Glossary
Carbon dosing
Adding vodka, vinegar, or biopellets to drive bacterial nitrate consumption.
Bacteria consume organic carbon + nitrate + phosphate, grow, then get skimmed out. Effective at reducing nutrients but easy to overdo — crashing nitrate to zero triggers dinos.
Recommended
Carbon dosing needs strong skimming + close PO4 monitoring.
Hanna Phosphate Checker (HI-774)
Low-range phosphate, essential for ULNS tanks.
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Reef Octopus Classic 110-INT skimmer
Mid-range workhorse. In-sump, 80–150 gal.
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