Sugar in a FOWLR

[fats71]

Originally Posted by sepulatian
http:///forum/post/2670229
No, not you. Just the whole bandwagon/quick fix scenario.
How is the other tank doing?

The other tank is great I think. a ton of new coral in it. Here is pics with about a quarter of the coral I have in it now.
I have been reading about it and vodka dosing since febuary on another site. I just finally thought what the heck might try the sugar one for a week and see what it did. I am in no way into dosing for long term as honestly the less you do the better the fishies are according to fenner and many other top dogs in the biz.
Here is a few pics

 

[fats71]

Originally Posted by srfisher17
http:///forum/post/2670232
Sepulatian will address her fears, I hope.
Cycling with live fish is not the way to go; but as long as you're started: IMO, the eel is in trouble, I know little about them, but don't think they handle the ammonia and nitrite the way damsels do. I wouldn't even be concerned about nitrates until your ammonia & nitrites are at "0". In fact, you should have some nitrates right now and they won't hurt the fish. IMO, possible use of sugar dosing should be only used as a last resort in well established tanks. It is way too new to be a general practice; and who knows how it will effect your cycle. Just be patient and follow the cycle directions; and get the eel out, if you can.

The eel is super fine and the ammonia is so low it is almost none exsistant as it is the bottom of the chart.
The nitrates are also lower than most peoples on here. especially all the people with eels according to the post made with about 3 pages on it in the last two days. This one is past the cycle by a month plus.
The tank is not cycling I said it is a new tank refering to it not being the one sep is speaking of.
this is the new tank one of the new 125's I have.

The 125 has changed a bit more rock and some Large mushrooms & rocks on each end some gsp and some more galaxy in it.

 

[sepulatian]

I have been reading about it and vodka dosing since febuary on another site. I just finally thought what the heck might try the sugar one for a week and see what it did. I am in no way into dosing for long term as honestly the less you do the better the fishies are according to fenner and many other top dogs in the biz.
Dosing is fine, but as the "Top dogs" will also tell you, be sure to dose moderately. Don't add more and think nitrates will drop quicker. You will run into problems. Be safe with this.

 

[srfisher17]

Originally Posted by sepulatian
http:///forum/post/2671333
Dosing is fine, but as the "Top dogs" will also tell you, be sure to dose moderately. Don't add more and think nitrates will drop quicker. You will run into problems. Be safe with this.

IMO; the 2 main reasons for failure in this wonderful hobby are:1.) Doing too much too fast or too soon. 2.) Doing too little too late.

 

[timbodmb]

hmmm... well, the trates have seem to stop lowering... they are still at 10 ppm.... There's nothing in the tank except a sand bed...

 

[fats71]

Originally Posted by sepulatian
http:///forum/post/2671333
Dosing is fine, but as the "Top dogs" will also tell you, be sure to dose moderately. Don't add more and think nitrates will drop quicker. You will run into problems. Be safe with this.
I have yet to buy any sugar but I was going to do a quarter maybe half of what is suggested for a week period to see if it had any affect on other perams. I am too lazy to keep it up for more than a week
What did ya think of the 2 tanks I posted ? I have others I willpost pics of someday.

 

[fats71]

sep, you did not say what ya thought of the tanks. I am assuming your lack of a comment might be bad news bears...
Well, everyone is entitled to their opinion but was hoping you might enjoy it

 

[sepulatian]

Originally Posted by Fats71
http:///forum/post/2673169
sep, you did not say what ya thought of the tanks. I am assuming your lack of a comment might be bad news bears...
Well, everyone is entitled to their opinion but was hoping you might enjoy it
I'm sorry, I just haven't checked this thread. It was nothing personal at all

The tanks look great! Your corals are really coming along very nicely! I do like the rock ledges in the damsel tank as well. Very nice job

 

[fats71]

Originally Posted by sepulatian
http:///forum/post/2673179
I'm sorry, I just haven't checked this thread. It was nothing personal at all

The tanks look great! Your corals are really coming along very nicely! I do like the rock ledges in the damsel tank as well. Very nice job

Thanks, the two large tonga rocks were 240 bucks. I want another one to make a third shelf to the right side alittle higher making it teir up again even higher.
The damsel tank as it was called has a nice SFE in it and I am thinking about a huma in it and a lionfish and a large puffer as well. The damsels make not make it but this is a pred tank and its survival of the fittest baby.

 

[srfisher17]

Just an update; my nitrates are now stable at about 15ppm, fine for keeping diatoms downthis tank. I'm just dosing 1/4 tsp once a week and have yet to see any downside. As soon as the nitrates start to climb in my newly converted- to -retro, no LR, 180; I'll start the sugar and we'll see how this goes. Then, if all goes well; I may try it in my new reef. Although I think the LR will take care of the nitrates--I never had a nitrate problem in my last reef while in MS. I sure don't think this should be used as a 1st response without trying to find the cause; but when the cause is known and really can't be corrected (Yeah, I could change 25% of the water every day); I'm starting to become convinced this is the real deal. There sure is a lot on the web to support that view.

 

[gtdarock]

Has anyone notice a climb in ammonia with the dose of sugar-?
I gave it a shot for a week, and my ammonia is at .50

 

[prime311]

I don't see how thats possible. Chances are your test is wrong or the ammonia is coming from somewhere else. The sugar should only fuel anaerobic bacteria growth.

 

[kjr_trig]

Agree with Prime, if you are 50 ppm of ammonia that is no bueno, and can't imagine its from the sugar. Did you add anything new? I know you added one new fish, any other than that? Live Rock? I would certainly re-test though.

 

[kjr_trig]

As far as my update, my nitrates are down to 20 after a week. They were at least 40 (I have issues telling the oranges apart). My "skimmer skum" has been pretty nasty and it seems the red slime is slowing a little bit. I also learned that the tap water here in Phoenix can be worse this time of year as we get little or no rain until the monsoons start in mid-July. My tap water has noticable nitrates right now, may be time for an RO/DI

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Hey, post #1,000. Yippee

.

 

[srfisher17]

Originally Posted by kjr_trig
http:///forum/post/2677490
As far as my update, my nitrates are down to 20 after a week. They were at least 40 (I have issues telling the oranges apart). My "skimmer skum" has been pretty nasty and it seems the red slime is slowing a little bit. I also learned that the tap water here in Phoenix can be worse this time of year as we get little or no rain until the monsoons start in mid-July. My tap water has noticable nitrates right now, may be time for an RO/DI

.
Hey, post #1,000. Yippee

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Your 1000th post gets you a free damsel from *****!

 

[gtdarock]

Hey guys, maybe the spike in Ammonia, could be from me taking out about half of my tanks water, and cause a spike-? I also dosed a half of spoon every other day for a week, my nitrates are at a steady 20

 

[srfisher17]

Originally Posted by GTDAROCK
http:///forum/post/2677873
Hey guys, maybe the spike in Ammonia, could be from me taking out about half of my tanks water, and cause a spike-? I also dosed a half of spoon every other day for a week, my nitrates are at a steady 20
It shouldn't. Your bio-filter resides in the LR, substrate, filter media, etc; not in the water. Replacing water should lower any ammonia reading.

 

[gtdarock]

Maybe a bad test kit -? I get a light yellow reading

 

[prime311]

If its an API kit and it looks like Mountain Dew sans the Carbonation, then the test didn't work right and you need to redo it.

 

[gtdarock]

IC, I'll do it again. Thanks !