Reef Central Online Community - View Single Post - Is carbon (vinegar) dosing killing my macro algae?

mitchellghall · 02/09/2018, 12:01 AM

Hi everyone,

I am new to this forum so please excuse me if I've posted this thread in the wrong place.

So, about a fortnight ago I attached a 25L DIY macro algae reactor to my 200L mixed reef aquarium. After researching macro algae reactors pretty extensively online, I was expecting crazy growth and nutrient export results. Although I think the algae has grown at least a little, I can't help but wonder if I'm doing something wrong. Nutrients have also stayed the same as usual the entire time.

Could my vinegar dosing be stunting the growth of my macro algae? I'm no expert but I'm sure vinegar would kill a garden plant, so why wouldn't it do the same to aquatic plants? I was formerly dosing 40ml daily of a 10% vinegar, kalkwasser, RODI solution, but stopped dosing two days ago now. Does anyone have any experience with this or know the science behind it? Did I do the right thing or should I continue carbon dosing? Thanks!

(Side note: Aquarium is 7 months old, phosphate is <0.25, nitrate is 10.)

02/09/2018, 12:01 AM	#1
mitchellghall Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2018 Posts: 1	Is carbon (vinegar) dosing killing my macro algae? Hi everyone, I am new to this forum so please excuse me if I've posted this thread in the wrong place. So, about a fortnight ago I attached a 25L DIY macro algae reactor to my 200L mixed reef aquarium. After researching macro algae reactors pretty extensively online, I was expecting crazy growth and nutrient export results. Although I think the algae has grown at least a little, I can't help but wonder if I'm doing something wrong. Nutrients have also stayed the same as usual the entire time. Could my vinegar dosing be stunting the growth of my macro algae? I'm no expert but I'm sure vinegar would kill a garden plant, so why wouldn't it do the same to aquatic plants? I was formerly dosing 40ml daily of a 10% vinegar, kalkwasser, RODI solution, but stopped dosing two days ago now. Does anyone have any experience with this or know the science behind it? Did I do the right thing or should I continue carbon dosing? Thanks! (Side note: Aquarium is 7 months old, phosphate is <0.25, nitrate is 10.)