Carbon Dosing

[Trenton0115]

I am curious to hear your thoughts on Carbon dosing? Good or bad. Is it a good way to combat high nitrates? Does it cause coral disease in the long run? Are there better and safer ways to combat high nitrates? If you’ve had success, how long? Literally ANY input on carbon dosing helps.

I’m asking because I have a 75g AIO I CANNOT seem to drop my nitrates in. (Around 20) It’s plumbed to a 10g manifold with two reactors and a UV sterilizer. (What should I be using in my reactors?) I don’t have a skimmer but I do water changes religiously. (Would you recommend a HOB skimmer?) It’s currently fish only so I’ve been feeding them sparingly as well. I’m just trying to get it into a good range and KEEP it there before I jump back into coral. Really just any advice would be appreciated.

 

[rishma]

I would not be overly concerned with 20ppm.

Carbon dosing is effective at lowering nitrates. This is a good thread for you to review.

NEW Vodka and Vinegar Dosing Charts

@Miami Reef I would like to transition from Vinegar dosing to Vodka+Vinegar dosing. I have been dosing for the past 5 week and am currently dosing 125ml per day, I haven't noticed any decline in the Nitrate levels yet. I would like to switch in order to reduce the total volume being dosed, how...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I would not carbon dose at 20 ppm, nor would I otherwise work hard to lower it. My target zone run up to 50 ppm.

Organic carbon dosing has pros and cons.

Pros is that it consumes nutrients and can feed some filter feeders such as corals and sponges.

Cons is that it lowers pH and may skew tank bacteria in an undesirable way, sometimes causing coral issues.