Nitrate Reduction 101 with sugar!!!

jacmyoung,if it gets a bit cloudy thats ok.If you notice it gets real foggy be careful if you have fish,the oxygen drops pertty quickly.I waited until my tank cleared until I dosed again.It should clear in 24 to 36 hours.You'll notice real clear water,like your using ozone.I really notice it at night with atinics on.I also dosed 2 ml of vinegar a day with the sugar.I figured different bacteria may want a different carbon source.I just got a box of BioClean and have started using that,you only have to dose every 2 weeks instead of daily.I'll keep everyone posted
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8453690#post8453690 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Cosmo^Kramer
Zoom,I'm trying BioClean by prodibio.If that dosen't work I'll go back to 1/4 teaspoon of sugar and 2ml of vinegar
Click to expand...
Most likely sugar based any way.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8453542#post8453542 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Cosmo^Kramer
jacmyoung,if it gets a bit cloudy thats ok.If you notice it gets real foggy be careful if you have fish,the oxygen drops pertty quickly.I waited until my tank cleared until I dosed again.It should clear in 24 to 36 hours.You'll notice real clear water,like your using ozone.I really notice it at night with atinics on.I also dosed 2 ml of vinegar a day with the sugar.I figured different bacteria may want a different carbon source.I just got a box of BioClean and have started using that,you only have to dose every 2 weeks instead of daily.I'll keep everyone posted
Click to expand...

It wasn't that cloudy and it is clearing up. My nitrate level is still coming down though it is getting more difficult to measure at low levels. The skimmer is pulling darker liquid too.

I don't know if anyone who uses this method eventually was able to remove macroalgae from the sump? I was hoping if the carbon (sugar) addition can keep nitrate at very low level, why bother keep the cheato and wasting the electicity to light it.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8458377#post8458377 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jacmyoung
It wasn't that cloudy and it is clearing up. My nitrate level is still coming down though it is getting more difficult to measure at low levels. The skimmer is pulling darker liquid too.

I don't know if anyone who uses this method eventually was able to remove macroalgae from the sump? I was hoping if the carbon (sugar) addition can keep nitrate at very low level, why bother keep the cheato and wasting the electicity to light it.
Click to expand...
Most likely the cheato will stop growing and way ....
 
Do you need lot of live rock or deep sand bed for sugar lower nitrate to work?

Have anyone tested the skimmates after dosing sugar?
 
I'm glas it's working out for everyone, I am still using it with success. But I am still working on the phosphates I'll keep everyone updated.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8453533#post8453533 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Zoom
What you will do for a maintenance now.
Click to expand...

Is that because of the sugar, if it is and you dont' have any corals in there keep dosing it it will soone be gone. I had red algae, i think it was cyanobacteria on my back glass, I added sugar and it melted right before my eyes. Maintanence free :)

Update: Those of you who tried to put me down for this method, just so you know, I am still using sugar and I have already saved a lot more money in salt than I have in my tank with fish. Point proven :)
So for all of you who are using it, I just wanted to let you know that you shouldn't be afraid of killing anything. :p
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8474044#post8474044 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by fishykid9212
Is that because of the sugar, if it is and you dont' have any corals in there keep dosing it it will soone be gone. I had red algae, i think it was cyanobacteria on my back glass, I added sugar and it melted right before my eyes. Maintanence free :)

Update: Those of you who tried to put me down for this method, just so you know, I am still using sugar and I have already saved a lot more money in salt than I have in my tank with fish. Point proven :)
So for all of you who are using it, I just wanted to let you know that you shouldn't be afraid of killing anything. :p
Click to expand...
We understand it works for many reefers but what you will do when the tank is done and good you can not keep adding the same amount of sugar to it you most to have some type of maintenance in mine don't you?
Keep adding all that sugar have to stop some day right? you need to come up with a maintenance dose.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8474415#post8474415 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Zoom
We understand it works for many reefers but what you will do when the tank is done and good you can not keep adding the same amount of sugar to it you most to have some type of maintenance in mine don't you?
Keep adding all that sugar have to stop some day right? you need to come up with a maintenance dose.
Click to expand...

