Removing Biopellets After Issues And Switching Carbon Sources

[DanielJameS]

Hey Randy, quick question for you. I’ve seen a lot of posts for the inverse of this process but I’ll try to sum up.

I am choosing after much frustration to nix my biopellets. I had great success with them on my 75, and though using the same brand pellets I’ve had nothing but problems with my 125. With a standard flow through BP reactor, I have not been able to find a setting that works. I’ve dosed Dr Tim’s Waste away several times and after 6mo with BP on this tank the only thing I have to show for it is a rust colored algae and/or cyano, suffering corals, constant hazy or milky water and lingering nitrates. I’m also concerned I have Dinos although they don’t look like typical Dino’s. I’m not sure if I was too abundant in DOC or what was going on.

I did a large water change today and temporarily removed the reactor. I’m concerned that the drop in carbon source could shock the system.

I would like to continue carbon dosing as a means to work on my Nitrates but am debating on switching to vodka and/or vinegar so I can control the dose.

Would you recommend starting with a small dose of either of these as a substitute? What would be the effects of skipping carbon altogether for an observation period so I can determine the trend of my NO3 sans carbon? Or should I expect them to sky rocket with no carbon source?

Thanks,
Dan

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

There will be no shock to the system no. The food will slowly deplete.
The nitrates should (if all is well) raise at a normal rate as you feed.

If you have Dino's and cyano and some other weird things , you should probably stop the carbon source. Likely feeding it.

Vinegar is Randy’s Preference generally. Many vodka users experience cyano save in super low carful dosing.

 

[Gareth elliott]

Only negative i see would be if the remaining export methods were grossly inadequate for the tank. And nitrates go really high really quickly.

I dont see this likely unless you are using a lot of pellets and dosing a lot of bacteria.

 

[DanielJameS]

Thanks guys, confirmed my suspicions. All is well so far and corals are responding more positively after a water change and removing pellets. Going to continue monitoring NO3 very closely and deal with as needed sans carbon for a bit because for whatever the reason on this tank as opposed to my last, they were no bueno.