Carbon dosing without a skimmer

[CoralClasher]

So I’ve got a pretty simple setup. About 150 gallons total. WaterBox 6025 one overflow into a nice refuge. No skimmer no filters. Dosing Core7. Tank is only 2 months old but was upgraded from a 120 that was running for years. The upgrade was a full rip clean with all new water. I would like to stay on top of the nutrients without GFO. I’m thinking of vinegar dosing but I’m unsure of carbon dosing without a skimmer. How much vinegar can I add and what should I look for when I start? Or should I not even worry about nutrients yet?
Temp 80
ALK 8.2
Phosphate 0.49
No3 over 25ppm

 

[Rjmul]

Very nice setup. If you're looking to lower manage phosphate, carbon dosing is not the move

 

[CoralClasher]

Very nice setup. If you're looking to lower manage phosphate, carbon dosing is not the move

Thanks. So GFO would be recommend? I did have Dino before the upgrade and really don’t want to go through that again.

 

[nereefpat]

You can't successfully carbon dose without a skimmer.

Carbon dosing grows bacteria in the water column, which have a certain amount of N&P making up their cells. The skimmer removes the extra bacteria, thereby removing the nitrates and phosphates.

 

[CoralClasher]

You can't successfully carbon dose without a skimmer.

Carbon dosing grows bacteria in the water column, which have a certain amount of N&P making up their cells. The skimmer removes the extra bacteria, thereby removing the nitrates and phosphates.

Don’t corals and other filter feeders consume the extra bacteria for me now? I have ran the bacteria method from elegant corals without a skimmer and the water does clear up by itself. Would trying to get a slightly cloudy water with vinegar then back off work to find a sweet spot? I don’t want really low nutrients anyway just stable and not going up.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Don’t corals and other filter feeders consume the extra bacteria for me now? I have ran the bacteria method from elegant corals without a skimmer and the water does clear up by itself. Would trying to get a slightly cloudy water with vinegar then back off work to find a sweet spot? I don’t want really low nutrients anyway just stable and not going up.

Yes, they would, at least to some extent.

Organic carbon dosing is not just a way to reduce nutrients, but a way to convert them into usable foods.

 

[CoralClasher]

Yes, they would, at least to some extent.

Organic carbon dosing is not just a way to reduce nutrients, but a way to convert them into usable foods.

Is there a recommended amount of vinegar I should start with to convert nutrients back to usable foods and should this be done weekly or daily? I haven’t dosed any phosphate or nitrogen these nutrients are mainly from live black worms fresh clams and reef frenzy fish foods.

 

[blasterman]

I don't do a lot of carbon dosing because I keep track of nutrients on the front end.

But....one of my softie tanks was getting a bit high with nitrate a few months ago and I just use sugar because it's fast.

After a couple of days of sugar I got nitrate back under 10ppm where I like it. Normally that tank would produce half a cup of skimmate every two days, but during the sugar dosing and for quite a period afterwards skimming ground to a hault.

Maybe vodka or vinegar has a different metabolic reaction, or maybe I didn't have quite the heavy nutrient level to tip some biologic threshold. In any case, it's the second time I've done sugar dosing for a short term and both times skim activity ground to a stop.

 

[nereefpat]

Don’t corals and other filter feeders consume the extra bacteria for me now?

Maybe some, but not enough to take care of the biomass produced from carbon dosing.

I have ran the bacteria method from elegant corals without a skimmer and the water does clear up by itself.

I don't know what that is.

Would trying to get a slightly cloudy water with vinegar then back off work to find a sweet spot? I don’t want really low nutrients anyway just stable and not going up.

I would not carbon dose without a skimmer.

 

[CoralClasher]

Maybe some, but not enough to take care of the biomass produced from carbon dosing.



I don't know what that is.



I would not carbon dose without a skimmer.

Yeah I’m not totally set on carbon dosing. Looking at my ICP test maybe purit would be a better choice for controlling nutrients and a few other high heavy metals?

 

[Rjmul]

Don’t corals and other filter feeders consume the extra bacteria for me now? I have ran the bacteria method from elegant corals without a skimmer and the water does clear up by itself. Would trying to get a slightly cloudy water with vinegar then back off work to find a sweet spot? I don’t want really low nutrients anyway just stable and not going up.

You have a very nice setup. Treat yourself. By a skimmer.i don't have a sump. I'm using the reef octopus BH1000. It works great

 

[CoralClasher]

You have a very nice setup. Treat yourself. By a skimmer.i don't have a sump. I'm using the reef octopus BH1000. It works great

Thanks. I do have a nice skimmer and I’m willing to install it again if I need it. It’s been sitting in a box collecting dust for over year. I really want to give the tank time to mature without any filters.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Yeah I’m not totally set on carbon dosing. Looking at my ICP test maybe purit would be a better choice for controlling nutrients and a few other high heavy metals?

I do not believe that this material can accomplish the things Brightwell claims for it. They have a track record of poor understanding of their own products.

 

[CoralClasher]

I do not believe that this material can accomplish the things Brightwell claims for it. They have a track record of poor understanding of their own products.

I’m open to ideas and trying different methods for nutrient control. Please remember I’ve been plagued with Dino for years. I’m even willing to just let the nutrients rise hoping something magical to happen lol. The tank is looking good but there is some green algae growing witch is way better than Dino. Just checked phosphate 0.55 maybe this is just normal for a two month old tank with 18 well fed fish and I shouldn’t do anything?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I’m open to ideas and trying different methods for nutrient control. Please remember I’ve been plagued with Dino for years. I’m even willing to just let the nutrients rise hoping something magical to happen lol. The tank is looking good but there is some green algae growing witch is way better than Dino. Just checked phosphate 0.55 maybe this is just normal for a two month old tank with 18 well fed fish and I shouldn’t do anything?

Certainly too high is better than too low, and if phosphate is 0.55 ppm, lowering it is a fine plan as long as you do not go too low.

i just do not think the product you suggested will do much for nutrients at all.

 

[CoralClasher]

Certainly too high is better than too low, and if phosphate is 0.55 ppm, lowering it is a fine plan as long as you do not go too low.

i just do not think the product you suggested will do much for nutrients at all.

So using GFO to lower phosphate I’ll use half the recommended amount and what about No3? Vinegar still sounds like a good plan to me but maybe just a small weekly dose, just enough to feed the bacteria?

 

[CoralClasher]

Ok we will see how this goes. A bag of GFO is in and 4ml vinegar. Here are some pictures today sorry I can’t adjust the lights they are stuck on preset. I will take more tonight with tank lights off to show the green algae.

 

[CoralClasher]

Night time pictures

 

[CoralClasher]

Little update. Phosphate went down to 0.46 can’t tell any difference on No3. 4ml vinegar didn’t seem to do much. I’ll keep the 4ml vinegar dose for a week and bump it up.

 

[nereefpat]

Little update. Phosphate went down to 0.46 can’t tell any difference on No3.

The GFO lowered the P