prodibio biodigest

[CTaylor]

Hi,

I found yesterday that I have 20+ nitrate.
>>>>*How long will it take for me to see levels get below 5 ppm? Assuming it works as expected? I know other things can factor in.

Background:
I had the priodiobio overnighted to me, as it's the weekend coming, and too long with this level paired with too low phosphate ('0' ppBillion on Hanna) I dont think is a great recipe. Some corals look stressed, one partially necrosed (may be from a crab, may not). So I'm ready to drop it in as soon as UPS gets here.

**Also I ordered as more long term of a steady solution Xport NO3 Dimpled Brick + microbacter7 to seed it << that I will start once the brick is seeded . The brick I see as a long term solution to keep levels down ideally without having to keep dosing prodiobio.

This taught me to test more often! Nitrates have been 3-7 ppm for a very long time. Last test was probably 3 months ago if not more, though. Nothing changed really in bioload, though something's changed that I can't pinpoint. I'm hoping the brick will be a good insurance (with frequent testing). My tank is 110 gallons + 20 gallons of water in my 40 gallon sump.

 

[mcgyvr]

My experience is that bacteria in a bottle products like that will do NOTHING to your nitrate levels.. IMO you wasted your money on overnight shipping for sure and likely will see little to no effect from the prodibio.

The brick can/will have an effect as it can increase surface area as well as provide the potential for low oxygen level areas often necessary for denitrifying bacteria and yes thats longer term solution..

IMO carbon dosing will be more effective than adding more/different bacterial strains..
I would start dosing vinegar personally.. $2 for a gallon or whatever and you are good for months and nitrates will potentially drop in no time..

 

[CTaylor]

My experience is that bacteria in a bottle products like that will do NOTHING to your nitrate levels.. IMO you wasted your money on overnight shipping for sure and likely will see little to no effect from the prodibio.

The brick can/will have an effect as it can increase surface area as well as provide the potential for low oxygen level areas often necessary for denitrifying bacteria and yes thats longer term solution..

IMO carbon dosing will be more effective than adding more/different bacterial strains..
I would start dosing vinegar personally.. $2 for a gallon or whatever and you are good for months and nitrates will potentially drop in no time..

Mcg
I'd agree with you with everything. But 90% of the reviews for the prodibio say it has reduced thie NO3 significantly.. i've read 1 or maybe 2 that disagreed with that. But I got the brick as an add on on the chance it does do nothing.

I do not want daily or frequent dosing of anything, or as little as possible, and if I need to then, something that is closer to 'natural.' So it's one reason I didn twant to do C dosing. Yes, the brick was more of a long term slower acting solution, and to try to lessen any spikes in the future.

THOUGH I need to read quickly on C dosing. That is with Vodka, right? and that in emergency can bring the NO3 right down? I may need that right now to at least drop the NO3 right away and use the other to keep it down.

TY

 

[reefgeezer]

I do not want daily or frequent dosing of anything, or as little as possible, and if I need to then, something that is closer to 'natural.' So it's one reason I didn twant to do C dosing.

THOUGH I need to read quickly on C dosing. That is with Vodka, right? and that in emergency can bring the NO3 right down? I may need that right now to at least drop the NO3 right away and use the other to keep it down.

TY

Carbon dosing is not intended to drop nutrients "right down" nor is it capable of doing so safely. Additionally, the lack of phosphate in your system would limit its effectiveness. 20 ppm of nitrate isn't terrible. Water changes, export of organics like skimming, cutting back on feeding, and the "Brick" will bring it down over time. If you must, big water changes are the best way to drop nitrates. a 50% water change will drop your nitrates to 10 ppm. A second would drop it to 5 ppm... for a while. I don't know about the Probito, but would be surprised if it had a big effect.

 

[CTaylor]

Carbon dosing is not intended to drop nutrients "right down" nor is it capable of doing so safely. Additionally, the lack of phosphate in your system would limit its effectiveness. 20 ppm of nitrate isn't terrible. Water changes, export of organics like skimming, cutting back on feeding, and the "Brick" will bring it down over time. If you must, big water changes are the best way to drop nitrates. a 50% water change will drop your nitrates to 10 ppm. A second would drop it to 5 ppm... for a while. I don't know about the Probito, but would be surprised if it had a big effect.

I'll do at least 25% wc this weekend at same time dose the prodibio and start the brick. At least then the nitrate should be sloping down, after an initial 25% drop. I'll test a few days later to see what step to take next. Hopefully it goes down, albeit slowly.
TY for the point on the PO4 and effectiveness.. I'll have to see what happens. And perhaps that's why I have higher NO3 now because of near total 0 phosphate. I always had super low PO4 even before I had much of any chaeto in refug. But I need the refug to prevent nuisance algae in my DT. But tht extra chaeto just dropped the PO4 from tiny (7 ppBillion) to zero lol ugggghh.

 

[mcgyvr]

Good luck with the Prodibio..

As to carbon dosing.. You can just use vinegar as stated above.. Super cheap and easy.. and yes its not a "rapid" process (if you want that water changes are the only way to rapidly drop nitrates) but it can work fairly quickly (a couple weeks)..
Carbon dosing seems to have a greater effect on nitrates but can lower phosphates some and has been shown to work for some even when phosphate levels are already low..
While it may seem counter-intuitive increasing feedings along with carbon dosing can work well to lower nutrient levels..

 

[CTaylor]

Thanks McG
I'm trying to now find best source , brand for phosphate. I posted a new thread asking that.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?p=25607416#post25607416
I feel the combo of 0'd out phosph and higher NO3 can really make my situation much worse than just a little po4 and higher NO3.

At least my tank isn't crashing.. as matter of fact I wouldnt know I had an issue if I didnt randomly test (which needs to not be random anymore). But I've known for a week or so an acro was looking bad at the tips and a Bnest has tissue missing on parts. But if I get these issues fixed I'm anxious to see how everyone looks. Maybe better than ever.