vodka dosing

[tcarter1936]

I am planning on adding a bio pellet reactor. My? Is. Is this equivalent to carbon dosing such as vodka. I have a 4 pump auto dosing pump that I use for 2 part. I have a 180
Mixed reef. Having issues with my trachy welso and zoos not opening
Ph7.8
Alk 10
Nitrate 0
Nitrite 0
Calc 440
Mag 1350
Salinity 1.025
Any advice on which direction appreciated

 

[jduck]

Yes bio pellets are also a source of carbon dosing, just in solid form. You could just use one of the pumps for vodka/vinegar and pass on the reactor. What is your phosphate level?

 

[tcarter1936]

Last check was .023 phos . I have a 180 gallon with 200 lbs rock 2" sb. And 75 gallon sump. Probably 160 total water volume. My next question would be dosing amount and does type of vodka matter .

 

[rayn]

Search vodka dosing. Measure your nitrate and dose accordingly. Ramp dosing up till you see nitrates drop off, then cut dose in half and maintain.

Works really well on lowering both nitrate and phosphate.

 

[tcarter1936]

Will do .thanks for the input.

 

[Reefing Madness]

Does not work really well on lowering phosphates, does work really well on nitrates. And if you follow the charts on dosing, it will take you approx 7 months to see the nitrates come down. But, being as your already at 0, let them come up to where you want them, then go with a daily dose of 15mls, that should be pretty close to what your daily maintenance dose would be if you were to start from 1mls and to the entire routine.
Vodka Dosing by 'Genetics' and 'Stony_Corals' - Reefkeeping.com
Reefkeeping Magazine - Vinegar Dosing Methodology for the Marine Aquarium

 

[tcarter1936]

So 15 MLS a day or spread out over 24 hours.or is day or night dosing any different. My dose let's me dose to the minute over 24 hr period.or should I start at lower for a certain period of time. Thanks

 

[Reefing Madness]

I'd split that up into 2 12 hours dosings. Some drip that over a 24 hours period. You can however put it all in at once. Its when your up the trying to drop nitrates at the higher rates that it really should be split up more throughout the day.

 

[tcarter1936]

Thanks for the help .sure beats a few hundred for reactor

 

[Jayellul]

you have very low N and P any way at zero and .02.

Why are you considering carbon dosing?

 

[tcarter1936]

Mostly p because I know testing for p is grossly inaccurate . Get a different reading all the time and hair algae in sump also my gsp, zoas, and welso are all suffering. Just can't trust phosphate check.api and hanna

 

[Jayellul]

Try a lanthanum based phosphate remover. Most brands have one in their line.

 

[tcarter1936]

Will Phosguard work? I have some of that

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Will Phosguard work? I have some of that

Phosguard will certainly lower phosphate.

Some few folks find it irritates soft corals like leathers, so if that happens, stop.

Otherwise it is fine for lowering phosphate.

FWIW, vodka or vinegar dosing is also useful in other ways, such as feeding filter feeders off the bacteria that grow.

 

[tcarter1936]

Thanks randy .and I do have filter feeders.my preference is to choose a method that's not temporary .I'm a fan of consistent routine maintenance such as dosing .I'm trying to achieve stability more than anything so a regular dose is what I'm after

 

[tcarter1936]

Flip I have tried phosguard before and it proved to be too aggressive.

 

[Jayellul]

Flip I have tried phosguard before and it proved to be too aggressive.

Not many are fans of aluminium based stuff