¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Alk vs Nitrate & Phosphate Export Methods

DiZASTiX

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Hi Randy; to confirm my understanding of your writings in other threads:

  • Carbon dosing doesn't create alk; it liberates alk that was consumed during nitrification:
    -[x mols Alk from Nitrification] + [y mols Alk from CaRx, Kalk, 2-part] + [x mols from carbon dosing] = [y mols Alk]

  • Plants and algae farming doesn't decrease alk, but it won't replenish alk consumed during nitrification either:
    -[x mols Alk from Nitrification] + [y mols Alk from CaRx, Kalk, 2-part] = [y-x mols Alk]

  • Sulfur reactors consume alk:
    -[x mols Alk from Nitrification] + [y mols Alk from CaRx, Kalk, 2-part] - [z mols Alk from SRx] = [y-x-z mols Alk]

The context is: I use ZEOvit system, but am considering a sulfur reactor at a low amount, since I find myself phosphate-limited a lot (and dosing phosphate to tank). And I have two spare calcium reactors. I find it troublesome because I use with Trident, a Kalk reactor + CaRx. Also I have a few dozen R mangles growing.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Thanks.
 

Randy Holmes-Farley

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Hi Randy; to confirm my understanding of your writings in other threads:

  • Carbon dosing doesn't create alk; it liberates alk that was consumed during nitrification:
    -[x mols Alk from Nitrification] + [y mols Alk from CaRx, Kalk, 2-part] + [x mols from carbon dosing] = [y mols Alk]

  • Plants and algae farming doesn't decrease alk, but it won't replenish alk consumed during nitrification either:
    -[x mols Alk from Nitrification] + [y mols Alk from CaRx, Kalk, 2-part] = [y-x mols Alk]

  • Sulfur reactors consume alk:
    -[x mols Alk from Nitrification] + [y mols Alk from CaRx, Kalk, 2-part] - [z mols Alk from SRx] = [y-x-z mols Alk]

The context is: I use ZEOvit system, but am considering a sulfur reactor at a low amount, since I find myself phosphate-limited a lot (and dosing phosphate to tank). And I have two spare calcium reactors. I find it troublesome because I use with Trident, a Kalk reactor + CaRx. Also I have a few dozen R mangles growing.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Thanks.

Carbon dosing can boost alkalinity directly if the organic dosed is something like sodium acetate, calcium formate, etc. Both Tropic Marin and Salifert have "all in one products" like this. Ordinary dosing of ethanol, acetic acid (vinegar), sugar, methanol, etc. have no direct impact on alkalinity.

If nitrate is dropping by biological consumption, for any reason that includes carbon dosing and other methods, alkalinity will be added at a rate of 2.3 dKH per 50 ppm of nitrate.

macroalgae and microalgae have no direct impact on alkalinity except as they consume and actually lower nitrate and/or phosphate (tiny effect), UNLESS they are a calcifying algae such as Halimeda.

Sulfur reactors will consume alkalinity, Some of that effect may be offset by dissolving calcium carbonate in them, which reduces the alk drop, but then increases calcium.
 
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DiZASTiX

DiZASTiX

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If nitrate is dropping by biological consumption, for any reason that includes carbon dosing and other methods, alkalinity will be added at a rate of 2.3 dKH per 50 ppm of nitrate.

Thanks for the fast response, Randy. But here, is this 2.3 dKH / 50 ppm nitrate the same 2.3 dKH / 50 ppm that was consumed when bacteria turned ammonia into nitrate?
 

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Thanks for the fast response, Randy. But here, is this 2.3 dKH / 50 ppm nitrate the same 2.3 dKH / 50 ppm that was consumed when bacteria turned ammonia into nitrate?

Yes, it is exactly the same.

So when nitrate is steady, at any level, the effects exactly offset.
 
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