Vodka dosing results

Optionman · 01/26/2018, 06:55 AM

Day 95 of vodka dosing my 150g mixed reef (+25g sump). Started with very high levels (nitrate 50, phosphate.74) notwithstanding getting nice growth in all corals, including sps. Below is a chart tracking nutrient levels before and after:
IMG_5917.jpg

Nitrates have dropped to 5 and phosphates are declining but nowhere near as rapidly as nitrates. Is this normal? Should I just worry about nitrates in determining when to switch to “maintenance dose” ? I’m currently dosing 4ml 2x/day. Should I lower phosphates in another fashion?

Any advice from more experienced reefers is appreciated. Here’s my reef:
IMG_5886.jpg

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josephxsxn · 01/26/2018, 07:35 AM

Very pretty tank.

I use GFO for Phosphates; while I also did see a reduction in both when I used to carbon dose (I just use a sulfur reactor now) my experience was like your with with Nitrates dropping much faster then Phos. It makes sense to focus on finding your maintenance dose for nitrates and go to GFO for the phos imho.

reefgeezer · 01/26/2018, 08:08 AM

If I'm reading your chart correctly your nitrates are 5 and your phosphates hover around .06 ppm. IMO, that would be a pretty reasonable target for a mixed reef.

Sawen · 01/26/2018, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reefgeezer

If I'm reading your chart correctly your nitrates are 5 and your phosphates hover around .06 ppm. IMO, that would be a pretty reasonable target for a mixed reef.

I agree.

Optionman · 01/26/2018, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reefgeezer

If I'm reading your chart correctly your nitrates are 5 and your phosphates hover around .06 ppm. IMO, that would be a pretty reasonable target for a mixed reef.

i use the hanna phosphate checker (the ppm, not ppb) and my readings are .6, not .06. am i understanding my reading incorrectly?

reefgeezer · 01/26/2018, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Optionman

i use the hanna phosphate checker (the ppm, not ppb) and my readings are .6, not .06. am i understanding my reading incorrectly?

Sorry, I misread. So is your ULR reading like 200 ppb? The conversion for ppb phos (as reported by the Hanna ULR) to ppm phosphate is something like: (X * 3.066) / 1000. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

Optionman · 01/26/2018, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reefgeezer

Sorry, I misread. So is your ULR reading like 200 ppb? The conversion for ppb phos (as reported by the Hanna ULR) to ppm phosphate is something like: (X * 3.066) / 1000. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

i don't own the ULR to verify a ppb number but i've used the hanna 713 for over a year so i trust my results.

josephxsxn · 01/26/2018, 11:15 AM

I have the same one as you (hanna 713 ) the ppm colorimeter that measures Phosphate and not Phosphorus. As such its already giving you Po4 so there is no need to do any conversion. A values of 0.6 ppm is just that 0.6 ppm or 600 ppb.. I would setup GFO at that level.

reefgeezer · 01/26/2018, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Optionman

i don't own the ULR to verify a ppb number but i've used the hanna 713 for over a year so i trust my results.

Sorry... TGIF I guess... I just can't read well today. GFO would be a fine option. Careful to not drop the level too fast. Use small amounts of GFO until you know how much you actually need.

bertoni · 01/26/2018, 05:53 PM

0.6 ppm phosphate is fairly high, but nitrate can be consumed very rapidly from the water column. The results you are quoting seem reasonable to me. At some point, you might need to do something else to reduce the phosphate level, but I'd leave well enough alone as long as your animals are healthy. Coloration problems can be resolved more slowly.

Optionman · 01/26/2018, 06:13 PM

Thanks for the responses. Animals are healthy. I am dealing with cyano algae but that’s easy compared to dealing with my Red Coris wrasse and his rock flipping antics.

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bertoni · 01/26/2018, 07:36 PM

Okay, I'd just keep going with the vodka dosing, and worry about the phosphate if and when it seems to be necessary.

01/26/2018, 06:55 AM	#1
Optionman Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: NJ Posts: 774	Vodka dosing results Day 95 of vodka dosing my 150g mixed reef (+25g sump). Started with very high levels (nitrate 50, phosphate.74) notwithstanding getting nice growth in all corals, including sps. Below is a chart tracking nutrient levels before and after: IMG_5917.jpg Nitrates have dropped to 5 and phosphates are declining but nowhere near as rapidly as nitrates. Is this normal? Should I just worry about nitrates in determining when to switch to “maintenance dose” ? I’m currently dosing 4ml 2x/day. Should I lower phosphates in another fashion? Any advice from more experienced reefers is appreciated. Here’s my reef: IMG_5886.jpg Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

01/26/2018, 08:08 AM	#3
reefgeezer Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Wichita KS Posts: 2,621	If I'm reading your chart correctly your nitrates are 5 and your phosphates hover around .06 ppm. IMO, that would be a pretty reasonable target for a mixed reef. __________________ John, Current Tank Info: In-process, 90 Gallon SPS Reef

01/26/2018, 05:53 PM	#10
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	0.6 ppm phosphate is fairly high, but nitrate can be consumed very rapidly from the water column. The results you are quoting seem reasonable to me. At some point, you might need to do something else to reduce the phosphate level, but I'd leave well enough alone as long as your animals are healthy. Coloration problems can be resolved more slowly. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

01/26/2018, 07:36 PM	#12
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Okay, I'd just keep going with the vodka dosing, and worry about the phosphate if and when it seems to be necessary. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

01/26/2018, 07:35 AM	#2
josephxsxn Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: DTW, Michigan Posts: 122	Very pretty tank. I use GFO for Phosphates; while I also did see a reduction in both when I used to carbon dose (I just use a sulfur reactor now) my experience was like your with with Nitrates dropping much faster then Phos. It makes sense to focus on finding your maintenance dose for nitrates and go to GFO for the phos imho.

01/26/2018, 11:15 AM	#8
josephxsxn Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: DTW, Michigan Posts: 122	I have the same one as you (hanna 713 ) the ppm colorimeter that measures Phosphate and not Phosphorus. As such its already giving you Po4 so there is no need to do any conversion. A values of 0.6 ppm is just that 0.6 ppm or 600 ppb.. I would setup GFO at that level.

01/26/2018, 06:13 PM	#11
Optionman Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: NJ Posts: 774	Thanks for the responses. Animals are healthy. I am dealing with cyano algae but that’s easy compared to dealing with my Red Coris wrasse and his rock flipping antics. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk