Vodka or vinegar or pellets or gfo

Saltgator · Jan 13, 2014

Looking to hear from y'all on what your individual need is for no3 and po4 reduction is. I tried the bio pellets before, just never could feel like they worked (numbers don't lie, but my sps said the numbers were wrong).
My issue then was leaching from my sand bed, now 98% removed. Sps are 100% better, but not where they should be. I still believe some leaching is coming from the rocks.
Having a fish load and liking my fish fat, I need to hear from you guys prior to me jumping into a carbon source or HC gfo (or both). I'm not against going the pellet way again, but dosing vodka or vinegar has been a option. Lmk what y'all think. Many thanks.

Sdoutreefer · Jan 13, 2014

How long has your tank been established?

Saltgator · Jan 13, 2014

Sdoutreefer said:
How long has your tank been established?

This April 2 years. Most rock was transferred from a 2 year old 125.
https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/large-aquariums-180g/72706-saltgators-240-build.html

Sdoutreefer · Jan 13, 2014

I've ran GFO in the past and liked it. Only problem for me was that I didn't change the GFO out regularly because of going out of town for long periods. I'd go with carbon dosing (vodka) AND GFO. That's what I will be doing once my algae is all brushed off my rocks and I get a hold of it. But I've never carbon dosed but like the thoughts of it.

Saltgator · Jan 13, 2014

I've briefly spoken to a few ppl that dose vodka and they like it. I just wish it knocked PO4 down like it does no3 to avoid using gfo.

TJ's Reef · Jan 13, 2014

I have a very high bio-load 125g Mixed Reef with very infrequent water changes and give credit to three things. Large refugium lit 24/7, Phosban reactor with 60% GFO and 40% GAC to keep from clumping and moderate use of Ozone. IME these are all easier to operate long-term than any Carbon Source Media Reactors or Dosing that I'm aware of. Many options work but must be trusted and ran correctly by us to have value.

Cheers, Todd

Saltgator · Jan 13, 2014

Thanks Todd. Never looked into ozone. Any risks with it?

TJ's Reef · Jan 13, 2014

Saltgator said:
Thanks Todd. Never looked into ozone. Any risks with it?

Yes, a few but easily prepared for or countered with using Carbon on outlets. In your location it is possible that you would need some type of air dryer for an Ozone Generator up here in Washington have not needed one. Randy Holmes Farley has a few lengthy and technical articles in this link Reefkeeping Online Magazine - Chemistry but even as he states most research has been done with higher dosages for different uses than Reefkeeping. I also chose to go with a Ozotech unit after many hours of research it seems to have a more stable type of Corona discharge and lees of a need for an air dryer prior to generator. My ORP stays between 440-455 and always crystal clear water, initially I had my Ozone controlled with my Apex but once above 400 on ORP switched to manual a few times a week for na hour or two. On the Controller it would always seem to kick on around Dinner time (low ORP daily average) and my wife is/was sensitive to the smell.
I've stated a few times in threads and still do not endorse my method here but have only just completed my 7th or 8th 30g water change on my system (125g DT 165g's overall) in 2+ years. I do and obviously have needed to dose for both basic and trace elements but have virtually had no to low readings of nutrients for entire duration.

Cheers, Todd

Saltgator · Jan 13, 2014

Nice write up. I'll look into it. Thanks Todd.

mike007 · Jan 13, 2014

Personally i have found that carbon dosing is fairly easy and inexpensive. Wheter that be vodka or whatever method you chose. I have been using small amounts of Redsea Nopox now for over a year and have great results. I am sure these others methods work but i would rather spend my money in other ways.

TJ's Reef · Jan 13, 2014

Hey Mike, just read up a little on the Red Sea NO3 : PO4-X and want to know more about how you are dosing it. My system is a very high bio-load 165g overall and at $18-20 for a liter how long would you determine it would last in comparison to your setup. Also are you dosing through a Dosing Pump on a Controller and what kind redundancy do you have ?

Cheers, Todd

mike007 · Jan 13, 2014

I manually dose 10ml. a day in my tank. When i started it i followed their instructions but after experimenting i found this dosage works great for me. My tank is actually overloaded with lps and sps corals. Before starting this regiment i was having trouble keeping nitrates and phosphates down. So after watching their videos i decided to try this product and it has worked for me now for over a year. Water changes were not working for me so i needed help. I would recommend anyone wanting to learn more about this to watch Redsea videos and they can explain all the benefits of carbon dosing.

Saltgator · Jan 13, 2014

Mike, are you using anything in conjunction with the nopox?

Sdoutreefer · Jan 13, 2014

I'm tagging along on this thread... I have an algae problem and really want to know what is best. I just scrubbed a bunch of my rock for the 100th time today.

Pappy · Jan 13, 2014

I've been running dr tims biopellets since macna and it has reduced nitrates successfully. I started out very slow. I saw a huge difference once I dosed some seachem stability. Crystal clear water and nitrates are 2-5.

Po3 on the other hand they weren't doing it so I started gfo again.

mike007 · Jan 13, 2014

I only dose nopox. If you have algae problem you have excess nutrients period. You need to test for phoshates and nitrates. Carbon dosing will help but if your nutrient level is too high you will still have algae. Main cause is overfeeding.

Saltgator · Jan 13, 2014

I used nopox as well, but couldn't drop the PO4 to desirable levels. Still got some, might just go back now that my PO4 is more manageable. I have very little algae, but my fish do their part. What is total volume now that your @ 10mL per day? My top dose was 18mL (I was conservative and was bringing my alk down below 9 to avoid burnt tips).

MHG · Jan 14, 2014

H
I Cap GFO Is the
only way to go but you need to tweak the flow up as It hardens... Lasts for months In my 60.... all the others did nothing for my leaching PO4... If I had some nitrates to deal with I am sure the cheato would take care of my PO4 and then I can stop the GFO...

Bernardhny · Jan 14, 2014

GFO + Carbon

I currently run the BRS Dual reactor. One with GFO and the other with Carbon. My results have been great, once I got the system working optimally. The result is clear water and little to no algae growth on the walls of the tank. My maintenance schedule has been simple. I replace the carbon and GFO every time the algae starts growing back. I believe the GFO lasts longer than the carbon but I change them out together for simplicity.

jg93 · Jan 14, 2014

I run vinegar and a very small amount of GFO. It's very easy to get going and cheap as it gets in this hobby. My nitrates are .2 ppm (and that's by choice,) phosphate 0.00 by a hannah checker.