Interesting Observation

[Aquattro]

Now, I know causation does not equal correlation(or vice versa), but this..as I've mentioned recently, I've been fighting high NO3 (>30ppm) regardless of what I do. While carbon dosing.
After thinking about what I've done, I realized that I added a UV unit just before they started to climb. Hmm. So while setting up biopellets, I decided to take it offline. Within 4 weeks, NO3 is now below 2ppm. Sure, I added pellets, but that's essentially solid vodka, chemically speaking.

I can't find any other posts about this, but that's my story, I'm sticking to it!

[TimT]

Makes sense. If memory serves me correctly there was an RC post/thread that listed the types of bacteria that each ingredient in VSV would grow. The vodka was probably feeding a free floating bacteria while the bio pellets had a carbon source that produced the bacteria growing on them or on any surface. Turning the UV off allowed the free floating bacteria to grow and combined with the bio pellets produced a rapid no3 drop.
If your redox had started dropping after you shut the uv off this would confirm increased bacterial load in the tank. Now you have to be careful with fish load and night time oxygen demand as bacteria consume oxygen 24/7.

[Myka]

Yes interesting topic, though I have to throw it out there thay nce biopellets start working they work very fast. Just make sure if you see any cyano that you remove some biopellets - too much is bad.

[Aquattro]

Yes interesting topic, though I have to throw it out there thay nce biopellets start working they work very fast. Just make sure if you see any cyano that you remove some biopellets - too much is bad.

Thing is I have about 100ml of pellets; that didn't knock NO3 down by 28ppm in 3 weeks. Especially picking up from carbon dosing with VSV. I blame the UV :)

[Myka]

So plug it back in and see what happens?

It's always been recommended to not use UV during any type of carbon dosing because the UV kills the bacteria which causes them to release the N and P in their cells back into the water rather than the bacteria being skimmed out alive by your skimmer.

You have the biopellet effluent going into the Intake of your skimmer, right?

[Aquattro]

1. Thought of that, then thought it was a bad idea

2. Didn't know that

3. More or less.

Anywho, the tank seems to be recovering nicely, PO4 and NO3 within SPS growing range, so hopefully I can pull this thing together.

[maron6977]

That's cool info ! Had & still do have high NO3 also. Running UV 8hrs thru night .
I'll try turning it off .
I also purchased bio-pellets but haven't put it online yet .
Will let you know !!!

[Aquattro]

Please do, I couldn't much info either way, and I'd like to not be entirely crazy.

[Stnbrgn]

I've gone through a similar situation as well, I started my tank using Prodibio but made the switch to biopellets when the prodibio couldn't handle the nitrates as I stock quite heavily. I waited the 6 to 8 weeks for the biopellets to kick in and it brought down the nitrates to 0 and kept it there, at this time I decided to run a UV terilizer 24/7 as well to help increase the redox as well as keep minor diseases at bay. While running the already established biopellets and Uv all day long, i had great success at keeping both my nitrates and phosphates at 0. However as the biopellets slowly depleted my nitrates have since risen back up, so I topped up my biopellets while still continuously running the uv 24/7. This is where I'm in the same boat as you, my nitrates have yet to drop and the topped up biopellets have been active for several weeks. I'm going to be un hooking my uv sterilizer later today to see if this will help kick start these new biopellets, then I'll continue to run my uv. I'll report back once I give it some time to kick in.

[Aquattro]

I really didn't even want UV, but someone gave me a unit and figured what the hell. in hindsight, probably not a great plan. I saw no benefit and if it's the cause of 5 months of grief, well, I might smash it a little bit :)

[Skimmin]

Crazy. I just went through the same thing. I was dosing vinegar and began running uv... Just because I had a uv light... Cyano showed up and was getting quite bad. Took away uv... cyano has been steadily decreasing and breaking down. Thick gunk in my skimmer again too.

[Aquattro]

My new opinion on UV. UV = bad. lol

[Zoaelite]

Ran UV for about 6 months as I had a suspicion there was a communicable zoa disease being spread through the water column. Ended up scrapping it, didn't see a difference and the disease ended up being a highly uncalibrated refractometer.

*Facepalm*

[maron6977]

Noticed last couple of days skimmer working better . Have it on a dry skim.
I'll check NO3 this weekend .