kriswaters Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 I have been using "sugar" as well and have not seen any decreases so far, am testing as we speak. I am getting a ton more skimmate and it is quite stinky! 55 gal tank. Days 1-7 1/2 teaspoon No dramatic changes Days 1-3 increased to 1 teaspoon..Maybe a small change but Nitrites and Nitrates still high! And since I use the seachem (still) it is hard to put an exact # on it. Ammonia still non-existent I am still thinking about the kalk and vinegar treatment. Perhaps this will help. Also, if no real results with sugar, then I will switch to vodka. Kris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puntific Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 tested today with the Salifert kit. 25 ppm.... I'm going up to 1.5 mL today for a while. Scott ps. Ick not gone... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrgreenthumb Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 i'll stick with my nitrate reactor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy Posted November 14, 2008 Author Share Posted November 14, 2008 i'll stick with my nitrate reactor Yeah, that's what I'm thinking. I can build the reactor for next to nothing, and the media is available by the pound at http://www.midwestaquatic.com/PRODUCTS/HPS_PEARLS.htm For maybe $30 out of pocket, I can be nitrate-free. Matt, what pump do you feed your reactor with? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pledosophy Posted November 16, 2008 Share Posted November 16, 2008 Patience young grasshoppers, you have a long way to go. Just add more source carbon, keeping uping the doages, you'll get there soon. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puntific Posted November 16, 2008 Share Posted November 16, 2008 Patience young grasshoppers, you have a long way to go. Just add more source carbon, keeping uping the doages, you'll get there soon. Thanks for the encouragement. I think I will keep up with the carbon dosing. I don't have room under my tank for more equipment! Scott Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pledosophy Posted November 17, 2008 Share Posted November 17, 2008 Thanks for the encouragement. I think I will keep up with the carbon dosing. I don't have room under my tank for more equipment! Scott When you get there it will be worth it. I speak of experience on this one. I have actually done and been doing this for some time, it's not just something I have read about or tried once or twice. Still to each there own there are a thousand and one ways to have a great tank, Matt has great success with his system too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrgreenthumb Posted November 17, 2008 Share Posted November 17, 2008 Yeah' date=' that's what I'm thinking. I can build the reactor for next to nothing, and the media is available by the pound at [url']http://www.midwestaquatic.com/PRODUCTS/HPS_PEARLS.htm[/url] For maybe $30 out of pocket, I can be nitrate-free. Matt, what pump do you feed your reactor with? I t'd off my return line for the ca reactor and the no3 reactor, more than enough flow. Both reactors also use an eheim pump for circulation within the reactor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrgreenthumb Posted November 17, 2008 Share Posted November 17, 2008 i'm just giving you a hard time kevin i'm just to lazy and forgetfull to remember to dose sugar once or twice a day haha. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pledosophy Posted November 18, 2008 Share Posted November 18, 2008 i'm just giving you a hard time kevin i'm just to lazy and forgetfull to remember to dose sugar once or twice a day haha. I couldn't do once or twice a day either, but Sunday nights (my friday ) are easy enough to remember. I only dose once a week to keep the nitrates in check. No worries on the hard time my man. I dish it out often enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puntific Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 Here's the update. I am up to .8 mL 3x per day on my 90 gal of water system (guess). Nitrates down to 10 ppm form 25. Looks like it is working. Scott Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy Posted November 23, 2008 Author Share Posted November 23, 2008 Been dosing 1 tsp sugar per day. Saw a bacterial breakout yesterday (clear, filmy threads coming off of LR), so am backing off the dosage a bit. Still no NO3 reducttion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy Posted November 24, 2008 Author Share Posted November 24, 2008 Something is happening... the bacterial bloom has settled down and my skimmer is going nuts: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pledosophy Posted November 24, 2008 Share Posted November 24, 2008 Only get easier from here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy Posted December 4, 2008 Author Share Posted December 4, 2008 A Miracle! Nitrates have dropped. They aren't zero, but they appear to be on the way there. 1.5 tsp of sugar into the sump each morning seems to be my tank's magic number. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrgreenthumb Posted December 4, 2008 Share Posted December 4, 2008 cool!!! how exciting how long has it been?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy Posted December 4, 2008 Author Share Posted December 4, 2008 Too bloody long, six weeks now. To be fair to the method, the published protocol is far too conservative in it's carbon dosing; if I was still following it, I would expect to see an NO3 drop sometime around mid-2016 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrgreenthumb Posted December 4, 2008 Share Posted December 4, 2008 lol i guess they would rather err on the safe side than crash somones tank Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy Posted December 5, 2008 Author Share Posted December 5, 2008 Yeah, wimps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pledosophy Posted December 5, 2008 Share Posted December 5, 2008 Yeah' date=' wimps [/quote'] Speaking of wimps, I seem to recall someone saying to start with more and double the dose every three doses. . . (whistle) ;) Glad to hear it is working. Now that you got them to drop you might not need to dose everyday. I found once a week works fine for my needs now. JME Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrgreenthumb Posted December 5, 2008 Share Posted December 5, 2008 listen to this guy :eek: (laugh)(laugh). Well what do you know kevin does know what he's talking about go figure . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy Posted December 5, 2008 Author Share Posted December 5, 2008 Speaking of wimps, I seem to recall someone saying to start with more and double the dose every three doses. . . (whistle) ;) I'll never doubt you again. (daz) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pledosophy Posted December 5, 2008 Share Posted December 5, 2008 listen to this guy :eek: (laugh)(laugh). Well what do you know kevin does know what he's talking about go figure . Sounded less arrogant last night after a few. It is the first time I've ever been right, I just had to point it out for the occasion. 'll never doubt you again. (laugh) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrgreenthumb Posted December 5, 2008 Share Posted December 5, 2008 see now this is what makes this fun joking around and having a good time, enough with all the super seriousness(i made that up), and arguing over the nth degree of whatever hahaha...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy Posted December 5, 2008 Author Share Posted December 5, 2008 Easy for you to say, Mr. Zero-Nitrates Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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