Carbon dosing - I have always liked it. The tank spotlight in my signature I used mostly vodka for a long time, couple years. Its not only for nutrient control but also to boost the microorganisms. In fact I didn’t really run it for nutrients but more as food.
Past few years with new system I have been running chaeto - small amount of carbon from all for reef although went exclusively to kalk a while back.
I do have to dose chaetogro to keep it running well, but I don’t mind, was vodka before. I do like the chaeto is low maintenance carbon dosing was fussier ime running it several years. The macro is more forgiving of not monitoring nutrient levels.
We are at a point in the hobby now so many techniques have been used and produced world class tanks that I hesitate to call anything the “best”. Some strategies are better suited for some tanks, but everything has pros and cons and it’s good to remain objective about it. Often we feel whatever we are doing currently is the best and ignore downsides. It is smart for a hobbiest to learn all they can and even read the older books to see techniques that are not seen anymore but used many years ago.
Imo to claim something is better in the hobby now or the best hands down, you really need to be able to prove it with a tank that exceeds any system running counter methods - quite a hard task. Unless someone is keeping coral no one else is able (not using their maintenance or techniques) or has drastically better color, or breed fish or keep a population others can’t unless they change to match the claimed “best” - how whatever claimed really the best?
Past few years with new system I have been running chaeto - small amount of carbon from all for reef although went exclusively to kalk a while back.
I do have to dose chaetogro to keep it running well, but I don’t mind, was vodka before. I do like the chaeto is low maintenance carbon dosing was fussier ime running it several years. The macro is more forgiving of not monitoring nutrient levels.
We are at a point in the hobby now so many techniques have been used and produced world class tanks that I hesitate to call anything the “best”. Some strategies are better suited for some tanks, but everything has pros and cons and it’s good to remain objective about it. Often we feel whatever we are doing currently is the best and ignore downsides. It is smart for a hobbiest to learn all they can and even read the older books to see techniques that are not seen anymore but used many years ago.
Imo to claim something is better in the hobby now or the best hands down, you really need to be able to prove it with a tank that exceeds any system running counter methods - quite a hard task. Unless someone is keeping coral no one else is able (not using their maintenance or techniques) or has drastically better color, or breed fish or keep a population others can’t unless they change to match the claimed “best” - how whatever claimed really the best?