We don't know the answer yet. If the theory is right that by adding the limiting element (carbon) we allow bacteria to grow more efficiently, therefore removing nitrate faster, then when bacteria die they start to flow in the water and removed by the skimmer. There is no reason to believe one day your biological filtration media (sand, rock) will reach full capacity and not able to support any more bacteria, at least not more so than if sugar is not added.

As far as maintenance, there are those who enjoy the labor of water change, siphoning, scraping. And there are those for the same limited free time would rather feed the tank and enjoy the feeding frenzy. I'd love to see to the day when we don't have to do any maintenance, all things will be automated, but that is unrealistic.

There is no doubt good water change routine is good for the water quality and good for the livestock, but don't dismiss any other means just because it challenges conventional way of doing things.

BTW, my tank had cleared up in two days, I have started to add sugar again, only in half the dose, in my case half tsp every three days (for my 120g tank) and will continue to observe my tank appearance and nitrate level.
 
Well,it's been about a week since I stopped dosing sugar and vinegar,and started using BioClean by prodibio.I noticed yesterday that a small patch of diatoms came back on a rock.I just put the 2nd dose of bioclean in the tank.I'll try it for another month,if nothing i'm going back to sugar and vinegar.:)
 
Holy cow, day three of my sugar experiment. Let me just say that the bloom of white bacteria is quite unnerving.
I think the extent of bloom is related to the amount of nitrate you have. :)
I am trying this on a 100G skimmerless tank I have that consistently has 150+ readings and the bloom is pretty thick.
It simply amazes me what 1tsp of sugar can do.

Anyway, none of my inhabitants seem to mind, I think my encrusting gorgonians are eating it since they are extended like
crazy as well as the zoas I have in there. My groupers are acting normal and I haven't found any dead snails or crabs.

I did throw four air stones into the tank just to be safe. I was thinking of doing a few 80% water changes, but I am going to wait it out since it is clearing and the nitrates are dropping.

This isn't for the faint of heart, or anyone without the resources to take some quick action if something goes wrong...I might have got a little heavy handed with last nights dose when day 1 and 2 produced only a small bloom....time will tell.
 
Kryppy, yeah, on a skimmerless tank, I would be even MORE nervous. After seeing what the skimmer pulls out after dosing sugar, I wouldn't dose without one.

How much was your initial dose and then follow up doses? What was your starting Nitrate level in the tank?
 
Tagging along here as I would ike to give this a try. Is 1/2 tsp the right amount to start with a 75g tank?

Is this better/safer than using liquor method (I've to go search that thrd--anyone have a link to that?)?

Thanks!
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8482455#post8482455 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by klasiksb
Kryppy, yeah, on a skimmerless tank, I would be even MORE nervous. After seeing what the skimmer pulls out after dosing sugar, I wouldn't dose without one.

How much was your initial dose and then follow up doses? What was your starting Nitrate level in the tank?
Click to expand...

Total volume is about 150 gallons.
I started with 1/2 tsp. The nitrates were about 160, got a small bloom which cleared rather quickly.
Day 2 i bumped it up to 3/4 and it seemingly had no effect. Yesterday nitrate was down to 130 and I dosed about 1.5 tsp....about 40 minutes later the massive bloom began.
My filter sock is rapidly getting filled with crap and every filter feeder is extended as far as they can and look happy. I think I can see new growth in a big red sponge I have in there. :)
The fish (2 groupers) and a massive carpet look normal.
It is starting to clear up a bit now, a little later I am going to do a full test.
I think I will probably stop dosing for now as I don't want to drop the nitrates so low in such a short time, as it has been at this level for years.
I suppose I should have built a denitratefir, but this was more exciting.
 
Definitely ease the tank into the sugar routine, no need to rush and get nitrate down fast, since you have had high nitrate for so long. Some of the observations such as extension might have a little to do with lower nitrate level making them "happier".

Keep us updated as your tank seems to test how far this sugar treatment can go.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

C
Need advice
Replies
1
Views
1K
Uncle99
Uncle99
Tamara Marshall
Comprehensive Article About Anaerobic Bacteria - Manta Systems Article
Replies
0
Views
1K
Tamara Marshall
Tamara Marshall
U
Goniopora
Replies
3
Views
164
Uncle99
Uncle99
R
some random questions
Replies
1
Views
226
SantaMonica
S
S
Nutrient Export
Replies
0
Views
2K
SantaMonica
S
Back
Top