I did it(and I,ll let you know)

I,m new to this water chemistry thing .
When I read the thread about carbon dosing will lower nitrates ---well what the heck. So tonight I gave the 90gal a dose for a 75 gal tank. Just to see if it makes a difference.

I dont plan on making this the magic cure for nitates but if it works == use it as sort of a maintanence thing.

Good or Bad?????????????

 

Carbon dosing? You mean sugar/vodka dosing? Luna

 

I know that carbon absorbs a lot of organic compounds, i don't think it absorbs nitrates, if that way the case, everyone who has nitrate problems would just use a lot of carbon, but I could be wrong. I guess you will see

 

Yes Vodka
1 tsp per 25 gal

Too much invested to go hog wild ---so I went easy

 

How "bad" is your No3? That you would consider doing this. Luna

 

Around 80

I have been doing about 4 gal a day water changes , for about a week , and just did a 10 gal today .

Even at a high nitrate reading the fish and coral look ok, mind I have nothing
that demand pristine water.

 

Are you feeding to much? Are you changing out the filter pads? After Reading your Sign, it seems that you have very little LR in there. Do you have a sump or refugium? Need to know a little more of your set up. Luna

 

Yeah, it wouldn't hurt to up your LR by twice the amount.
Vodka is still one of those "risky" little-discussed unsure of type methods. Be careful!

 

No big difference in nitrates today, so I,ll quit while ahead,and work on putting in more rock.


Yes I have a combo sump/fuge setup made from a 30 gal tank. In it are the skimmer, carbon, return pump and cheato

Thanks

 

I've read from people who've had success with the carbon feeding method. Tried it myself but found it lacking in the most important attribute: Namely in "ballanced system" approach. A ballanced biological system that is set up to complement itself should not require the carbon input. However I can see how carbon may assist in emergencies or short term fixes. The problem here that some folks might interpret feeding carbon as part of the regular maintenance.