other than water changes, or expensive add on mechanical removers, is there a way to reduce and eliminate these two pests in my aquarium???
i know at work ive always had luck with the phosphate pads there big pads for like 3$ that u can cut off pieces and put in ur filter theve worked rather well for me
Phosphate Pads (Phosban) and Macro Algae (Cheato) are two great ways to eliminate it from your system.
when the cheato ball gets too large you just tear it in half and throw the extra away (or give to a reefer in need). Once you remove the algae form the system you remove the nutrients as well.
the only problem with chaeto is that i dont have a fuge?? unless i can just tuck some in behind my rock out of site?
A good oversized skimmer helps also. Bacterial driven systems are becoming a popular means for achieving very low nutrients also. I have been reading a lot about vodka dosing on RC, and some of the tanks using it are absolutely stunning.
All of the above suggestions would help. Cheato can be put right in the display as 99.999% of animals won’t really eat. Just make sure it doesn’t over grow other photosynthetic animals. I will often times leave a couple small pieces in my coral qt tanks. Phosban reactors can help significantly with reducing phosphates.(however that is only half the battle)
Biggest question is where are these two coming from? Do you have too many fish for two small of a tank? Are you feeding too much? Are you using RO water?(If so what is the TDS)
You will here a lot of people say, “Dilution is the solution.” and much of the time it is. Either bigger tank or more water changes.
Personally I would save vodka as a last resort. It is a cool concept and can help, but I would leave it for the real experts. I have 0 experience using it and don’t believe there is any system that requires it. Can be fun though, lol.
Images of your tank? How much LR would you say you have? Have any dead areas in the aquarium.(like a dark cave in the back where “crap” seems to settle into.)
Many many things chat could help, just a complex equation.
[quote=“Ento_Reefer, post:5, topic:1574”]
A good oversized skimmer helps also. Bacterial driven systems are becoming a popular means for achieving very low nutrients also. I have been reading a lot about vodka dosing on RC, and some of the tanks using it are absolutely stunning.[/quote]
Talk to Chris (ChrisnBarb) about vodka dosing. Last I heard, he had switched to sugar, thus saving the vodka for “higher purposes.”
find the source!!! always number 1 in my book. less food, less stock, and check the source water. figure out the exact problem and go from there.
I have heard great results with vodka and sugar dosing. From what I have researched, sugar is more potent, but that gives you a higher chance of screwing something up, so vodka is a little easier. I’ve been meaning to go to the liquor store for some popov, but I don’t drink so I always forget.
Before you consider vodka/sugar/Organic Carbon dosing read up on it as too much can really do damage and or crash your tank. Besides there are many other ways to reduce nitrates and phosphates. See the above post about dilution.
[quote=“DamnPepShrimp, post:9, topic:1574”]
From what I have researched, sugar is more potent, but that gives you a higher chance of screwing something up, so vodka is a little easier.[/quote]
Vodka and sugar are a similar organic carbons and both break down to a similar chemical compound C12 H22 O11. The problem any by-products and impurities that are left in the final product will be deposited in your tank. While I have seen more detail on dosing vodka (ml) I fail to see detailed directions to dose sugar. Since there are detailed instructions on vodka dosing over sugar it would be a safer bet to have a good working knowledge of the process… IMO the vodka would be a more potent as the sugars that made the alcohol have been broken down in to a more basic form, ethanol. The sugar will need to be broken down further and take longer. IMO… Since most of the data is found on forum boards where a lot of hearsay gets passed around I would stick with vodka since there are detailed instructions available.
FYI Chris&Barb uses sugar as it is cheaper without ill effects. I have tried both and although I did experience a bacteria bloom in both cases (desired result) I would not recommend trying this on a whim as there are a lot of variables to take into account when dosing [b]anything
I have tried vodka and it works but when I saw the tank getting more goose thanme I had to stop.
Maybe I am wrong but “some” prescence of nitrates isn’t the end all. If you are doing all you can and your inhabitants are looking happy then isn’t that the point of all of this?
