Methods of reducing Nitrates for good.
- Thread starter zero26
- Start date
Many methods work. Water changes are not suitable for getting nitrate very low, but organic carbon dosing of some form, macroalgae, ats systems, and deep sand beds all work fine. Skimming can also help.
I personally use macroalgae, vinegar dosing, GFO, GAC, and skimming to export nutrients and organics.
I personally use macroalgae, vinegar dosing, GFO, GAC, and skimming to export nutrients and organics.
somethingphishy
New member
watch with some types of carbon dosing it can increase cyno (unless u cleared up that issue)
zero26
MoneyPit Maestro
No the cyano is still an issue.
zero26
MoneyPit Maestro
Randy, I use GFO and GAC and I run a skimmer. Do you dose vinegar to increase potency of KALK? What types of macroalgae are you using? I have cheato.
No, I use vinegar to drive bacterial growth to reduce nitrate and phosphate. I found that vinegar is less prone to drive cyano than is vodka in my system.
kissman
Active member
I have used vodka and it works but then you have to dose it everyday. I have never used a denitrator but that too needs dosing from time to time and you have the threat of sulfur leaking into the tank. I like the biopellets let them roll and add a little every 6 months or so
reefdreams1
New member
+1 on the pellets, I am a big fan of the Vertex Pro-Bio they have done good for me over the last year.
I have used vodka and it works but then you have to dose it everyday.
A dosing pump and a gallon jug of vinegar runs fine on autopilot for months.
A dosing pump and a gallon jug of vinegar runs fine on autopilot for months.
unbelievable
New member
I recently started dosing vinegar and it has helped my cyano keep in check. Vodka seemed to fuel the cyano and I don't have the space for another reactor so the vinegar works well for me so far.
Randy, how much vinegar do you dose?
I presently dose about 80 ml per day spread out in several small additions during the daylight hours.
I have a 120 display, but I also have big rock filled refugia where I dose (including 3 x 44 gallon brute cans mostly full of rock)
I have dosed as much as 410 ml per day, but that was too much based on some organisms browning up (like an RBTA) and some white cloudiness in the water.
I presently dose about 80 ml per day spread out in several small additions during the daylight hours.
I have a 120 display, but I also have big rock filled refugia where I dose (including 3 x 44 gallon brute cans mostly full of rock)
I have dosed as much as 410 ml per day, but that was too much based on some organisms browning up (like an RBTA) and some white cloudiness in the water.
ColaAddict
In Memoriam
Is a protein skimmer required to do carbon dosing? I know they make your skimmer produce more skimmate (probably nitrates being sucked out), I'm guessing the skimmer is also removing the carbon from the water. I have a skimmer in my big tank and no skimmer in my nano. I would think that you won't have to keep redosing if you don't have a skimmer, right?
No, a skimmer will not remove ethanol or acetate.
You redose because bacteria eat it, not because a skimmer removes it.
IMO, a skimmerless organic carbon dosing system is an experiment. It is not really done much and we do not know what would happen long term. The issue is what happens to all the bacteria?
You redose because bacteria eat it, not because a skimmer removes it.
IMO, a skimmerless organic carbon dosing system is an experiment. It is not really done much and we do not know what would happen long term. The issue is what happens to all the bacteria?
geezers11
New member
Based on your 80ml per day in a 120 g tank, I'm figuring maybe 17ml in my 28g tank. Can't dose in small quantities all day though.
