N/P reducing pellets (solid vodka dosing) - Split

[timvdb]

How far is your bulb from the water?


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[this is me]

Hey Tivo,
Make sure you rinse the vial with tank water before you test. I found that if you rinse it with tap water and left it dry for the next test without rinsing it with tank water, it'll give you a higher reading.

 

[reeftivo]

How far is your bulb from the water?


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tank is 20" deep and I'm running the fixture at 10" above water level.

:thumbsup:

 

[reeftivo]

Hey Tivo,
Make sure you rinse the vial with tank water before you test. I found that if you rinse it with tap water and left it dry for the next test without rinsing it with tank water, it'll give you a higher reading.

Guilty as charged!:hmm3:

I do rinse the cupels after use and dry them with a paper towel but sometimes forget to flush with tank water before each test.

will test again today

Thanks:thumbsup:

 

[cherubfish pair]

but with an acidic carbon source such as vinegar, I expect the drop to be more significant.

It won't be if the dose is spread out. The final effect over time is the same as vodka, not worse.

That said, you can also put solid lime into the vinegar if you are still concerned once you dose and observe pH too low.

Vinegar is a little cheaper.

How much lime are you talking about and is powdered Calcium Hydroxide okay?

 

[cherubfish pair]

How much lime are you talking about and is powdered Calcium Hydroxide okay?

Forgot to ask, will vinegar boost alkalinity? I can't remember the chemical formula of vinegar.

 

[bertoni]

Nope. Vinegar will lower alkalinity a tiny bit when added. When the vinegar is metabolized by bacteria, the alkalinity will rise back up.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

If putting lime into vinegar, add enough that there is excess left on the bottom and let that mostly settle out. The solution is then stable toward degradation by bacteria because the pH is high.

That solution will be a balanced calcium and alkalinity additive, as well as vinegar additive. I used it for many months.

 

[reeftivo]

okay,

signs of cyano have subsided after lowering flow in the reactor and turning up my vortechs. Nitrate is now 0 on tunze kit and API with po4 at .02.

I have had no visible bacterial bloom. I suspect that's due to my fairly low levels of no3 and po4 when I began. The pellets do not appear any different in size or shape than when I started them, with the exception of a small percentage (<5%) that have turned to a dark reddish brown. I have my air opened much more on the tunze skimmer in order to pull wetter. As expected, the skimmate is much lighter but smells horrible. Prior to the pellets, I was used to dark, dry skimmate and I'm a little concerned whether or not the skimmate will eventually become more concentrated after time while running pellets.

anyone on pellets have any skimmate shots for comparison?

 

[cherubfish pair]

If putting lime into vinegar, add enough that there is excess left on the bottom and let that mostly settle out. The solution is then stable toward degradation by bacteria because the pH is high.

That solution will be a balanced calcium and alkalinity additive, as well as vinegar additive. I used it for many months.

So would a kalkwasser/vinegar solution have a lower pH? Would this be a safer way to make an all-at-once calcium dose?

 

[bertoni]

It'll have a lower pH, but the pH still will be very high. It wouldn't be good in large doses.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

You can make an all at once dosing solution this way if you carefully control the pH in it (not too high or low), but it may not be stable toward bacterial degradation in the bottle. You are effectively making calcum acetate, which is what is in Salifert's all in one. But ther product is much more concentrated, precluding bacterial growth.

 

[reeftivo]

You can make an all at once dosing solution this way if you carefully control the pH in it (not too high or low), but it may not be stable toward bacterial degradation in the bottle. You are effectively making calcum acetate, which is what is in Salifert's all in one. But ther product is much more concentrated, precluding bacterial growth.

good to know Randy,

I used to use Salifert AIO supplement and was considering it for dosing instead of the ESV 2 part I currently use. I guess it would be problematic to use Salifert if I'm running pellets with the added acetate-correct?

Thanks in advance

Tivo

 

[tntneon]

good to know Randy,

I used to use Salifert AIO supplement and was considering it for dosing instead of the ESV 2 part I currently use. I guess it would be problematic to use Salifert if I'm running pellets with the added acetate-correct?

Thanks in advance

Tivo

No problems , i use it almost 3 year every day 3 drops with good results.
I do half the recommended dosage .

greetingzz tntneon

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I agree I don't see a problem as long as you recognize that it too drives bacteria.

 

[tntneon]

I definitly agree

But Randy could you explane why some bacteria love vinegar more than vodka/pellets or others ?
But why do some bateria prefere other carbon sources ?

i dose daily 3 drops all in one
weekly 2 times 5 ml vinegar
and two times a week 1 ml of marine carbohydrates (DOM)
and of course pellets in line

to have them all satisfied

greetingzz tntneon

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

But Randy could you explane why some bacteria love vinegar more than vodka/pellets or others ?
But why do some bateria prefere other carbon sources ?

Different species and strains of bacteria have evolved different enzymes and uptake mechanisms to consume different types of food (organics), just like different birds eat different types of food (fruit, insects, nuts, etc.).

 

[reeftivo]

Update,

Things remain good although my skimmate cup gets rank by the time I get home and I can smell it in the house a little (not bad but a little).

I have to configure some kind of carbon absorber or pad I can throw in off the outlet to the cup. smells mildly like dead fish-LOL.

The Mrs. isn't all that excited with all things aquatic since it cuts into our quality time. So I feel if I don't get the smell issue resolved, it will only add fuel to the fire-LOL.

HAppy reefing

Tivo

 

[tntneon]

hi reeftivo ,

I never had any additional smell from the pellets compared with normal carbon dosing or no dosing whatsoever .
How much (regulary ) do you clean your skimmercup ?
Try to do it at least onces a week , when having smells i would do it even more often every 3 to 2 days .


greetingzz tntneon

 

[Rwpdunne]

That's one of the reasons i stopped running "pellets" the smell in the house where the tank is
since switching to zeovit I've never looked back


Robbie