Vodka dosing; the results speaks volumes
- Thread starter porpoiseaquatics
- Start date
Mark....I'm running a CaRX along with a Kalk Reactor and the Vodka dosing.
I wish I did. I'll try to take a picture of the monti and you'll be able to see the growth lines.
You would need a bottle a day in your monster system! Lol
Here's some pictures. The first one is of my red monti. It's hard to tell from the photo but there's about 3/16" of darker red around the edge which is new growth since vodka:
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Here's a picture of the RBTA's in full. The mother is in the back left. The first split is lower left at about 6 weeks old. The 2nd split is mid-right and is from 4 weeks ago.
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This next one, I don't remember the name of it but you can see all the encrusting at the edges. That's all new since vodka dosing:
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Finally..my yellow polyp cabbage leather coral. All of the "leafs" up against the glass are new in the past 3 weeks, since vodka dosing started.
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Here's a picture of the RBTA's in full. The mother is in the back left. The first split is lower left at about 6 weeks old. The 2nd split is mid-right and is from 4 weeks ago.
This next one, I don't remember the name of it but you can see all the encrusting at the edges. That's all new since vodka dosing:
Finally..my yellow polyp cabbage leather coral. All of the "leafs" up against the glass are new in the past 3 weeks, since vodka dosing started.
Great shots even much bettter in person. That second to last shot is a White Mountain.
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I found that dosing through the ATO was a mistake because the dosing volume changed wildly from summer to winter, same reason why I don't use it for kalk anymore. Also, diluting the ethanol to a really low percentage might allow it to "spoil". I never tested I would think anything lower the 12-15 percent would allow it to break down.
I broke down the 120G tank that had setup and was dosing. But here is what I remember....
I believe that that the ethanol is the active food source for the bacteria. Diluting the ethanol down with RO/DI water works great. When I was Vodka dosing (well started with Vodka then switched to Everclear) that was diluted, I used the same solution for dosing and for sanitizing my yeast culturing containers (yeah, ex-hombrewer). However, I have the pleasure of living in a dry county, and it was a pain to drive across the mountain to get supplies. So I switched to vinegar dosing and it worked great, it's just another form of carbon. Also, it's available just about anywhere so.... no more driving 50 miles round trip to get stuff. The only caveat is that ethanol has more carbon (something like 8 times, I think) then vinegar, so vinegar is easier to dose accurately.
After awhile, I got board and thought I could tweak the system and make it better.I accidentally something that many reefers had known for long time adding lime (aka kalk) with vinegar works better! I believe the chemistry of it is lime plus vinegar equals acetate, there is a big long thread of it here somewhere.
Great article on "Carbon dosing"
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2011/3/aafeature">http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2011/3/aafeature</a>
Vinegar Dosing
[IMG]http://reefkeeping.com/joomla/index.php/current-issue/article/116-vinegar-dosing-methodology-for-the-marine-aquarium">http://reefkeeping.com/joomla/index.php/current-issue/article/116-vinegar-dosing-methodology-for-the-marine-aquarium</a>
Short story made really long.... without a doubt I would use carbon dosing again (and will do it in the upgrade) for nutrient control.
Ben what about vodka and Kalk? Any thoughts or any differences with vinegar and Kalk?
That's AWESOME to hear & see Jeff!
For a while there, I was afraid you were going to give up & get out *_*
A personal experience I'd like to share due to the importance of over dosing when carbon dosing:
When vodka dosing my 55 & was out of town a friend (ARC member) checked on my tank. He accidentally dumped apx 1/2 cup of vodka in my 55 gallon. The container was marked "vodka" however he had stopped over after arriving home late on a long flight working.
I returned home late the next afternoon and came in through the back garage door. I could smell "literally smell" the vodka that had dissipated/evaporated in the air. I went to the front of the house (tank was set-up in my office) and saw the empty vodka container. All livestock in the tank appeared healthy and looked normal with NO evidence of effects, did water changes that week.
Over the next two months 3 Acan colonies withered away and died. The next 6 months coral had little to NO growth (Radion lighting). 7 months later moved into ready & waiting 75 gallon using new sand, additional LR, Radion + MH lighting....... coral exploded with grow!
Theory, the overdose stripped needed water/food components that couldn't replenish themselves even over months of time...
BEWARE OF OVERDOSING!
Keep us update please Jeff :yes:
For a while there, I was afraid you were going to give up & get out *_*
A personal experience I'd like to share due to the importance of over dosing when carbon dosing:
When vodka dosing my 55 & was out of town a friend (ARC member) checked on my tank. He accidentally dumped apx 1/2 cup of vodka in my 55 gallon. The container was marked "vodka" however he had stopped over after arriving home late on a long flight working.
I returned home late the next afternoon and came in through the back garage door. I could smell "literally smell" the vodka that had dissipated/evaporated in the air. I went to the front of the house (tank was set-up in my office) and saw the empty vodka container. All livestock in the tank appeared healthy and looked normal with NO evidence of effects, did water changes that week.
Over the next two months 3 Acan colonies withered away and died. The next 6 months coral had little to NO growth (Radion lighting). 7 months later moved into ready & waiting 75 gallon using new sand, additional LR, Radion + MH lighting....... coral exploded with grow!
Theory, the overdose stripped needed water/food components that couldn't replenish themselves even over months of time...
BEWARE OF OVERDOSING!
Keep us update please Jeff :yes:
That cabbage leather is definitely bigger than when I saw it a few weeks ago. Nice!
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I dosed vodka for over ten years without issue, and I dosed various other carbon sources before settling in on vodka which I found to be the most effective for my needs. As with anything you need to start slow and ramp up over a one or two month period while testing your trates weekly with an accurate test kit that can test minimal levels eventually. Also, again as with anything whether Alk, Calcium, Mag, Vodka, dosing needs to be consistent and just about anything that is over doesed could crash your system.
Great job Job Jeff!
Great job Job Jeff!
This would be a great idea for my 60g cube, I don't have any more room in the living room.
So after reading this I decided to pull out a half bottle of Smirnoff I had and just started squirting 2ml in each morning to my 150
It has only been a a week and I did not tell my family I was doing it
Although no growth in the week, my kids did randomly say how clean my tank was looking.
The water and colors do seem significantly brighter.
It has only been a a week and I did not tell my family I was doing it
Although no growth in the week, my kids did randomly say how clean my tank was looking.
The water and colors do seem significantly brighter.
Here's some additional pictures taken. These were taken this weekend so see if you can tell the difference from the before pics previously posted.
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I must have it dialed in pretty good because growth just continues. New pics:
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Wow that white Mountain has taken off.
