Carbon (VSV) dosing volumes

[Aquattro]

I just don't find it works in my tank. In fact, NO3 has never been higher. I've stopped a couple days ago, probably going to lean back towards Zeovit, if I can figure out how to fit a reactor in my sump.

[maron6977]

I have 2 TLF reactors , can I just run pellets thru those ? I know they make different screens to adapt them . Also which pellets do you recommend ?

[Lampshade]

The TLF reactors didn't seem to cut it for me, I have the big one and small one (forget what they're called). I ended up with dead spots no matter how much flow I pumped through them. I got the Vertex bio pellet reactor and used it for a long time with no problem.

I stopped using bio-pellets because it was too low of a nutrient system. My nitrates went crazy for awhile after stopping, ZEObak ended up saving me. I don't think I had enough different beneficial bacteria to break down my tank waste after the bio-pellets were removed. All balanced back after awhile but took a few weeks.

Aquattro, I'd recommend trying the same thing, try ZEObak or something of the sort. You're feeding your bacteria that help your tank cycle, but you may not have enough different kinds after running ULNS with zeovit. That's the sales pitch on it and it seemed to help me.

edit:I see others recommended microbacter7 - same kind of thing

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by Lampshade

edit:I see others recommended microbacter7 - same kind of thing

If I add that, I get cyano. Tried and failed.

[Doug]

I tried it also Brad. Never did anything I noticed. Will stick to Prodibio. Mind you not sure if it does anything either. Also starting to add a bit of vinegar, manually. Can't put it in my top off, as it pushes kalk.

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by Doug

Can't put it in my top off, as it pushes kalk.

Your top off has kalk? You could add vinegar to that directly, it increases saturation of kalk. If you needed it more saturated.

But vinegar is carbon dosing, so you did it, but stopped, but doing it again?

[Myka]

Biopellets work...unless you do something inherently wrong. I use the Reef Dynamics biopellet reactors on client tanks. They are excellent recirculating reactors. I have one client tank that was at about 500 ppm nitrate when I added the biopellet reactor a few months ago, and it`s now down to about 150 ppm. That is significantly significant.

[Doug]

Originally Posted by Aquattro

Your top off has kalk? You could add vinegar to that directly, it increases saturation of kalk. If you needed it more saturated.

So I would add it to my Tunze kalk reactor?

But vinegar is carbon dosing, so you did it, but stopped, but doing it again?

Not yet. Just prodibio. I was discussing it with Mindy as to what shes adding.

[Wheelman76]

Prodibio IS carbon dosing , same with vinegar , vodka , sugar , Zeovit ,biopellets etc

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by Wheelman76

Prodibio IS carbon dosing , same with vinegar , vodka , sugar , Zeovit ,biopellets etc

Yup, all the same basic premise.