I've talked about and had a lot of conversations around the impacts of dosing Carbon (C) to reef aquariums to fuel bacterial populations to consume nitrates. I have 4 mediums for consuming Nitrates in my tank, that generate bacterial populations that all consume Oxygen and increase Carbon Dioxide (CO2) within my 340 gallon mixed reef.
1. Algae turf Scrubber (consumes C and releases O2 into the water, not at the levels I need)
2. Vodka dosing, raising vodka dosing to 35 ml per day - Grows bacteria that consume O2 and release C into the water
3. Bio Pellet reactor - Breeds Nitrate reducing Bacteria that then consume O2 and releases C into the water
4. Matrix Rock along with Aqua Char - In a Cannister filter (filter cartridge removed and filled with matrix and Aqua Char) Bacterial populations should consume Nitrate, Oxygen and release Carbon.
5. Skimmer with CO2 reactor to filter CO2 from the air being injected into the water.
As a result of all this filtration I need Carbon Capture in my reef. My PH has dropped to 7.4 at night (calibrated Lab Grade PH probe in sump, near my skimmer output. During the day, it might get up to 7.7 - 7.75.
I at times wonder if there's a direct correlation or relationship to CO2, O2, and Nitrate Reducing bacteria levels. Is Bacteria O2 Limited. and what is the relationship between fresh O2 and PH?
My very limited understanding is that High O2 Levels = Higher PH. When I open the windows of my house, PH levels easily raise by .2-.3 during the day. I've not seen a PH of 8 since replacing and calibrating my PH probe. Which, leads me to believe I'm bordering near a crisis. If I had a power outage, how many minutes or hours am I from the fish suffocating to death without the pumps, circulation and skimmer of the tank operations? Obviously this can be off set by battery backup air pumps.
My goal is less about crisis management and more about how to have a healthy reef. Tank is 4 years operational going on it's 5th year.
I wanted to approach the question from a different direction. . . Is there an economical and easy to maintain way to capture carbon from my reef to enable greater oxygen saturation and increase the health of my reef's longevity. I don't know if it's suffering from old tank syndrome. Or If there's something I've done wrong over the years that has caused this situation. (Perpetual Nitrate production and the ever increasing need to perpetuate Nitrate eating bacteria).
I've looked at sulfur denitrators, but looking for something more economical and easier to maintain. Plus, between the four methods of nitrate reduction, something should work.
1. Algae turf Scrubber (consumes C and releases O2 into the water, not at the levels I need)
2. Vodka dosing, raising vodka dosing to 35 ml per day - Grows bacteria that consume O2 and release C into the water
3. Bio Pellet reactor - Breeds Nitrate reducing Bacteria that then consume O2 and releases C into the water
4. Matrix Rock along with Aqua Char - In a Cannister filter (filter cartridge removed and filled with matrix and Aqua Char) Bacterial populations should consume Nitrate, Oxygen and release Carbon.
5. Skimmer with CO2 reactor to filter CO2 from the air being injected into the water.
As a result of all this filtration I need Carbon Capture in my reef. My PH has dropped to 7.4 at night (calibrated Lab Grade PH probe in sump, near my skimmer output. During the day, it might get up to 7.7 - 7.75.
I at times wonder if there's a direct correlation or relationship to CO2, O2, and Nitrate Reducing bacteria levels. Is Bacteria O2 Limited. and what is the relationship between fresh O2 and PH?
My very limited understanding is that High O2 Levels = Higher PH. When I open the windows of my house, PH levels easily raise by .2-.3 during the day. I've not seen a PH of 8 since replacing and calibrating my PH probe. Which, leads me to believe I'm bordering near a crisis. If I had a power outage, how many minutes or hours am I from the fish suffocating to death without the pumps, circulation and skimmer of the tank operations? Obviously this can be off set by battery backup air pumps.
My goal is less about crisis management and more about how to have a healthy reef. Tank is 4 years operational going on it's 5th year.
I wanted to approach the question from a different direction. . . Is there an economical and easy to maintain way to capture carbon from my reef to enable greater oxygen saturation and increase the health of my reef's longevity. I don't know if it's suffering from old tank syndrome. Or If there's something I've done wrong over the years that has caused this situation. (Perpetual Nitrate production and the ever increasing need to perpetuate Nitrate eating bacteria).
I've looked at sulfur denitrators, but looking for something more economical and easier to maintain. Plus, between the four methods of nitrate reduction, something should work.