Carbon Dosing Question

[Trillaman954]

About a week ago my readings were po4 at 0.21 and nitrate at 14. So I decided to run poly carbon on a mesh bag tied to the output of my uv sterilizer. Now my reasons are at po.4 0.03-0.08 (2 tests) and 4.2 nitrate. Is this how carbon is supposed to work? And am I supposed to remove it now? I don’t want to bottom out. Will that major fluctuation in water chemistry kill a leopard wrasse?

 

[reefluvrr]

Activated carbon does not bring down PO4 directly that I know of.
Carbon dosing method is typically using a liquid source such as nopox, vodka, vinegar to increase the carbon atom.

Did you feed less or do something else besides adding the activated carbon for the 1 week duration?
It could just be your refugium grew more macro algae and took care of the problem?

 

[Trillaman954]

Activated carbon does not bring down PO4 directly that I know of.
Carbon dosing method is typically using a liquid source such as nopox, vodka, vinegar to increase the carbon atom.

Did you feed less or do something else besides adding the activated carbon for the 1 week duration?
It could just be your refugium grew more macro algae and took care of the problem?

Nah but a wrasse died.. only difference is the carbon

 

[reefluvrr]

Nah but a wrasse died.. only difference is the carbon

Depending on when the wrasse died, it's death could have resulted in the following:
1. less food you fed to the tank
2. one less fish waste polluting the po4 and nitrate system