Vinegar dosing with Remote DSB

[Maximitsurugi]

Ive put 6 inches of sand into a separated compartment of my sump 2 weeks ago. It was live sand from a section of a remote beach and I read your article @Randy Holmes-Farley that the limiting factor is carbon. Are you suggesting that, with a deep sand bed, I should be doing a little vinegar dosing?

I dont run my oversized skimmer all day as in no time it pulls nothing so it's on a timer. I'm told I shouldnt carbon dose without a full time skimmer though but I'm interested in getting the DSB working on nitrates asap.

What might be your thoughts please?

Anyone else have an idea?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Vinegar dosing is a fine thing to do, if nitrate is higher than you want, regardless of having a deep sand bed or not.

 

[Maximitsurugi]

Vinegar dosing is a fine thing to do, if nitrate is higher than you want, regardless of having a deep sand bed or not.

What's your recommended Alk level with that? I'm at 8.5 before. Dont want any issues. Never had luck with carbon dosing but I need nitrates down like yesterday. Also, does the DSB work better while carbom dosing?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

What's your recommended Alk level with that? I'm at 8.5 before. Dont want any issues. Never had luck with carbon dosing but I need nitrates down like yesterday. Also, does the DSB work better while carbom dosing?

I recommend 7-11 dKH for most reef tanks. Higher alk gives faster growth of many hard corals, but nutrients need to be sufficient to prevent burnt tips on SPS at high alk, and the higher nutrients may give less colorful corals due to increased zoox levels.

I expect a DSB works more effectively with higher organics around.

 

[Maximitsurugi]

Thanks a lot for your help as usual Randy.

Lastly could you puleaaaase accept @ReefBum invitation to do a little interview. We would really like to meet the person who has unselfishly guided us on all things Chemistry in this hobby that we know that you love a lot too. I always told you, if @Randy Holmes-Farley tells me that dog poop is good for my reef, I'll be sitting behind Fluffy like a milkmaid, patiently waiting. Lol

With much respect,
Saintnova

 

[ReefBum]

@Randy Holmes-Farley, would love to have you on my live stream I have had some awesome guests, including Sanjay Joshi, Mike Paletta, David Saxby, Julian Sprung, Jake Adams, Charles Delbeek and many others. It would be great if you are able to swing it.

 

[Maximitsurugi]

@Randy Holmes-Farley, would love to have you on my live stream I have had some awesome guests, including Sanjay Joshi, Mike Paletta, David Saxby, Julian Sprung, Jake Adams, Charles Delbeek and many others. It would be great if you are able to swing it.

Yeah that would be one for the reefing ages. @Randy Holmes-Farley

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Thanks, I appreciate the invite, but I just don't have enough time these days. My day job is a 3 person biotech company that needs plenty of attention.

 

[ReefBum]

@Randy Holmes-Farley Understood, perhaps another time down the road.

 

[Maximitsurugi]

Thanks, I appreciate the invite, but I just don't have enough time these days. My day job is a 3 person biotech company that needs plenty of attention.

Oh wow. Big moves. Now I'm even more impressed that you even find time to post here. Respect.

Well as @reef Bum mentioned, maybe some time down the line. Good luck in your endeavours and await the day when we all can meet you screen to face. Lol. Irie!