So, I want this to be less about what to not do and what is the right way to do things and maybe a couple consequences.
I've been vodka dosing (Carbon Source for bacteria) for about 6 months on my 340 gallon mixed reef to primarily control nitrates. Hoping for some phosphate control mixed in as well. I was up to 30 ml per day of vodka and it seemed that my nitrates stopped increasing and decreased / remained stable in the low 20s ppm. (Hanna Nitrate tester).
7 Weeks ago I added a pellet reactor thinking that would be even less maintenance and cheaper than vodka. And slowly, over the 7 weeks decreased my Vodka dosing down to around 10 ml per day. Reducing by 1-2 ml per week.
As I did this my Nitrates went from being managed in the 19-23 ppm area to 40-50 ppm. My phosphates went from being managed in the .04 to .09 ppm area to .40 ppm. 2 40-50% water changes in the 6 months of vodka dosing. (1 every 3 months or so hoping to decrease to 1 every 6 months).
So, that said. I realized the Pellet Reactor isn't doing what I would like it to do and need to raise my vodka dosing somewhat rapidly to get nitrates back under control. I also am dosing Micro Bacter Clean (claims it contains live bacterial strains and according to the vendor, the pellet reactor needs to be seeded with P&N Consuming Bacteria. I don't believe this, but, MB Clean seemed the best option for an old tank to add bacterial diversity.)
So, that said. Assuming the Pellet reactor will not do enough.. Ugg.. Not sure I'll even keep it operational when the pellets are gone. I may change it to an Aqua Char rector or something.
I plan to increase my vodka dosing back to meeting what my tank needs. Probably a 10:1 up to 15:1 ratio of ml of vodka to water volume. 340 gallon so, around 34 - 51 ml per day of vodka. I'm currently up to 15 ml per day.
All the carbon dosing recipes say to only increase by .5 ml per week. So, if dosing 15 ml per day. Then next week 15.5 ml per day then 2 weeks out 16 ml per day and so on.
Can I double my dosing from 15 ml to 30 ml per day within say a 7 day period? Increasing by 2 ml per day or something like that?
I understand the need to go much slower for 100 gallon systems or less. And I do notice a PH decrease. I was at 8.32 per day and now with the increased dosing my the high my ph gets to is around 8.12 and at night the low is around 8.05. Both well within acceptable areas.
In shot, I just need to know what are the consequences (and limits) of increasing vodka dosing per day. Or is it a safety net and since I've already been dosing for a while, within a week I could be back up to the 30-40 ml I was dosing a couple months ago?
I've been vodka dosing (Carbon Source for bacteria) for about 6 months on my 340 gallon mixed reef to primarily control nitrates. Hoping for some phosphate control mixed in as well. I was up to 30 ml per day of vodka and it seemed that my nitrates stopped increasing and decreased / remained stable in the low 20s ppm. (Hanna Nitrate tester).
7 Weeks ago I added a pellet reactor thinking that would be even less maintenance and cheaper than vodka. And slowly, over the 7 weeks decreased my Vodka dosing down to around 10 ml per day. Reducing by 1-2 ml per week.
As I did this my Nitrates went from being managed in the 19-23 ppm area to 40-50 ppm. My phosphates went from being managed in the .04 to .09 ppm area to .40 ppm. 2 40-50% water changes in the 6 months of vodka dosing. (1 every 3 months or so hoping to decrease to 1 every 6 months).
So, that said. I realized the Pellet Reactor isn't doing what I would like it to do and need to raise my vodka dosing somewhat rapidly to get nitrates back under control. I also am dosing Micro Bacter Clean (claims it contains live bacterial strains and according to the vendor, the pellet reactor needs to be seeded with P&N Consuming Bacteria. I don't believe this, but, MB Clean seemed the best option for an old tank to add bacterial diversity.)
So, that said. Assuming the Pellet reactor will not do enough.. Ugg.. Not sure I'll even keep it operational when the pellets are gone. I may change it to an Aqua Char rector or something.
I plan to increase my vodka dosing back to meeting what my tank needs. Probably a 10:1 up to 15:1 ratio of ml of vodka to water volume. 340 gallon so, around 34 - 51 ml per day of vodka. I'm currently up to 15 ml per day.
All the carbon dosing recipes say to only increase by .5 ml per week. So, if dosing 15 ml per day. Then next week 15.5 ml per day then 2 weeks out 16 ml per day and so on.
Can I double my dosing from 15 ml to 30 ml per day within say a 7 day period? Increasing by 2 ml per day or something like that?
I understand the need to go much slower for 100 gallon systems or less. And I do notice a PH decrease. I was at 8.32 per day and now with the increased dosing my the high my ph gets to is around 8.12 and at night the low is around 8.05. Both well within acceptable areas.
In shot, I just need to know what are the consequences (and limits) of increasing vodka dosing per day. Or is it a safety net and since I've already been dosing for a while, within a week I could be back up to the 30-40 ml I was dosing a couple months ago?