The reasons I'm updating the Vinegar and Vodka dosing charts are two-fold:
1. The ramp was unnecessarily slow. There was no perceived benefit to such a tedious ramp, and it led to reefers quitting because they thought carbon dosing didn't work.
2. The ramp did not scale up correctly at all. A 40x larger tank only received 2x the needed dose. (A 1,000-gallon tank only received twice the dose of a 25-gallon tank).
Carbon dosing is a fantastic way to lower nutrients, more specifically nitrate. The reason is three-fold:
1. Organisms, such as bacteria, contain much more nitrogen than phosphorous.
2. Denitrification is a process that happens in anaerobic conditions (little to no oxygen). These bacteria require an organic to oxidize the nitrate molecule (NO3-) into Nitrogen (N2). They use the oxygen that is attached to the nitrate molecule to respire. Thus, there will be NO phosphate consumed during this process.
Here is the equation by @Randy Holmes-Farley :
organic + 124 NO3– + 124 H+ → 122 CO2 + 70 N2 + 208 H2O
3.We have an immense reservoir of phosphate bound to calcium carbonate rocks and sand. To put to pespective, a 50% water change with nutrient-free water will successfully reduce your nitrate values by 50%. Phosphates will likely remain unchanged.
For these reasons, I do NOT recommend dosing carbon solely for controlling phosphates. It is likey to completely bottom-out nitrate before seeing phosphate decrease.
What are the benefits of carbon dosing?
Besides reducing nitrate, spurring bacteria is the main benefit. This bacteria can feed many organisms and filter feeders.
What about other carbon sources such as NP Bacto Balance or NOPOX?
You can carbon dose with NP Bacto Balance or NOPOX, but dosing straight vinegar or vodka is inexpensive and readily available in stores.
What kind of vinegar or vodka should I use?
Any food-grade white vinegar is safe to use. White distilled vinegar usually the most pure, cheapest, and easy to find.
For vodka, 80 proof vodka (40% ethanol) is safe to use.
Here are the charts. If you have any questions, feel free to ask.
1. The ramp was unnecessarily slow. There was no perceived benefit to such a tedious ramp, and it led to reefers quitting because they thought carbon dosing didn't work.
2. The ramp did not scale up correctly at all. A 40x larger tank only received 2x the needed dose. (A 1,000-gallon tank only received twice the dose of a 25-gallon tank).
Carbon dosing is a fantastic way to lower nutrients, more specifically nitrate. The reason is three-fold:
1. Organisms, such as bacteria, contain much more nitrogen than phosphorous.
2. Denitrification is a process that happens in anaerobic conditions (little to no oxygen). These bacteria require an organic to oxidize the nitrate molecule (NO3-) into Nitrogen (N2). They use the oxygen that is attached to the nitrate molecule to respire. Thus, there will be NO phosphate consumed during this process.
Here is the equation by @Randy Holmes-Farley :
organic + 124 NO3– + 124 H+ → 122 CO2 + 70 N2 + 208 H2O
3.We have an immense reservoir of phosphate bound to calcium carbonate rocks and sand. To put to pespective, a 50% water change with nutrient-free water will successfully reduce your nitrate values by 50%. Phosphates will likely remain unchanged.
For these reasons, I do NOT recommend dosing carbon solely for controlling phosphates. It is likey to completely bottom-out nitrate before seeing phosphate decrease.
What are the benefits of carbon dosing?
Besides reducing nitrate, spurring bacteria is the main benefit. This bacteria can feed many organisms and filter feeders.
What about other carbon sources such as NP Bacto Balance or NOPOX?
You can carbon dose with NP Bacto Balance or NOPOX, but dosing straight vinegar or vodka is inexpensive and readily available in stores.
What kind of vinegar or vodka should I use?
Any food-grade white vinegar is safe to use. White distilled vinegar usually the most pure, cheapest, and easy to find.
For vodka, 80 proof vodka (40% ethanol) is safe to use.
Here are the charts. If you have any questions, feel free to ask.
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