Vodka dosing help

[demifelix]

I plan to try dosing vodka and I need some advice. I have approx 160 gallon total. Is there a calculation to tell how much to dose with? Any visible signs I should be concerned with during and after the dosing process?

 

[bcrueter]

Sorry to ask but what is vodka dossing?

 

[rdnelson]

I am an expert at dosing myself but not my tank. I am curious as well. Have heard people talk about it but never understood the intent.

 

[bcrueter]

That's what I always thought it was for feef keeper not reef haha

 

[merkywater]

I'm sure Ralph will chime in he vodka doses

 

[thanh386]

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2008-08/nftt/index.php">http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2008-08/nftt/index.php</a>


Works like a champ. As always dose yourself more than the tank. Happy reefing and good luck

 

[demifelix]

Are you doing this Thanh?

 

[thanh386]

I did for my solona and the beginning of the late tank. I just don't have the time to maintain the scheduel so I chose to buy a better filtration system and reactors out the wazoo. I will start again after the holidays an have my gf learn the regiment and do it for me.

 

[rdnelson]

Great article but since I don't have a skimmer I guess I will just continue to dose myself until the corals look better.

But, on the bright side, so far my phosphate and nitrates are always at 0 so I think I am good for the time being.

 

[jmt]

i was also considering dosing vodka; however, i currently run a UV sterilizer. Does anyone know if that will interfere with the bacterial biomass (which is suppose to grow as a result of dosing vodka)?

 

[90galguy]

This sounds very interesting to me. I'd be interested in everyone's thoughts on the subject.

Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk

 

[dangit2001]

I use bio pellets, which is suppose to be better then dosing vodka. it elements the guess work that comes with dosing vodka.

 

[dme330i]

JMT;702731 wrote: i was also considering dosing vodka; however, i currently run a UV sterilizer. Does anyone know if that will interfere with the bacterial biomass (which is suppose to grow as a result of dosing vodka)?

When I carbon-dosed my 210, I got rid of my UV. To me, it seems counterproductive. The point of carbon-dosing is to grow the bacterial populations that "feed" on NO3 and PO4. Trying to grow while killing at the same time doesn't make sense.

Edit:

demifelix;702697 wrote: I plan to try dosing vodka and I need some advice. I have approx 160 gallon total. Is there a calculation to tell how much to dose with? Any visible signs I should be concerned with during and after the dosing process?

Visible - you've gone too far if you experience a bacterial bloom.

Not visible to the eye, but visible in NO3 tests - when you see a drop, you're in good shape.

I also noticed a significant decline in coralline algae and could no longer grow macros - which makes sense.

Significant SPS coloration and growth followed (some LPS as well). Will have to post some before and after pics, I purposely bought "brown outs" and watched them turn into some gems.

 

[jmt]

Thanks dme!

I was just not sure if the bacteria grew in the water or lived in the sand bed (like live sand)

 

[dme330i]

Browned out Roscoe

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Roscoe about a year later and 15-20x bigger (I promise this is the same coral as above)

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Skimmer efficiency post C-dosing:

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Pink Mille Before:

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Pink Mille After:

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Colorless LPS

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3 months into the regimen

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I am a believer.

 

[ichthyoid]

I am too!

 

[nholderried65]

i dose it and i love it

 

[dme330i]

PictureSavy;702938 wrote: i have dosed vodka and run biopellets. I have found them to be a pain. I run a 60 gallon fuge on my 235 tank, filled with chaeto. a good size refugium is enough area to form the beneficial bacteria. live rock and sand help greatly. In an established tank you shouldnt really have a prob with NO-3


http://www.atlantareefclub.org/forums/member.php?u=228">@ dme330i</a>

do you have a calcium reactor/ dosing pump set up? or do you dose by hand.

Stable params, and frequent water changes will turn even the brownest coral back to health. I am skeptical on the claims of vodka dosing.[/QUOTE]

Had CA reactor set up prior to dosing. No doubt stability is key, but C-dosing is just another factor that incrementally impacts our pursuit of color/growth.

While chaeto/fuge/rock/etc. help, I think it would be difficult to run a LNS/ULNS without the additional free-floating bacteria that C promotes (e.g., you can't skim out bacteria harbored in live rock). Running LNS/ULNS then allows you to supplement/feed more heavily without the negative consequences of PO4 or NO3 building up.

There seem to be enough data points out there to support the claimed benefits of C-dosing. Scientifically, it makes sense.

 

[mhender8]

Never researched this topic before, but what kind of vodka do you use? Does the quality or proof matter? If one dosed with Mr. Bostons/McCormicks yuk: takes me back to high school) would it be any different than if one used Skyy/Svedka?

 

[dme330i]

mhender8;702947 wrote: Never researched this topic before, but what kind of vodka do you use? Does the quality or proof matter? If one dosed with Mr. Bostons/McCormicks yuk: takes me back to high school) would it be any different than if one used Skyy/Svedka?

Brand doesn't matter - just looking for a C source. Proof only impacts the "intensity" of the dose.