The tank crashing is from people not dosing properly. Like everything else in this hobby, it takes time. You have to start out very slow, checking your levels everyday, it is kind of a pain. That is the biggest reason I haven’t done it yet, because I couldn’t keep up with the checking levels every day etc. If you follow the directions exactly, you won’t have a tank crash. I have heard quite a few people say sugar is more potent to dose than vodka, there is plenty of threads on RC about this, don’t believe me fine, but don’t expect me to do the research for ya. IMO, I would dose vodka because it seems easier, although sugar would be cheaper, it just isn’t worth the risk. But I have seen directions for dosing sugar. Biggest thing with either dosing sugar or vodka is you MUST have a GOOD skimmer, otherwise, it won’t work. Again, that is in the directions, and if you don’t follow directions, you know what could happen.
[quote=“DamnPepShrimp, post:12, topic:1574”]
The tank crashing is from people not dosing properly. Like everything else in this hobby, it takes time. You have to start out very slow, checking your levels everyday, it is kind of a pain. That is the biggest reason I haven’t done it yet, because I couldn’t keep up with the checking levels every day etc. If you follow the directions exactly, you won’t have a tank crash. I have heard quite a few people say sugar is more potent to dose than vodka, there is plenty of threads on RC about this, don’t believe me fine, but don’t expect me to do the research for ya. IMO, I would dose vodka because it seems easier, although sugar would be cheaper, it just isn’t worth the risk. But I have seen directions for dosing sugar. Biggest thing with either dosing sugar or vodka is you MUST have a GOOD skimmer, otherwise, it won’t work. Again, that is in the directions, and if you don’t follow directions, you know what could happen.[/quote]
This was my understanding also. There are many advanced reef keepers having good results with vodka dosing. It has become successful enough that there was an article in Reef Keeping Mag about this system. I am considering this method myself.
[quote=“DamnPepShrimp, post:12, topic:1574”]
The tank crashing is from people not dosing properly. Like everything else in this hobby, it takes time. You have to start out very slow, checking your levels everyday, it is kind of a pain. That is the biggest reason I haven’t done it yet, because I couldn’t keep up with the checking levels every day etc. If you follow the directions exactly, you won’t have a tank crash… it just isn’t worth the risk. But I have seen directions for dosing sugar. Biggest thing with either dosing sugar or vodka is you MUST have a GOOD skimmer, otherwise, it won’t work. Again, that is in the directions, and if you don’t follow directions, you know what could happen.[/quote]
I agree with this also.
[quote=“DamnPepShrimp, post:12, topic:1574”]
I have heard quite a few people say sugar is more potent to dose than vodka, there is plenty of threads on RC about this, don’t believe me fine, but don’t expect me to do the research for ya.[/quote]
Actually That’s why I put IMO because even Randy holmes farley prefers sugar as “it contains less impurities.” I just don’t see this as I have seen articles that impurities in sugar can contain silica and silicates. Vodka is made from a variety of carbohydrate sources and using heat and yeast reduce to a mash. The reason I say its more pure (not really more potent) is that it is distilled and the alcohol is evaporated, collected then filtered. The better the vodka the purer and better filtered.
Either way they both work.
I agree that both work, from what I’ve seen. I have never tried either. I guess I can’t say sugar is more potent then vodka. I am only going off what I read/researched, and we all know everything on the internet isn’t exactly the truth. Be interesting to see a test on it, although it would be hard to duplicate two identical systems to get accurate results. I really need to go to the liquor store, for fish reasons only! ;D
While we’re on the subject, I believe vinegar w/ kalk also feeds bacteria.
To the OP can you get a fuge? They have tons of benefits. Yes you could put it in your display tank, but it can get a little ugly IMO with little curly cue chaeto flying around everynow and then, also if you tuck it too much it won’t get light to grow/take nutrients.
That’s true as any organic carbon can feed bacteria