Sugar in a FOWLR
- Thread starter prime311
- Start date
justins13
New Member
a little background. i have a 27gal hex tank with a backpack filter/protien skimmer and a canister filter. i have 40lbs livesand (about 3-4 inches), 22lbs of live rock and a ton of flow. i have five damsels: 1 yellowtail, 1 yellow, 1 blue, 1 3stripe and 1 large domino. i also have: 1 false percula, 1 green spotted puffer(1.5inch), 1 small pink tip haitian anemone, 1 abalone, 2 large turbo snails and a swf 55gal reef package.the tank has been up and going for 7 or 8 months now with no major problems. i recently started testing with a better kit for ph, nitrite, nitrate and amonia. everything was perfect except for my nitrates that were through the roof, over 100ppm, probably around 140 or so. i have been doing water changes like crazy for the past 2 weeks and now they are down to around 80-90ppm. could this sugar dosing be the answer i am looking for?
srfisher17
Active Member
Originally Posted by justins13
http:///forum/post/2662435
a little background. i have a 27gal hex tank with a backpack filter/protien skimmer and a canister filter. i have 40lbs livesand (about 3-4 inches), 22lbs of live rock and a ton of flow. i have five damsels: 1 yellowtail, 1 yellow, 1 blue, 1 3stripe and 1 large domino. i also have: 1 false percula, 1 green spotted puffer(1.5inch), 1 small pink tip haitian anemone, 1 abalone, 2 large turbo snails and a swf 55gal reef package.the tank has been up and going for 7 or 8 months now with no major problems. i recently started testing with a better kit for ph, nitrite, nitrate and amonia. everything was perfect except for my nitrates that were through the roof, over 100ppm, probably around 140 or so. i have been doing water changes like crazy for the past 2 weeks and now they are down to around 80-90ppm. could this sugar dosing be the answer i am looking for?
Maybe, more LR woulh help as well; and be sure to clean the filter pads on your canister as often as possible.
http:///forum/post/2662435
a little background. i have a 27gal hex tank with a backpack filter/protien skimmer and a canister filter. i have 40lbs livesand (about 3-4 inches), 22lbs of live rock and a ton of flow. i have five damsels: 1 yellowtail, 1 yellow, 1 blue, 1 3stripe and 1 large domino. i also have: 1 false percula, 1 green spotted puffer(1.5inch), 1 small pink tip haitian anemone, 1 abalone, 2 large turbo snails and a swf 55gal reef package.the tank has been up and going for 7 or 8 months now with no major problems. i recently started testing with a better kit for ph, nitrite, nitrate and amonia. everything was perfect except for my nitrates that were through the roof, over 100ppm, probably around 140 or so. i have been doing water changes like crazy for the past 2 weeks and now they are down to around 80-90ppm. could this sugar dosing be the answer i am looking for?
Maybe, more LR woulh help as well; and be sure to clean the filter pads on your canister as often as possible.
G
gtdarock
Guest
Any updates-?
srfisher17
Active Member
Originally Posted by prime311
http:///forum/post/2663375
My nitrates are still at 5 on a reduced dosing schedule. I'm going to stop dosing for awhile and see if my system is keeping them low or if they go up.
At this level, most nitrate test kits can be very unreliable, IMO.
http:///forum/post/2663375
My nitrates are still at 5 on a reduced dosing schedule. I'm going to stop dosing for awhile and see if my system is keeping them low or if they go up.
At this level, most nitrate test kits can be very unreliable, IMO.
prime311
Active Member
Originally Posted by srfisher17
http:///forum/post/2663731
At this level, most nitrate test kits can be very unreliable, IMO.
My Sera kit seems to be ok. I'm mainly concerned the nitrates will spike back up to 20 or more. Anything less then 15 is fine by me.
http:///forum/post/2663731
At this level, most nitrate test kits can be very unreliable, IMO.
My Sera kit seems to be ok. I'm mainly concerned the nitrates will spike back up to 20 or more. Anything less then 15 is fine by me.
srfisher17
Active Member
Originally Posted by prime311
http:///forum/post/2663840
My Sera kit seems to be ok. I'm mainly concerned the nitrates will spike back up to 20 or more. Anything less then 15 is fine by me.
If your profile is current; and you have no coral/inverts, 20 ppm nitrate isn't anything to be at all concerned about. Lots of us don't agree; but I've never seen anything that says fish are harmed by nitrates at many times your level; although (to quote Fenner) the lower the better.
http:///forum/post/2663840
My Sera kit seems to be ok. I'm mainly concerned the nitrates will spike back up to 20 or more. Anything less then 15 is fine by me.
If your profile is current; and you have no coral/inverts, 20 ppm nitrate isn't anything to be at all concerned about. Lots of us don't agree; but I've never seen anything that says fish are harmed by nitrates at many times your level; although (to quote Fenner) the lower the better.
95harley
Active Member
Guys this is incredible news. I have two FOWLR with BIG fish and eels and Nitrates are always the problem. I want to look into this more.
Wonder if this would work with Freshwater as well with no skimmer and Live Rock. I also have a FW predator tank with a Widebar Dat, Jardini Arowana, and a Fl Gar. I may have to try this and see what happens.
I think this may be one of the best posts I have read in a while if it works long term without a saturation and deadly respike.
Thanks.
Wonder if this would work with Freshwater as well with no skimmer and Live Rock. I also have a FW predator tank with a Widebar Dat, Jardini Arowana, and a Fl Gar. I may have to try this and see what happens.
I think this may be one of the best posts I have read in a while if it works long term without a saturation and deadly respike.
Thanks.
srfisher17
Active Member
Originally Posted by 95Harley
http:///forum/post/2664155
Guys this is incredible news. I have two FOWLR with BIG fish and eels and Nitrates are always the problem. I want to look into this more.
