Vodka Dosing vs Bio-pellet Reactor

[clay4au]

I have a friend that swears by dosing vodka&vinegar mix 2:1 i think.

I have dosed vodka but to control algae but only as needed. i.e 1/2 cap a day for 3 days then wait a week and see what happens.

I don't constantly dose because I am afraid by constantly feeding the bacteria any damaged coral or injured fish would be more susceptible to a bacterial infection that would kill it or at least inhibit recovery. This is not proven but its my thought process.

 

[ralph atl]

currently using V-V at a 2-1 ratio.

besides cyno treatment a few times a year, & as long as you follow a stable and sound treatment, carbon dosing keeps my trates at or below 1.0 and generally around .5.

I looked it up....I have been carbon dosing since 8/30/2006.

Caveats:

cyno treatment a couple times a year
some bacteria sludge buildup
daily dosing
pumps, carbon, and gfo need to be changes out & cleaned more often


Benefits:
little algae
great SPS growth from ULNS
feed heavy
fat fish
trates below 1.0

basically you are just adding a food source that bacteria grows and "eats" trates & some phates. (similar to what the GA Aquarium does for their tanks)

Edit:

Clay4AU;822631 wrote:
I don't constantly dose because I am afraid by constantly feeding the bacteria any damaged coral or injured fish would be more susceptible to a bacterial infection that would kill it or at least inhibit recovery. This is not proven but its my thought process.

it's not the same "type" of bacteria that could cause infections! :doh:

 

[ichthyoid]

+1 to what Ralph said ^

There are 'good' bacteria as well as bad. Carbon dosing feeds the good guys and helps hold down the bad, as a side benefit.

 

[reefkeeper]

After reading several positive testimonies on vodka dosing on several different forums, I decided a while back to start dosing vodka. I invested in a good n03 and po4 test kit. After almost two months of dosing I've noticed a considerable change in my system. My Phosphates and Nitrates have considerably dropped and my coral polyp extension is awesome.

I started out slow and followed the recommended dosing based on my total water volume. I increased the vodka quantity after 4 days and every week there after. You will notice a bacteria buildup on your glass in the beginning which is a pain. The first couple of weeks of dosing some of my LPS freaked out and lost it's color. There slowing recovering now.

Not sure where I heard it or read it, but it seems that the person who came up with the Bio Pellet idea, doesn't recommend you run it for long periods of time.

+1 on Mysterybox quote....he's right on.

 

[ichthyoid]

Amino acid supplementation is needed and improves results, when carbon dosing.

 

[ripped tide]

What brand amino acid have you found most beneficial?

From what I've been told, a lot of brands don't really know which amino acids are beneficial to corals, so they put a bunch of different types in one bottle. Some claim that this can be problematic- feeding cyano, stn, other

 

[ichthyoid]

I'm finishing up in Seachem and Elos may be next. They seem to have a reputation for good results.

 

[reefkeeper]

I add some Aquavitro fuel once a week . It's helps maintain the corals colors . My Lps seem to have recovered nicely after i started using the fuel.

 

[ichthyoid]

I have most of a bottle of fuel I got from Gary. Forgot about that, thx. I guess it's next.

 

[dtech07]

I do both. I vodka dosed for two years and have been running Bio-Pellets for the last year with great results.

 

[jumplittlechloe]

I used redsea nopox with zeovit high concentrate AminoAcids and I was very pleased with results (no algae & good color on sps) I am using elos now and the results are still up for debate.

 

[ralph atl]

fwiw, since this is a comparison poll between liquid versus pellet carbon dosing, I did go "all in" on pellet but after a month or two I became frustrated with the maintainence and constant battle of insuring pellets are constantly moving.....

It takes me less than 15 seconds to dose about 10-12 ml V-V daily....lol

 

[ripped tide]

I've figured out ways to keep the pellets tumbling, with VERY little maintenance. What I did not like was the lack of control.

The pellets weren't very drinkable either.

 

[ralph atl]

Ripped Tide;822987 wrote:
The pellets weren't very drinkable either.

agreed.
:lol2:

 

[jumplittlechloe]

You think I could put the nopox on a doser without cording the tubing?

Edit:

jumplittlechloe;822995 wrote: You think I could put the nopox on a doser without cording the tubing?

Meant to say corroding the tubing.

Edit: Edit:

Meant to say corroding the tubing.[/QUOTE]

Edit: Edit:

Meant to say corroding the tubing.

 

[dtech07]

I just had one of these built by my fabricator and it works 10x better and gives my full control of the pellets and effluence being discharged.
There's a part 1-2 of episodes #107 LAFish Guys

 

[dtech07]

Yes a drunk tank is a happy tank!

 

[schwaggs]

OK, you guys have piqued my interest in carbon dosing. I read some articles on the theory and process but have this question: If I have undetectable levels of phosphate (probably very low or being absorbed by the algae before levels get high), but am still fighting algae, will vodka dosing work?

 

[dtech07]

I don't think it's the total fix but I'm sure it will assist in keeping your PO4 and NO3 low and add a positive bacteria growth that will assist in reducing your algae issues. I found that I needed in harmony with the Vodka Dosing was a reduction in feeding and food type (so started making my own to ensure what I was adding wasn't loaded with PO4 and other things). I refined my HUSBANTRY process to ensure that there was no build up of excess foods and waste being stored in low flow areas. I changed flow directions in my tank to ensure a good gas off of the surface and that detrious was building in rocks, sand, and corners including my Refuguim. And keeping a chemically balanced tank and not allowing the algae a a chance to benefit from what my corals need.
It was a two month change at first but now I spend less time in the tank because my process has refined over the last year.
During all this I still Vodka, Vinagar, and Sugar dose (by a doser) because of the benefits it brings. Just don't rush it l, record your daily dosing, and watch your tank it will tell you when it's at the right level. Hope this helped.
Darryl