Decided to try carbon dosing. Unexpected result with Bacto balance.
My tank has been stable for a long time - no3 always between 8 and 11, po4 always between .05 and .07. (tested weekly) 170 Gallon Display - 60 Gallon sump - about 170 gallons of actual volume after displacement. Tank was upgraded about 7 months ago but absorbed a 3 year old 75 Gallon. I've been maintaining these values for a good 2+ years.
Started to dose 1ml of BB on Friday. Today was day 3 of 1ml. Decided to test today. The tank has been stripped of n03 entirely and po4 dropped from .07 to .05. I also bought Plus NP just in case this happened although I was hoping it would not.
I'm looking for someone to give me their best idea on how to react. Been reefing for 20+ years and have never carbon dosed before 3 days ago. Was just hoping for a little better PE out of my SPS..
My options as I see it are:
- Stop BB, dose 6ml of plus NP for a few days - test and try again
- Continue BB - do nothing - test in a few days (I understand my sample time is small, but the -10ppm n03 was shocking)
- Continue BB and dose Neonitro (which is already on a dosing pump and ready at my disposal)
Open to any other option as well. I would appreciate any advice on the best path forward with the ultimate goal of continuing BB long term.
My tank has been stable for a long time - no3 always between 8 and 11, po4 always between .05 and .07. (tested weekly) 170 Gallon Display - 60 Gallon sump - about 170 gallons of actual volume after displacement. Tank was upgraded about 7 months ago but absorbed a 3 year old 75 Gallon. I've been maintaining these values for a good 2+ years.
Started to dose 1ml of BB on Friday. Today was day 3 of 1ml. Decided to test today. The tank has been stripped of n03 entirely and po4 dropped from .07 to .05. I also bought Plus NP just in case this happened although I was hoping it would not.
I'm looking for someone to give me their best idea on how to react. Been reefing for 20+ years and have never carbon dosed before 3 days ago. Was just hoping for a little better PE out of my SPS..
My options as I see it are:
- Stop BB, dose 6ml of plus NP for a few days - test and try again
- Continue BB - do nothing - test in a few days (I understand my sample time is small, but the -10ppm n03 was shocking)
- Continue BB and dose Neonitro (which is already on a dosing pump and ready at my disposal)
Open to any other option as well. I would appreciate any advice on the best path forward with the ultimate goal of continuing BB long term.