NO3:PO4-x conversion to vinegar

How does one determine if the maintenance dose of carbon source is correct?

I'm starting to see diatoms on my sandbed - is that an indicator of overdosing carbon?

I'm getting consistent 0 reading for nitrates (salifert kit), and 0-0.04 (Hanna ULR checker). There are some nutrients in the water, as I get some macro algae growth on the overflow, and algae film on the glass after about 6 days or so.

Currently dosing about 8ml of tmz's recipe into 120g medium stocked system.

-droog
 
We don't have any good data the subject. I might cut back on the dose slowly, to see what happens. That should be safe enough.
 
droog said:
How does one determine if the maintenance dose of carbon source is correct?

I judge it by PO4 and NO3 levels as well as by an absence of excessive bacterial mass in display areas.

I'm starting to see diatoms on my sandbed - is that an indicator of overdosing carbon?

I don't think so; diatoms are autotrophic and don't need the organic carbon. I do seem to get a bit more of them since I stopped using GFO but I suspect that's from less silicate export..

I'm getting consistent 0 reading for nitrates (salifert kit), and 0-0.04 (Hanna ULR checker). There are some nutrients in the water, as I get some macro algae growth on the overflow, and algae film on the glass after about 6 days or so.

I clean the glass once a week;for microalge perhaps diatoms which I think are beneficial in reasonable amounts.

I use 36ml vodka and 80 ml vinegar daily for 650 gallons. NO3 is undetectable to 0.2ppm per salifert; PO4 is 0.02ppm to 0.04ppm per Salifert.



Currently dosing about 8ml of tmz's recipe into 120g medium stocked system.

You can tweak it down or up and observe at new levels for a week or two to find an optimal level suited to your tanks and preferemces in terms of algae , diatoms, coral color,etc.

-droog
Click to expand...
 
Sure, I'll do that.

I was not sure whether the diatoms were a result of carbon dosing or unrealated. I've read they occur when nutrients are imbalanced. I run a small amount of GFO along with the carbon, changed every 3-4 weeks. Maybe I should be turning off the GFO rather than lowering carbon dose.

In fact I may leave everything alone because a particularly nasty macro algae in my DT (lobophora variegata) seems to be finally regressing / dying off.

-droog
 
You might be seeing cyanobacteria, rather than diatoms. Do you have a microscope? If so, you might be able to id the organism in question.
 
No microscope handy, but it may well be cyano rather than diatoms. Would that this change the recommended course of action?

-droog
 
If it is diatoms and a troublesome amount I would add new GFO in case it's an issue with silicates that diatoms like.
 
I'd probably wait a bit before making big changes.

If it's cyano it's not uncommon during the start up phase, IME. Even though most cyano species are autotrophic and rely on CO2 to meet most if not all of their needs for carbon , they do seem to benefit from some of the extra organic carbon early in the process. That might be from a declining level of completion for other nutrients as other users like diatoms and nuisance algae begin to wane in the early stages of growth in the heterotrophic bacteria. It should abate over time; in the meantime I'd siphon out as much as possible and clean up any detritus accumulations.
 
If the nitrate level has come down a lot (I don't know where the tank was at the start), I might back off a tiny bit, but waiting is a reasonable idea, too.
 
I'm up to 9/20 ml of vodka and vinegar. Week 4. Cut back on feedings and skimmer is working. Slight drop in nitrates. I'd say still around 75 or so but it appears to be lighter than last week.

Corey
 
Whats a good starting dose for a 180g mixed reef with good sized fish? I made the diy nopox with vodka and vinegar and have been doing 2ml per day but not sure if thats too little of a dose. Thanks.
 
After my move I re setup my system. Been going for several weeks now and was using some old no pox that was almost gone and had a hole in the top of the cap from having it on a dosing pump.
Tonight I went to the liquor store and bought a 1.75 liter of Skol vodka, 40% 80 proof distilled from grain. And mixed 1 part into 2 parts 5% acidity distilled white vinegar.

I read the entire thread yesterday and am greatful you guy did the chemistry and the math to make it easy for all of us to make the transition.
I started with the new carbon solution today at half the volume of the old no pox I have been dosing and plan to gradually increase dose and monitor the parameters. I believe my 1:2 vodka,vinager is much more carbon consintrated than the old no pox.
 
droog said:
How does one determine if the maintenance dose of carbon source is correct?

I'm starting to see diatoms on my sandbed - is that an indicator of overdosing carbon?

I'm getting consistent 0 reading for nitrates (salifert kit), and 0-0.04 (Hanna ULR checker). There are some nutrients in the water, as I get some macro algae growth on the overflow, and algae film on the glass after about 6 days or so.

Currently dosing about 8ml of tmz's recipe into 120g medium stocked system.

-droog
Click to expand...
In my tank, I have a "too much" indicator. It's a light pink "algae" (almost certain its actually a bacteria) that is bubble gum or cotton candy colored, grows in long, slimy sometimes tough strands in darker and/or high flow areas. I searched quite a while, but can't find any pics of it online.
When I have it, I'm dosing too much. My current dose is the biggest level that I don't see the pink stuff.
9/20 ml vodka/vinegar I see it
7.5/16 ml vodka/vinegar I don't.
Abt 70 gal volume.
 
Well, I'd personally just assume it's 5%, the same as standard vinegar, and dose accordingly, although I'd watch carefully for the first few days. The standard dosing schedule is very conservative. I don't think that the concentration will be very high because the product would become dangerous to handle. Does the packaging say anything about handling risk?
 
only vinegar thing I've ever seen that wasn't 5%. I saw a bottle in the grocery store labeled "special cleaning strength"
And I thought ooh, cool.
Label: it's a whopping 6%
 
I don't know the location but isn't it common to be more then 5% in other parts of the world? But I agree with bertoni in that you could use the vinegar chart for 5% or the vodka chartx8 and slowly ramp up as those charts are fairly conservative.
 
dartier said:
Pickling vinegar is 7%. That is the strongest that I have run across.

Dennis
Click to expand...
http://www.amazon.com/Vinegar-Essenz-Concentrated-percent-fl-oz/dp/B000LRH7TY



http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B006D..._UL100_SR100,100_&refRID=0YJEEZQXQWCTE1BD31CV
716rjAcckPL._SL1500_.jpg
 
taricha said:
In my tank, I have a "too much" indicator. It's a light pink "algae" (almost certain its actually a bacteria) that is bubble gum or cotton candy colored, grows in long, slimy sometimes tough strands in darker and/or high flow areas. I searched quite a while, but can't find any pics of it online.
When I have it, I'm dosing too much. My current dose is the biggest level that I don't see the pink stuff.
9/20 ml vodka/vinegar I see it
7.5/16 ml vodka/vinegar I don't.
Abt 70 gal volume.
Click to expand...

Thanks for this. Very useful information. I do sometimes see stands of something develop in the tank - looks a bit like strand of a spider web.

-droog
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

takayan
Conversion from μM to mg for NO3- and PO4-
Replies
2
Views
802
takayan
takayan
V
DIY alternative to AZNO3?
Replies
5
Views
3K
vahegan
V
D
Vinegar dosing and pH
Replies
8
Views
1K
Jonesrd1
Jonesrd1
Hitch08
Switching from NOPOX to Vinegar
Replies
7
Views
1K
bertoni
B
D
dosing kalk to raise ph
Replies
9
Views
1K
bertoni
B
Back
Top