Vodka Dosing 101

[BIGSHOW]

Benzz your tank is 63 gallons isn't it? So your dealing with small water volumes.  Water changes would be the best as mentioned above, but the cubes IMO are you second best bet.  They will be cheaper then pellets on your system and only require an air pump, clogging isnt an issue with the bomb method which is common in pellet use without modifications to reactors.  I know several hobbyists who seen immediate drops in the NO3 when they used the required amount of cubes.  I have not heard of any cyano outbreaks as a result of the cubes either.

First plan of attack should be to determine why your nitrates are so high.  If its the result of overfeeding, heavy bioload, then you should address these issues (reduce feeding, remove some livestock or add a long term carbon source (cubes would still be my first choice based on YOUR system).  If its leaching rock, then LARGE percentage water changes would be your best bet.

I don't sell the cubes, or the pellets, but I do drink vodka.

 

[Salty Cracker]

Pellet reactors are old news.  Get with the times Salty

That's what you said about bio balls!

 

[benzzz]

thanks guys for the info and comments. I am still up in the air and know I just need to get the nitrates down.

Doing some more reading on cubes , pellets and such.

systems water total is approx 115 gallons

 

[benzzz]

I have used all of the above methods to address the persistently high nitrates in my very old system With varying results.  Carbon dosing to reduce levels is a totally different game than maintenance dosing.

IMO...

Unless you have hit the point that your system has built up a \"nitrate bank\" just  use larger water changes to reduce your levels.  The risk free method. 

If you have a bank built up ie: test water before and after a change...water change reduces levels by proportionate amount but a couple days later test again and levels have returned to previous levels.

This I am going to try today. I have approx 30g of fresh SW. I am going to do a wc. I have results from yesterdays test so you say wait until say Friday and retest?
I will feed fish before wc and skip tomorrow's feeding.

 

[benzzz]

[quote author=BIGSHOW link=topic=7922.msg83477#msg83477 date=1393417529]
Pellet reactors are old news.  Get with the times Salty

That's what you said about bio balls!
[/quote]

OMG I still have a 5g pail full in my garage of Bio balls lol.

 

[BIGSHOW]

[quote author=BIGSHOW link=topic=7922.msg83477#msg83477 date=1393417529]
Pellet reactors are old news.  Get with the times Salty

That's what you said about bio balls!
[/quote]

I am a sucker for blue balls, what can I say.

 

[AdInfinitum]

[quote author=AdInfinitum link=topic=7922.msg83483#msg83483 date=1393419350]
I have used all of the above methods to address the persistently high nitrates in my very old system With varying results.  Carbon dosing to reduce levels is a totally different game than maintenance dosing.

IMO...

Unless you have hit the point that your system has built up a \"nitrate bank\" just  use larger water changes to reduce your levels.  The risk free method. 

If you have a bank built up ie: test water before and after a change...water change reduces levels by proportionate amount but a couple days later test again and levels have returned to previous levels.

Incidently, between 40 and 50 ppm was the equilibrium point that my system stalled at for a long time.  I could change 100 gallons and a few days later the nitrates were right back to where they were with an extremely small bioload minimal feeding etc.

This I am going to try today. I have approx 30g of fresh SW. I am going to do a wc. I have results from yesterdays test so you say wait until say Friday and retest?
I will feed fish before wc and skip tomorrow's feeding.
[/quote]

Yes, if you have a buildup of material in your rock and substrate, the nitrate level will keep bouncing back to its equilibrium point until you eventually exhaust the supply through good habits, lots of water changes, physical filtration (socks), and carbon dosing of some form . 

I agree with Dave on the Bio-cubes being the least risky way to go with a smaller system for sure.

 

[Bayinaung]

the nitrates might have stressed the corals you have already so be careful to reduce it slowly. I was overfeeding my tank and had a nitrate spike which I didn't notice till one of my corals wasn't looking good. then I used carbon dosing, which dropped the nitrates but the change seemed to have stressed some of the corals even more. so do it at a nice pace.

 

[benzzz]

Ok good to know guys thanks,

water change just completed. will add a couple update pics in my member thread to show my new water change system.... no buckets involved... worked wicked !!!!  ;D ;D ;D

 

[benzzz]

BTW I am hoping that 30g will drop it to 20 ppm.... crossed fingers

 

[curiousphil]

You can easily figure out how much your nitrates are going to drop with x gallon water changes.

If your total volume is approx 115 gallons, and you changed out 30, then that is a 26% water change.  Your nitrates will drop by the same percentage, 26%.  26% of 40ppm is 29.6ppm.  Lets see how close that turns out to be!

It can certainly be frustrating trying to reduce nitrates.  Here's a good illustration of how to rapidly reduce nitrates through water changes:
http://saltaquarium.about.com/od/nitratecontrol/ss/sbsnitratereduction_2.htm

 

[benzzz]

Good little read Thanks.

How long before I check...? couple days like suggested?

 

[AdInfinitum]

Check immediately and again in a couple of days to see if the levels hold or bounce right back.  That will let you know what you're dealing with.

 

[benzzz]

NO3 was 3ppm.
Going to scrap the vodka/ vinegar dosing idea. All comments and suggestions led me to buying a reactor and Ekobak.

 

[Jewel]

Good to hear, I think if you're looking for an ultra low nutrient system designed for SPS then fine but you're systems are mostly LPS and softies, they're may be no need, My Reactor and pellets are still sitting on the shelf.

 

[benzzz]

No softies here  :-[

Mostly redoing tank with SPS and a  couple LPS and Zoas.

I am on day 2 of no lights and cyano is almost gone. 1 more day to go while the skimmer is running full tilt to export cyano die off. Will see where I sit once lights come back on for a few days. Will do 1 more 30 g WC Sunday before lights come back on.