that I have had.. Lots of skim.. And adjustable! Very, very adjustable.. I've personally never experienced anything like it out of a skimmer..

Ok thank you for all the info!! Appreciate it!! I'll keep you updated with that and my triton water results

 

[Gwitness]

Lol, oh boy! Yes, your setting yourself up.. Lol..

I like my skimz251. A ton! I also liked the skimz 203 I had for a while very much also.. Very easy to adjust skimmers.. But then, I liked my dynamics also..

But most people seem to be using vertex, I think the regals, reef octopus, aquamaxx, and I can't remember the other.. But.. I would check brs.. Read their reviews.. The highest rated with most reviews.. That's how I started with the skimz.. And I don't regret the purchase of this beast at all!

They all look like good options man! I'm leaning towards your older one the skimz 203.....what's the difference between a dc skimmer and not a dc skimmer??

 

[Damon]

They all look like good options man! I'm leaning towards your older one the skimz 203.....what's the difference between a dc skimmer and not a dc skimmer??

The difference is the air draw and the adjustable pump speed.... The DC pumps draw more air in, and just like the other DC pumps, you can adjust the speed of the pump.. Lol, I never messed with mine much though, and instead just adjusted the valves like normal..

Basically those things.. Lol, and the DC models cost a little more.. But that's about it..

The 203 is a very nice skimmer.. Very quiet.. That's another thing about them, coming from other skimmers, you really can't hear them running..

 

[Gwitness]

The difference is the air draw and the adjustable pump speed.... The DC pumps draw more air in, and just like the other DC pumps, you can adjust the speed of the pump.. Lol, I never messed with mine much though, and instead just adjusted the valves like normal..

Basically those things.. Lol, and the DC models cost a little more.. But that's about it..

The 203 is a very nice skimmer.. Very quiet.. That's another thing about them, coming from other skimmers, you really can't hear them running..

Okay well that sounds perfect then!!! I might look for a skimz that doesn't have the dc control then cause that doesn't matter to me at all and it's more expensive so I'll check out some other skimz....the one you got is insanely big!! Hahahahaha