I was disappointed to find that my nitrates were at around 20 ppm according to the API test kit when I checked them yesterday morning. I'd hoped nitrates would no longer be an issue between adding a lot of rock to my tank over the summer and feeding light every other day or so. They had stayed at around 5 or 10 ppm for a while. I removed all of the rock from my sump not long ago (I still have plenty in the tank) because it appeared to be accumulating detritus, so I wonder if that is the reason my nitrates are now higher than they were.
Anyhow, the nearby store sells distilled Poland Spring for $1.95 a gallon, so doing any kind of significant water change that would bring the nitrates down appreciably would not be cheap. I searched around for something I could use to lower nitrates without having to perform a large water change, and came across carbon dosing.
The idea, as I understand it, is that adding specific amounts of either sugar or vodka to the aquarium water causes bacteria that consumes it to propagate. This bacteria allegedly also converts nitrates into nitrogen gas, and may have some impact on phosphates as well.
I don't plan to dose long term as a substitute for good husbandry, but at the moment I would rather not have to deal with a several hour long, messy, relatively costly (as far as water changes go) water change.
I added 1/8th tsp (teaspoon) of sugar to my 55 gallon aquarium last night and will do the same tonight. On Wednesday night I'll probably add 1/4th tsp. I'll do the same Thursday, and test the water and report my findings on Friday morning.
I hope I'm not making a mistake in trying this, but I've put so much into my tank now that I owe it to my family (and myself, really) to at least see if this effortless, practically free method works the way it's been reported to by others.
Anyhow, the nearby store sells distilled Poland Spring for $1.95 a gallon, so doing any kind of significant water change that would bring the nitrates down appreciably would not be cheap. I searched around for something I could use to lower nitrates without having to perform a large water change, and came across carbon dosing.
The idea, as I understand it, is that adding specific amounts of either sugar or vodka to the aquarium water causes bacteria that consumes it to propagate. This bacteria allegedly also converts nitrates into nitrogen gas, and may have some impact on phosphates as well.
I don't plan to dose long term as a substitute for good husbandry, but at the moment I would rather not have to deal with a several hour long, messy, relatively costly (as far as water changes go) water change.
I added 1/8th tsp (teaspoon) of sugar to my 55 gallon aquarium last night and will do the same tonight. On Wednesday night I'll probably add 1/4th tsp. I'll do the same Thursday, and test the water and report my findings on Friday morning.
I hope I'm not making a mistake in trying this, but I've put so much into my tank now that I owe it to my family (and myself, really) to at least see if this effortless, practically free method works the way it's been reported to by others.