Vinegar dosing question

skr791346 · Feb 20, 2020

Hello,

Vinegar dosing instruction says to cut the dosing ml in half once the system reaches 0 nitrate. I'm currently @ 40ml / day and it's been keeping my nitrate steady at 7ppm. I stopped increasing as I don't want the nitrate to reach 0 - do I keep it at 40ml / day or do I cut it in half?

Joseph Disalvo · Feb 20, 2020

I’d cut in half at this point you want to be close to zero but not bottomed out

skr791346 · Feb 20, 2020

Even if the current dosage is keeping no3 at 7ppm steady? Was confused if cutting it in half now before reaching 0ppm will spike no3 back up.

Quietman · Feb 20, 2020

Depends on rate it's dropping. You want to gradually taper off to the level you want. Above 0 but less than whatever...3-5 ppm. Some run higher.

I would do 30 ml for a week, then 25 ml for a week and slide in to your number. Cutting it too much, too close to 0 will cause problems. 0 ppm nitrates may lead to dino or other algae, and may burn your sps if running high alk. Also if not gradual you'll bounce up and down trying to catch the right level. Good luck!

Daddy-o · Feb 20, 2020

I would keep it at 40ml and monitor nitrate.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Feb 23, 2020

skr791346 said:
Hello,

Vinegar dosing instruction says to cut the dosing ml in half once the system reaches 0 nitrate. I'm currently @ 40ml / day and it's been keeping my nitrate steady at 7ppm. I stopped increasing as I don't want the nitrate to reach 0 - do I keep it at 40ml / day or do I cut it in half?

steady at 7 ppm sounds perfect. If that level of vinegar keeps that level of nitrate, then keep dosing that amount of vinegar.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Feb 23, 2020

skr791346 said:
Even if the current dosage is keeping no3 at 7ppm steady? Was confused if cutting it in half now before reaching 0ppm will spike no3 back up.

The cut in half part is just a random recommendation to help folks avoid driving nutrients too low. Don’t take it as a rule. I never did it.

Graffiti Spot · Feb 23, 2020

I agree I have yet to cut my dose in half. I have backed it down some in the past but normally find a sweet spot before I have to back it down.

skr791346 · Feb 23, 2020

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
The cut in half part is just a random recommendation to help folks avoid driving nutrients too low. Don’t take it as a rule. I never did it.

Thank you for the clarification. Even though vinegar is keeping nitrate at the desired level, my phosphate has been at 0.00 for the past 3 weeks even after taking ferric oxide reactor off line. Feeding 3 times a day heavily + twice a week coral feeding have not increased phosphate at all. Is it normal for phosphate to zero out when nitrate hasn't reached 0 while vinegar dosing? Should I be considering dosing phosphate instead?