vinegar dosing

mike007 · Jan 8, 2015

I am getting a whitish film on my glass Is this the bacteria caused by dosing vinegar? It Is easily removed so I assume it is the beneficial bacteria from the dosing.

heathd.hd · Jan 8, 2015

Sounds like it. Should go away after a few weeks mine did the same thing.

Reefing Madness · Jan 8, 2015

Yup, its from the bacteria growing. Won't go away by itself, just gotta wipe it down when it comes up.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jan 8, 2015

I agree it is probably bacteria.

Where do you dose the vinegar in the system, and how much?

mike007 · Jan 8, 2015

I am dosing 30mls. in this 55 in high flow area.

saltyhog · Jan 8, 2015

I get that on my glass. Comes off very easily and some of my fish follow the cleaning magnet to eat it when it comes off. It's finally getting less since I got to my goal nitrate and reduced my dose a little. I dose in my refugium chamber filled with live rock and still get it.

TarHeelReefer22 · Jan 9, 2015

30 ml seems like a lot to be dosing in a 55. If you don't mind me asking what inhabitants do you currently have coral wise? Also, when seeing this bacteria bloom it can drastically reduce the o2 levels in the tank and can harm or fish or corals. Check to make sure they are not becoming lethargic. Typically most experts on this type of dosing will recommend the reduction of about 50 percent of your current dose if a bloom is detected. If you have sps such as acropora make sure you aren't seeing burning of the tips if so reduce the dose and make sure your alk isn't too high. Good luck

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jan 9, 2015

mike007 said:
I am dosing 30mls. in this 55 in high flow area.

DO you have a sump or refugium where you could dose it?

What is nitrate presently?

mike007 · Jan 9, 2015

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
DO you have a sump or refugium where you could dose it?

What is nitrate presently?

Nitrate is not showing up on test . This tank does not have a sump.

saltyhog · Jan 9, 2015

If your nitrate is zero you can and should reduce your dose. This should decrease the bacterial growth a little but with no sump the bacteria are going to grow on the most available surface...your glass being part of it.

Reduce the dose and recheck the nitrates until you figure out what you need to maintain at your target nitrate level (0.5 for me).

jg93 · Jan 9, 2015

I'm dosing 70ml in a 75 (in the sump.) Have been for over a year. Nitrates between 2.5 and 5. Tank flourishing. I have it on a timer dosing consistently throughout the day.