Vodka, Vinegar, Sugar (Carbon) Dosing info
- Thread starter ralph atl
- Start date
I bought the cheapest vodka I could find. I used mccormick's quadruple distilled, sugar, and kroger white distilled vinegar. I followed glass box designs recipe all the way.
I am only using .4ml now. I am going to stay with adding .1ml every 3-4 days.
My filter sock turns a dark black and gets clogged in two days now. I have one of those fine mesh filter socks, not the normal ones. It used to take 2 weeks to clog that filter sock. And, my skimmers skimmate is a black nasty mush.:yuk:
Some other observations...
Yesterday was the first day in months that I did not need to clean my glass, and this morning it still looks clean.:thumbs:
My corals are growing at the same rate they were before dosing, but I am also not feeding any more than normal...yet.
I still have very little hair algae, and alot of cyano, but I didnt expect VSV to kill off the cyano.
I have noticed I need to keep a good eye on my skimmer, because it has gone nuts and overflowed all over my floor twice since starting (coincidence, maybe???). That has made me want to upgrade tanks since I don't have enough room for a big enough sump to hold my skimmer.
Hope that helps
Great info.
I do not currently run a filter sock, so I might need one to collect the initial poo. I hate cleaning them since my drain is behind my massive skimmer, and barely accessible.
I am still hesitant to do the VSV. I read http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2008-08/nftt/index.php">this</a> article on stricly vodka dosing, and the VSV one. I kinda like only adding one thing at a time, at least at first. I also am waiting until I get my ELOS kits to be sure I even need to dose. But I have my suspicions.
Are you planning on adding the bioDigest that VSV recommends?
I do not currently run a filter sock, so I might need one to collect the initial poo. I hate cleaning them since my drain is behind my massive skimmer, and barely accessible.
I am still hesitant to do the VSV. I read http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2008-08/nftt/index.php">this</a> article on stricly vodka dosing, and the VSV one. I kinda like only adding one thing at a time, at least at first. I also am waiting until I get my ELOS kits to be sure I even need to dose. But I have my suspicions.
Are you planning on adding the bioDigest that VSV recommends?
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just a couple of more interesting (or not) threads on the subject.
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=14226650#post14226650">http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=14226650#post14226650</a>
[IMG]http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1557772">http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1557772</a>
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=14226650#post14226650">http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=14226650#post14226650</a>
[IMG]http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1557772">http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1557772</a>
As an update My chaeto seems to have stopped growing, and my filter sock has finally stopped clogging in two days. Skimmer is still skimming away. I am at .5ml now on a 46 G tank. My birdsnests are growing rewally fast now, and I mean really fast. Jin hooked me up with a small frag of birdsnest last week and it has already doubled in size.
Are you kidding me? What kind of birdsnest?
I have been dosing 5 ml for 3 days now on my system that I estimated at 125 net gallons. Skimmate looks possible darker, but hard to be sure.
I have not noticed much change otherwise. I am waiting for my elos kits before upping the dose too much, since I do not really know what my NO3 and PO4 levels are.
I did quit running GFO yesterday. I will not run it again until I get the kits, as well.
I have been dosing 5 ml for 3 days now on my system that I estimated at 125 net gallons. Skimmate looks possible darker, but hard to be sure.
I have not noticed much change otherwise. I am waiting for my elos kits before upping the dose too much, since I do not really know what my NO3 and PO4 levels are.
I did quit running GFO yesterday. I will not run it again until I get the kits, as well.
Yeah I am waiting to get some kits before I raise it any more, plus I think I am going to upgrade to a 90G tank. I kid you not. My skimmate is black. Used to be a dark brown.
I am not sure what kind of birdsnest it is...some variation of Pink. I forgot. It is a little darker and a little thicker than my ORA pink birdsnest, and it has purple polyps.
Anyway, it started out looking liker a Y and now it looks like a fork with numerous little nubs getting ready to grow out.
I do not think it is just the VSV dosing I just think it is a fast grower, and my tank is staying pretty stable according to API kits. I am waiting to get Elos soon...
and for the record I am at .5ml on about 50G total volume, not 5ml. That seems a little steep if your just starting.
I am not sure what kind of birdsnest it is...some variation of Pink. I forgot. It is a little darker and a little thicker than my ORA pink birdsnest, and it has purple polyps.
Anyway, it started out looking liker a Y and now it looks like a fork with numerous little nubs getting ready to grow out.
I do not think it is just the VSV dosing I just think it is a fast grower, and my tank is staying pretty stable according to API kits. I am waiting to get Elos soon...
and for the record I am at .5ml on about 50G total volume, not 5ml. That seems a little steep if your just starting.
