25gal Starfire

[Delphinus]

Totally different things that just happen to have the word "carbon" in their names.

Carbon aka charcoal is a porous substance and happens to be really good absorbant of other materials. Once it's done absorbing "stuff" though then the pores are clogged and it cannot absorb any more.

Carbon DOSING is a generic term used to reference things like vodka or vinegar or sugar (or combinations thereof) as a source at molecules that involve carbon to be used as a food source or input for metabolic processes that also happen to consume nitrates and/or phosphates as part of the chemical/biological processes.

Biopellets are intended as a convenient method for carbon dosing because whatever polymer they are made of is carbon based and is also porous - but instead of being good for absorbing stuff, the pores are good for creating large surface area for bacteria to colonize. So bacteria feed on the pellets and in process of doing so consumes nitrate and to a smaller degree phosphates out of the water column. The "tumbling" of the pellets ensures that excess bacteria sloughs off, which is thought to be used by filter feeders but in general really requires mostly to be skimmed out (and they do skim out nicely - skimmate production does increase after starting pellets).

You wouldn't want to run them together in the same reactor as they have different lifespans. Pellets could last you months - carbon (depending on the amount you use per system volume) needs to be changed out every 2 to 4 weeks.

[lorenz0]

I can see what your saying. Sorry chemisty always gets me going.

But on a side note, I did my waterchange and everyone is looking great. I'm adding a skimmer to the mix this weekend. So just one thing at a time. But the acan garden is looking amazing

[Delphinus]

Yeah I agree with your approach. And the Acans do look awesome.

Sorry if I missed it but what was your reasoning for thinking you had a nutrient issue? Is it a high NO3 reading? If so what was it (and sorry if that was posted already)?

[lorenz0]

Just judging by the aftermath after dosing acan plus. This is why I am adding a skimmer first, see the effects on the tank with skimming and maybe down the road add the biopellets. My load is a bit heavy

[Delphinus]

Oh ok - I didn't realize you didn't have a skimmer. Yeah get the skimmer first. That might be good enough. Definitely don't run pellets until after the skimmer though - they shed a mulm which can be taken up by some things but not all of it would get consumed and thus they'd just break down and re-release the NO3/PO4 back into the water ... which can't be good.

[lorenz0]

Well I can't sleep so I have a few pic's from a week ago, before I added this massive frogspawn

So my LPS craze is coming to a closure... I miss SPS.... ALOT! So this weekend the trial will start. Plan on adding a stag or some acropora of some sort to see how it deals with my system. If all goes will I will be parting with the torch and the hammer as they are taking up perfect SPS territory. but here are some pic's from lately








And If you noticed in my FTS, an impulse buy exsist's. Last Friday I had this great idea to buy a lionfish. Well without reading up on the species I brought him home only to find out how large he gets. Yep he may be ok in the system now but for sure will need a larger home in the future. Got it eating krill but tonight is the last of him in the tank. Poor guy, I really like him but I just can't give him the proper home.

[MMAX]

Nice tank. What size system does the lionfish need?