N/P reducing pellets (solid vodka dosing)

[jmoney]

bump on my original question, would it be better to use these in a zeovit reactor or a phosban reactor

 

[luther1200]

I currently dose a mix of carbon sources, do you guys think I would benefit from these? I wouldn't want to stop what I'm doing now, just add a small reactor with some of the pellets in it? Because I believe my LR is loaded with PO4 because I have some red turf algae on some of the LR. Do you think the pellets might help with the turf algae?

 

[luther1200]

I read in the description they produce CO2, has anybody noticed a large pH drop from running the pellets?

 

[catastrofe]

bump on my original question, would it be better to use these in a zeovit reactor or a phosban reactor

Either should work fine as they are both up-flow style reactors. That being said, you probably don't need the "plunging" action (and added cost) of a Zeo reactor. A phosban reactor is fine. . .the only reason I didn't use one is because the one I have lying around wasn't large enough for the amount of pellets I wanted to use.

 

[tatuvaaj]

I read in the description they produce CO2, has anybody noticed a large pH drop from running the pellets?

A small drop, yes. If you lower your DOC dosing as you introduce BPs you might not notice any change at all (adding DOC source will also produce CO2).

 

[recife111]

Bit OT, but: I disagree, strongly even

I believe water chemistry is one aspect of reef keeping where nature is a good model to follow.

I disagree 1000%.
zero nitrate is no good for you tank. seen it so many times on my tank, when nitrate is zero, my corals don't look good. once i add nitrates my corals really sees to pick up.

 

[tntneon]

I disagree 1000%.
zero nitrate is no good for you tank. seen it so many times on my tank, when nitrate is zero, my corals don't look good. once i add nitrates my corals really sees to pick up.

Zero nitrate isn`t my ultimate goal , algea free reefkeeping is .

This summer i`ve went on vacation and i couldn`t dose regular vodka anymore , when i came back NO3 had rised to about 5 ppm (before it fluctuated between 0.2 and 0.5 ppm) , and some specs of GHA that i had before had became much bigger in size after this vacation.
Corals where doing fine then , especialy in terms of growth rate , coloration and PE was much less then with carbon dosing.
With BP i have simular findings then with the regular vodka ,only NO3 has dropped further and GHA has disapeared with the BP`s.
Growth rates are now again a littlebit less then the post vacation period (w/o vodka)

I still have some cyano on one rock , so i think there still will be some NO3 and PO4 availlable (even when undetected with salifer test kits).

This is something to think about :

-I have seen awesome tanks with virtualy no algea , and having nitrates at 10 ppm ?
How is that possible ?
does it have something to do with redfield ratio (molair N/P ratio of 16/1) ?

This is how i keep my freshwater tank completly algea free.

greetingzz tntneon

 

[NaClH2Opgh]

This is something to think about :

-I have seen awesome tanks with virtualy no algea , and having nitrates at 10 ppm ?
How is that possible ?
does it have something to do with redfield ratio (molair N/P ratio of 16/1) ?

This is how i keep my freshwater tank completly algea free.

greetingzz tntneon

I think a cuc has a lot to do with it also. If you keep your params low enough the cuc or livestock will take care of the algae before it takes hold in your system. IMO, it's not that we don't have it anymore but that we are staying a head of it. Simulating nature and the ocean was mentioned above, well all reefs have algae.

 

[jptenklooster]

I read in the description they produce CO2, has anybody noticed a large pH drop from running the pellets?

placing the outlet of the pellet filter in front of the skimmer should reduce the drop in pH as a result of CO2 production.

Cheers,

JP

 

[7hogwarts]

I have been following this thread for a while. It is VERY INTERESTING. If I use this product how soon do I ween my system from GFO and/or carbon? I figure it is probably based on water testing results rather than a timeline. But, I figure I would double check.

 

[Daniel Reef]

I have been following this thread for a while. It is VERY INTERESTING. If I use this product how soon do I ween my system from GFO and/or carbon? I figure it is probably based on water testing results rather than a timeline. But, I figure I would double check.

I don't have any personal experience with NP, but I spent all day reading this thread and my understanding is that NP is one weapon in your arsenal to fight nitrates and phosphates that should be used along side of GFO and carbon. But again, I am not sure if this is exactly accurate.

 

[tntneon]

I have been following this thread for a while. It is VERY INTERESTING. If I use this product how soon do I ween my system from GFO and/or carbon? I figure it is probably based on water testing results rather than a timeline. But, I figure I would double check.

I wouldn`t lose the carbon , i`ll keep using it (yellowing of water and coral toxins ).
On the other hand i have an old bag of gfo laying in my sump , over a month i have to replace it be new gfo , but this i`m not gonna do.
My PO4 never has been an issue , so i`ll take the opportunity to leave it out ,will see what the results are.

greetingzz tntneon

 

[luther1200]

A small drop, yes. If you lower your DOC dosing as you introduce BPs you might not notice any change at all (adding DOC source will also produce CO2).

OK, thank you

 

[tntneon]

Has anyone using this product seen bacterial blooms or other 'overdose' effects?

I find this product interesting in that I work out of town during the week, making it difficult to properly observe the tank as I initiate vodka dosing. Asking the wife to feed and top off is one thing; asking her to dose .3 ml vodka and watch out for bacterial blooms and other 'bad effects' is quite another.

I didn`t seen any , if you only use the BP and no other carbon sources are dosed it`s not likely to happen imo.
i can image if one doses additional vodka or other carbons in an excesive way , it could result in a baterial bloom but i never whitnessed that.

greetingzz tntneon

 

[danch]

I didn`t seen any , if you only use the BP and no other carbon sources are dosed it`s not likely to happen imo.
i can image if one doses additional vodka or other carbons in an excesive way , it could result in a baterial bloom but i never whitnessed that.

greetingzz tntneon

Thanks!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Tatu: Maybe I missed it, but are you tracking phosphate too?

 

[tatuvaaj]

Tatu: Maybe I missed it, but are you tracking phosphate too?

I do, but I use GFO :thumbsup:

I think sand and rocks are still leaching PO4 :mad2:

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

OK, thanks. It will be nice to see if eventually the pellets are adequate for phosphate.

 

[elegance coral]

I disagree 1000%.
zero nitrate is no good for you tank. seen it so many times on my tank, when nitrate is zero, my corals don't look good. once i add nitrates my corals really sees to pick up.

How are you adding nitrate? I've seen people feed their tank, raising the nitrate level, and coming up with the same conclusion you are here. When it was most likely the added food that caused the improvement. Not the increase in nitrate.

 

[jmoney]

any updates? I just ordered a liter of these and a warner marine reactor to run them in, hoping to see some good results