Optimal carbon dose timing

[Faulkner’s maze]

Lanthanum is inexpensive and is inexpensive, but has some low risk to tangs that concerns me.

Controlling phosphate by organic carbon dosing is a long, slow process which typically involves dosing N. Carbon dosing also has a low risk of causing coral problems.

GFO is more expensive than these two, but is an OK way to go.

Growing macroalgae is a slow, steady process that I prefer.

All have other cons, such as potentially reducing trace elements.

Duly noted on microalgae -I had started down that path but stopped due to ph that was so low to begin (7.82 at night that the microalgae was actually lowering it even more due to the respiration. Now that I am back to a 8.0 to 8.3 daily swing may be worth trying again. Use to grow ulva.
Always nice to see the pods..

For next few weeks see where this goes with carbon dosing and whether PO4 stalls

Thanks for your input on this…

 

[Faulkner’s maze]

Lanthanum is inexpensive and is inexpensive, but has some low risk to tangs that concerns me.

Controlling phosphate by organic carbon dosing is a long, slow process which typically involves dosing N. Carbon dosing also has a low risk of causing coral problems.

GFO is more expensive than these two, but is an OK way to go.

Growing macroalgae is a slow, steady process that I prefer.

All have other cons, such as potentially reducing trace elements.

Is there any advantage of growing both micro algae and carbon doing-downside is the complexity of it all but are there upsides besides just nutrient absorption.. or does the management of both outstrip the benefit ?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I grew macroalgae and dosed organic carbon (vinegar) and used GFO all at the same time for years in my last tank.

 

[Faulkner’s maze]

I grew macroalgae and dosed organic carbon (vinegar) and used GFO all at the same time for years in my last tank.

What benefits did you see having both going over one or the other ?

 

[bezj]

loved Bacto balance but the inclusion of K elements spiked strontium levels (16 vs 6.5-9). Took me months to work out so recently switched to reef zlements z-Carbo plus but have continued to dose just before the lights go on.

All good so far with N at 15-16.

Historically dosednitrate as it was zero in the hope of managing Phosphate but it never worked and that was in a nitrate destroyer and/or broadcast.

Been dosing lanthanum daily in to filter roller - we are taking 0.5ml with no ill affects and seems far more consistent and controllable than other means.

​

 

[Faulkner’s maze]

loved Bacto balance but the inclusion of K elements spiked strontium levels (16 vs 6.5-9). Took me months to work out so recently switched to reef zlements z-Carbo plus but have continued to dose just before the lights go on.

All good so far with N at 15-16.

Historically dosednitrate as it was zero in the hope of managing Phosphate but it never worked and that was in a nitrate destroyer and/or broadcast.

Been dosing lanthanum daily in to filter roller - we are taking 0.5ml with no ill affects and seems far more consistent and controllable than other means.

​

Diluted lanthanum or not?

 

[X-37B]

In my 150 nitrate climbed to 26 from 1-2 when running my sulfer reactor. I took it offline to help with night time ph.
I started dosing Vodka 8ml once mid day for a week. Then 16ml for a week, now 24ml starting week 4.
No3 went to 20, then 15, now 10 dosing 24ml of Vodka mid day.
I will adjust if it goes lower as my target is 10-20. Works well and is simple to implement.
I dose all 24ml at once.
Current levels
Po4- .11
No3 10
Po4 get adjusted with gfo when needed but is hanging close to .1 now with 2 skimmers and now dosing vodka.

 

[Pod_01]

loved Bacto balance but the inclusion of K elements spiked strontium levels (16 vs 6.5-9).

Out of curiosity, how much BB was added daily and how big is the tank?

Interesting observation on Sr levels…

 

[Faulkner’s maze]

Ok @Randy Holmes-Farley -i think I framed my question incorrectly -

I think it all boils down to this -so I am attempting to reduce PO4 to .15 from currently .32 -currently dosing 1.6 ml bacto balance a day-

Is there is a NO3/PO4 ratio to aim for in terms of maximizing po4 reduction ? Last reading nitrates at 5.6. Thank you.

 

[bezj]

Out of curiosity, how much BB was added daily and how big is the tank?

Interesting observation on Sr levels…

450 litres. 4.5ml

Diluted lanthanum or not?

Undiluted. Tropic marin Elimi phos rapid.