DIY np bacto- balance?

[rhyssreef]

Hi all!

Living in Australian iv been finding it impossible to get many Tropic Marin products, though I’m curious is anyone has tried to make up their own solution to simulate NP bacto-balance ?

Could it be possible ? If you get your ratios right with phos/nitrates/vodka?

 

[jbrady429]

Hi all!

Living in Australian iv been finding it impossible to get many Tropic Marin products, though I’m curious is anyone has tried to make up their own solution to simulate NP bacto-balance ?

Could it be possible ? If you get your ratios right with phos/nitrates/vodka?

NP Bacto-Balance uses a different carbon source than what you have in vodka or vinegar. I don’t think Tropic Marin has said what their carbon source is, but I do know from personal experience that it is very different. There is a very good DIY recipe for NoPoX on Reef2Reef though.

 

[rhyssreef]

NP Bacto-Balance uses a different carbon source than what you have in vodka or vinegar. I don’t think Tropic Marin has said what their carbon source is, but I do know from personal experience that it is very different. There is a very good DIY recipe for NoPoX on Reef2Reef though.

I did see lou mention it’s a different source but I wonder if using the same ratio of n/p but switch out for vodka Carbon source would also work ?

 

[jbrady429]

I did see lou mention it’s a different source but I wonder if using the same ratio of n/p but switch out for vodka Carbon source would also work ?

It would work. The basic idea is the nitrate, phosphate, and carbon get taken up by bacteria. That’s what any form of carbon dosing does, including bacto-balance. The only trick to it is finding the right amounts of n, p, and carbon to dose. That comes through testing n and p levels in your tank until you find the right amounts to dose daily.

 

[Dan_P]

Hi all!

Living in Australian iv been finding it impossible to get many Tropic Marin products, though I’m curious is anyone has tried to make up their own solution to simulate NP bacto-balance ?

Could it be possible ? If you get your ratios right with phos/nitrates/vodka?

What are you trying to achieve? Not sure I understand.

 

[rhyssreef]

What are you trying to achieve? Not sure I understand.

Trying to achieve carbon dosing on a low nutrient system by making sure I’m also dosing the right ratio of n/p plus feeding bacteria growth via carbon dosing

 

[Dan_P]

Trying to achieve carbon dosing on a low nutrient system by making sure I’m also dosing the right ratio of n/p plus feeding bacteria growth via carbon dosing

See if this helps.

I am currently studying carbon dosing in my lab and have data that says the bacteria in my aquarium water when dosed with 3/4 mL of vinegar will consume about 1 ppm of nitrate and 0.1 ppm of phosphate. It is slightly different for ethanol (vodka) dosing.