Vinegar Dosing Increase question

[mavl666]

I started dosing vinegar about 2 months ago. I eventually got the Nitrates down to 5ppm at 20ml daily. I increased the dosage trying to get to 0ppm and am at 40ml daily. However, it seems my Nitrates are back up to 40ppm. Should I increase the dosage or drop back down to 20ml daily?
Any suggestions appreciated.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Any change in the appearance of the tank?

 

[mavl666]

Randy,
That would be a big yes. I have better polyp extension on my leathers and my zoas are extremely larger than before. Also, seems like less detritus in the sand bed. I do have a small cyano outbreak since I started dosing but nothing major. It was also like this at 20ml daily so no big change with the increase so far.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

What size tank is this?

 

[mavl666]

It is a 75g DT with 30g sump.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I think 20-40 is a reasonable dose and if phosphate is still high, I'd use some GFO rather than upping to dose much more. I don't really trust most nitrates kits enough to focus too much on the actual values.

 

[mavl666]

Randy,
I run two Kent reactors in-line off one small pump. One has GFO and the other Carbon. So should I decrease my dosage or leave it be?

Thanks
Mark

 

[bertoni]

I'd raise the dose of GFO slowly.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Is there any algae problem?

 

[mavl666]

Tons of hair algae.
Here is a pic of my overflow.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Then I agree increasing the GFO slowly is a good plan. Getting something that eats it is also a good plan.

 

[mavl666]

Thanks.
I will increase GFO. But what will eat at this length an urchin?

 

[Big E]

I think 20-40 is a reasonable dose and if phosphate is still high, I'd use some GFO rather than upping to dose much more. I don't really trust most nitrates kits enough to focus too much on the actual values.

This kind of parallels where I'm at right now. I'm on week 5 & am at 25ml on 100g total system. I had some pesky slime algae & green cyano when I started which has considerabley subsided.

I haven't tested actual numbers as visual works good enough for me, but I'm seeing that my acros slowed growing over the past week. I'm going to drop back to 20ml & slowly work in some GFO, which I haven't run at all yet.

Just tweeeking along tortise style...............

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Thanks.
I will increase GFO. But what will eat at this length an urchin?

I'd guess a yellow tang would love it. Snails might eat in from the sides.

 

[mavl666]

Thanks for the help. I will swap out my GFO today and add more in than I usually do into the reactor. I had a Yellow Tang but it wouldn't touch it this long, not even a Kole or Rabbit fish. I will get an urchin instead. I know it may eat som coraline but right now its worth the sacrifice if the hair algae will go away. I also plan to get a Reef Octo skimmer in the next few months. The skimmer i have now I don't think is very good.

 

[insomniac2k2]

Interesting. My yellow tang destroys hair algae of any length. I don't have any, but every time i pick up a frag, they make sure that its spotless in minutes.

Obviously you have very large proportions of GHA. Maybe yours is just intimidated

 

[Psyops]

I was starting to have some algae problems also with dosing vinegar. I actually added another (older) skimmer. My algae decreased. Also my nitrates decreased to there lowest levels ever. If you are going to dose vinegar then you will need a very good skimmer placed in the proper position in your filtration system. I would probably not add too much more vinegar until you get a good skimmer. Try a lawnmower blennie. Mine seems to be doing a very good job.