gonna try vodka dosing

Well, I've been convinced to try vodka dosing on my tank. Others in my area rave about how it vastly improves water quality, clarity, and SPS coloration. So after a lot of study on the RC archives, I am trying it. I'll keep people posted with pics on the progress of the tank.

 

I have thought about this too. I am curious to see how it goes.

 

be careful, and please let us know how it does..

 

good luck with it jeremy. ive heard theres quite a fine line in doing this. but i know youve done your homework on it. look forward to your positive progression with this.

 

I personally have been vodka dosing legally for 13 years.

One day I might try it out on my tank

 

I use flower essences which are preserved in brandy.

I could see a noticeable difference in everything in the water after I started using essences/brandy. Just 1/2 dropper full every week.

 

Make sure you have a monster of a skimmer.

Vodka for a 90 gallon?? Kinda of a waste IMO.

What makes you want to try it?? High nitrates?? Want more color??

 

Most of the people I've seen have long term success w/ it add a bacteria source (like mb7.) I love it and don't think I'll ever go back.

 

50 / 50 on this...Be careful...you obviously are not just applying this process randomly.
Have seen great results on much larger tanks. I think that's the issue...smaller tank = little to no room for error. IMO..But K+ to ya for keep'n it real.
: )
LG

 

Have been dosing my tank with carbon sources and bacteria for 3 months now, have seen a lot of changes in my tank. My nitrate went from 30mg/L down to 1mg/L in about 2 months, my phosphate level also dropped but has slowly risen recently. I stopped dosing the bacteria for the last month because I am growing my own I have a slight amount of phosphate left over i my fermenter after nitrate down to 0mg/L. I have seen a sudden increase in cyano in the last week and have started the bacteria dosing again. I have also added a reactor on a 3 hour on and 3 hour off timer to cause an aerobic and anaerobic environment to help process my nutrients more efficiently.

I would also recommend using a good skimmer, and activated carbon if you do go the carbon dosing route. Small weekly water changes are also a good idea to help replenish potassium which also gets used up by the bacteria.

I started dosing vodka for a month and then changed it to distilled white vinegar, sugar and vodka. I just don't think that dosing just vodka is a great idea. Dosing vodka does work but it seemed to me to be a better idea to dissolve sugar into it and add vinegar to create a more complex carbon source, just to rule out any long term problems to live stock with the use of ethanol.