organic carbon dosing

[HighlandReefer]

Calcium acetate will provide a carbon source like vinegar, but you will need to dose it to maintain your alkalinity level like when using lime water (kalk water). Calcium acetate will supply alk and calcium at the same ratio as coral use them. You can't use calcium acetate to increase levels of just alk or calcium since it boosts both at the same time. It is used to maintain the alk and calcim levels and two-part will need to be used to make any necessary adjustments. The carbon source provided by using calcium acetate is a bonus in that respect.

I'm don't know what the equivalent dose of vinegar would be per a given amount of calcium acetate, but you may need more of this carbon source than calcium acetate can provide without driving your alk level through the roof.

FWIW, calcium acetate is expensive too.

 

[fishflorist]

Calcium acetate will provide a carbon source like vinegar, but you will need to dose it to maintain your alkalinity level like when using lime water (kalk water). Calcium acetate will supply alk and calcium at the same ratio as coral use them. You can't use calcium acetate to increase levels of just alk or calcium since it boosts both at the same time. It is used to maintain the alk and calcim levels and two-part will need to be used to make any necessary adjustments. The carbon source provided by using calcium acetate is a bonus in that respect.

I'm don't know what the equivalent dose of vinegar would be per a given amount of calcium acetate, but you may need more of this carbon source than calcium acetate can provide without driving your alk level through the roof.

FWIW, calcium acetate is expensive too.

OK then, looks like I need to find some reliable source of acetic acid .


What's your daily dosage of Vodka and Vinegar now , and how many Gallons is your tank ?
I am now using only 1-2 ml vodka daily and find the result quite good , I do not test nitrate and amonia since the Salifert always does not show anything , and Hanna testing phosphate is around 0-0.02ppm. But one thing I didnt mention is I am using a zeolite reactor and about 2kg zeolite in it. I suppose zoelite helped controling amonia and phosphate a lot ? my tank 200G total.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

You do not have vinegar sold in food stores?

I do not think the zeolites do much at all except provide a space for bacteria to grow.

 

[fishflorist]

You do not have vinegar sold in food stores?

I do not think the zeolites do much at all except provide a space for bacteria to grow.

I do not know if the vinegar in food store is safe enough , I am afraid of impurities in it.
We have two kinds of vinegars in China, one is black colored and is made by zymolysis, but it's black , many different things in it definitely can not be used.

and another one is transparent but I think most of them may be made by Glacial acetic acid and tap water ... or mineral water best possibility. tap water must be not safe enough ? I dont think they use distilled water to dilute Glacial acetic acid to 5% in China. So I would like to buy some reliable acetic acid of higher concentration and dilute by myself.


mention to the zeolite , why do you think it useless ? I heard it is well used in industry field as it has a ion-exchange ability ? in the other hand I thought it will also provide much space for the bacteria but now what I am thinking is, tunnels inside zeolite allows only ions and small molecules like water molecules to pass (as I know, dont know is it right), how can it provide large space to the bacteria , bacteria must be much biger than molecules ?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I wouldn't use the black one, but a clear one is probably OK, unless it might be contaminated with copper.

I didn't say it was useless, just that I think it does nothing more than provide a good place for bacteria. They grow in the surface, not in the pores. GAC can do that as well.

 

[fishflorist]

thanks Randy , I just don't trust on these food manufacturers. I'd rather trust those chemical makers.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

OK, good luck.

 

[machodik]

So, in conclusion, as per my situation right now;

I am dosing with Vodka 3 ml per day (my aquarium is about 280 liters) and I think I will increase further to 3.5 ml by next week, as I have not seen my No3 is decreasing further, as of now it get back to about 15 ppm (api color chart between 20 and 10 ppm marked). so if I need to co-dosing with vinegar, the this means that I have to add everyday dosing of 28 ml of vinegar? and is this for everyday ?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Every day, yes.

 

[machodik]

Every day, yes.

is the yes also for co-dosing Vodka 3.5ml/day + vinegar 28ml/day?

if so, how fast the KH will then be dropping? as per my experiences, with only vodka dosing, kh intend to drop every 4 days or so. from 15 to 11 marked

 

[bertoni]

Many tanks need daily alkalinity dosing. I'm not sure I understand, though. Alkalinity consumption and vodka dosing are not linked closely.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

My yes was just that organic carbon dosing is usually done every day.