NO3:PO4-x conversion to vinegar

[Dan_P]

That's an interesting question. I am guessing that you mean the amount of organic carbon needed per units of nitrogen or phosphorus removed?

Exactly!

Carbon dosing is likely inspired by the carbon dosing success in aquaculture. Neither the scientific work nor the aquaculture practitioners seemed to have taken the empirical approach of slowly increasing the amount of carbon dosed to see a result. They calculated the dose based on the amount and protein content of the feed. In one study, the calculated amount of carbon was doubled to take into account organic nitrogen in the sediment.

In aquaculture, the aim is to have ammonia consumed before it can be oxidized to nitrate, so, there does not seem to be any investigations concerning preexisting nitrate reduction, though the study that doubled the carbon dose to account for sediment nitrogen seems like it could apply to the preexisting nitrate situation.

 

[bertoni]

That's interesting, but I also wonder whether the action of carbon in our tanks is to remove ammonia and let other processes remove nitrate. So our tanks might be functioning much as the systems are in aquaculture.

 

[Dan_P]

That's interesting, but I also wonder whether the action of carbon in our tanks is to remove ammonia and let other processes remove nitrate. So our tanks might be functioning much as the systems are in aquaculture.

My small scale experiments, excruciatingly slow, have not provided answers yet. Like most preliminary experiments, they are helping to zero in on exactly what questions to answer. Your notion above is just one of several questions I will try to get information on. I am also interested in determining whether aerobic or anoxic conditions are important, and the role of sediment in the process.

The dosing study on my fish only system is turning up an interesting observation on alkalinity consumption rates as the carbon dose increases. I will share the year long study results at the end of the year. Spoiler: alkalinity has gone from being consumed to being produced (apparently).

 

[cwschoon]

Off topic and a dated thread but it looks like some experts are weighing in here.....Can I use nopox in conjunction with chemi pure blue? I know carbon use is acceptable-red sea tech help told me that but is not getting back to me on this question- but wondering if the other resins in blue will render nopox ineffective.