Should all tanks be Carbon dosed?

[Reefahholic]

Should all tanks be Carbon dosed? I recently watched a video that seemed to imply that. I’ll link the video below. My general understanding for the video is that a tank needs Carbon, Nitrates, and Phosphates. If the Carbon is deficient, the bacterial bed is unable populate- double or triple.? Doubling the bacteria helps to reduce NO3 / PO4.

So what if a tank already has low levels of NO3 / PO4? Does this mean the bacterial population is thriving? Is this possible without feeding the bacteria? Do they always need to be fed a carbon source? I know many tanks that run at low levels of NO3 / PO4 without dosing vodka or vinegar. How would this be possible if the bacteria aren’t able to double or triple in numbers?

 

[KrisReef]

I've had low no3 and P without dosing carbon. Dosing might make them super low or zero, and that would not be good. I started feeding more and my NO3 and P went up, and then I fed less and the numbers came back closer to zero. All of this motion was without carbon dosing. If my NO3 and P were always elevated, then I would consider carbon dosing as a method of lowering nutrients.

I absolutely always never recommend copying other peoples methods if mind are working, but certainly would consider dosing if I thought it would make my tank better.

 

[Reefahholic]

I've had low no3 and P without dosing carbon. Dosing might make them super low or zero, and that would not be good. I started feeding more and my NO3 and P went up, and then I fed less and the numbers came back closer to zero. All of this motion was without carbon dosing. If my NO3 and P were always elevated, then I would consider carbon dosing as a method of lowering nutrients.

I absolutely always never recommend copying other peoples methods if mind are working, but certainly would consider dosing if I thought it would make my tank better.

So carbon dosing is only used for neutrient reduction then.?

I feel the same why. If the numbers are low and it seems obvious that the tank is doing good.

One comment that really stuck out for me in the video was when he said “if you put some established rock in your tank to seed bacteria, that rock won’t do any good if it’s not able to double or triple.” Not sure if I agree with that. When you’re seeding a tank, I think you’re just trying to introduce the bacteria correct.?

 

[chipmunkofdoom2]

I think there are benefits to having free-floating bacteria in your tank. I believe Randy dosed organic carbon to his tank even though he didn't need it for nutrient reduction. I believe his intent was simply to have some particulate foods available for corals, sponges and other filter feeders. I think some animals in reef aquaria can even consume acetic acid, the organic carbon source in vinegar, directly. Although I can't remember where I read this.

Having said that, because organic carbon dosing tends to drive down dissolved nutrients, I think dosing organic carbon requires special care when you're using it for reasons other than reducing nitrates and phosphates.

 

[Reefahholic]

This guy sure seems to have good luck with it. Either he really knows what he’s doing or got lucky. Not sure. The tank seems to respond extremely well even as far as 70 days out.