Wonder if this would work with Freshwater as well with no skimmer and Live Rock. I also have a FW predator tank with a Widebar Dat, Jardini Arowana, and a Fl Gar. I may have to try this and see what happens.
I think this may be one of the best posts I have read in a while if it works long term without a saturation and deadly respike.
Thanks.
A nitrate spike won't effect your fish. I don't think this works in FW; but you should read more about it. PM me if you need the link.
http:///forum/post/2664155
Guys this is incredible news. I have two FOWLR with BIG fish and eels and Nitrates are always the problem. I want to look into this more.
Wonder if this would work with Freshwater as well with no skimmer and Live Rock. I also have a FW predator tank with a Widebar Dat, Jardini Arowana, and a Fl Gar. I may have to try this and see what happens.
I think this may be one of the best posts I have read in a while if it works long term without a saturation and deadly respike.
Thanks.
A nitrate spike won't effect your fish. I don't think this works in FW; but you should read more about it. PM me if you need the link.
prime311
Active Member
Originally Posted by srfisher17
http:///forum/post/2664093
If your profile is current; and you have no coral/inverts, 20 ppm nitrate isn't anything to be at all concerned about. Lots of us don't agree; but I've never seen anything that says fish are harmed by nitrates at many times your level; although (to quote Fenner) the lower the better.
Yes, this is true. I've had a Peppermint Shrimp and some Hermit Crabs in my tank since Day 1, but they've lived in much more then 20 Nitrate since they went through cycle and all(were hitchhikers on my live rock). Still, I want to keep my Nitrates low as good practice for when I eventually do Corals in another tank.
http:///forum/post/2664093
If your profile is current; and you have no coral/inverts, 20 ppm nitrate isn't anything to be at all concerned about. Lots of us don't agree; but I've never seen anything that says fish are harmed by nitrates at many times your level; although (to quote Fenner) the lower the better.
Yes, this is true. I've had a Peppermint Shrimp and some Hermit Crabs in my tank since Day 1, but they've lived in much more then 20 Nitrate since they went through cycle and all(were hitchhikers on my live rock). Still, I want to keep my Nitrates low as good practice for when I eventually do Corals in another tank.
sepulatian
Moderator
Originally Posted by srfisher17
http:///forum/post/2663731
At this level, most nitrate test kits can be very unreliable, IMO.
How is this working out for you srfisher17? What all is in your tank? Fish and corals? Have you seen any negative effects yet?
http:///forum/post/2663731
At this level, most nitrate test kits can be very unreliable, IMO.
How is this working out for you srfisher17? What all is in your tank? Fish and corals? Have you seen any negative effects yet?
G
gtdarock
Guest
This is a very good read, it may also solve my problems
srfisher17
Active Member
Originally Posted by srfisher17
http:///forum/post/2649150
In about 5 days, my NO3 has gone from about 80ppm to about 40ppm.
Update: using 1/4 tsp 2X weekly; my nitrates are staying under 20ppm. This is plenty low enough for this tank and I'm going to go to once weekly. If I stay in this range, I'll consider this a success. I've tried everything in this tank, including the "miracle" products, nothing worked. This tank has no LR, just substrate & skeletal coral. The high nitrates don't bother my fish; but I think they are the culprit of occasional diatom problems.(Phos & silicate are about zero). This seems solved with the sugar. I'll be doing this with a bigger tank, once I make a change, and plan the sugar approach...we'll see how it goes.
http:///forum/post/2649150
In about 5 days, my NO3 has gone from about 80ppm to about 40ppm.
Update: using 1/4 tsp 2X weekly; my nitrates are staying under 20ppm. This is plenty low enough for this tank and I'm going to go to once weekly. If I stay in this range, I'll consider this a success. I've tried everything in this tank, including the "miracle" products, nothing worked. This tank has no LR, just substrate & skeletal coral. The high nitrates don't bother my fish; but I think they are the culprit of occasional diatom problems.(Phos & silicate are about zero). This seems solved with the sugar. I'll be doing this with a bigger tank, once I make a change, and plan the sugar approach...we'll see how it goes.
srfisher17
Active Member
Originally Posted by sepulatian
http:///forum/post/2664542
How is this working out for you srfisher17? What all is in your tank? Fish and corals? Have you seen any negative effects yet?
Sorry, I missed this before I added the above post. The tank I'm trying this on has just fish, no inverts/coral. I see absolutely nothing going on---except the lower nitrates. I really don't pay attention to the amount of skimmer crud, so I can't comment on that. However, I did read several comments that mentioned an increase in skimmer volume.
http:///forum/post/2664542
How is this working out for you srfisher17? What all is in your tank? Fish and corals? Have you seen any negative effects yet?
Sorry, I missed this before I added the above post. The tank I'm trying this on has just fish, no inverts/coral. I see absolutely nothing going on---except the lower nitrates. I really don't pay attention to the amount of skimmer crud, so I can't comment on that. However, I did read several comments that mentioned an increase in skimmer volume.
sharkbait9
Active Member
This is unreal. Not to say your not having the success with dosing sugar and lowering nitrates but simple a bunch of hobbyist figured out a cheap alternative to n03 removal. Where companys have introduced all kinds of gimmicks to the hobby to reduce n03 with little to no success other then removing money from hobbyist wallets.
If this is completely true and little risk to the inhabitants WOW what a break thru in the hobby itself.
What a simple way to reduce n03.
I would love to know what sugar dosing would do to a reef system.
Keep it up
If this is completely true and little risk to the inhabitants WOW what a break thru in the hobby itself.
What a simple way to reduce n03.
I would love to know what sugar dosing would do to a reef system.
Keep it up
sharkbait9
Active Member
anything? no more news? no updates?
