vodka dosing

[larrynews]

does anyone dose with vodka and what is the purpose, been reading up a little sounds bigger over seas than here

[jd]

I know that Wall_Tank does. I have considered it but I don't run my skimmer often enough to do it. It is a method of nitrate and po4 reduction by adding an carbon source for bacteria to feed on.

Good reading:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2008-08/nftt/index.php

[ohioreef]

I was thinking Nikki had tried it at one point also.

[Wall_Tank]

Been doing it for at least a year.  It's purely for Nitrate and phosphate reduction   It's easy to over do.....so if you want to try, take it very slow.   

[ghurlag]

One good hangover, and you'll know you dosed too much 

[Kenn]

heres a good read too and its local

http://www.ohioreef.com/index.php?topic=4211.0

[ghurlag]

Seems like every couple of months this comes back up.  And I refuse to avoid the oh so obvious drinking jokes.

[HUNGER]

it looks like it would work great

[larrynews]

i was ready for the jokes but i hoped i would get a few answers

[ghurlag]

jd, Wall_Tank and kennv431 all posted legitimate responses.  I asked about this in January, and for the most part, folks shy away from this (around here), except in extreme circumstances.  I think that no matter what you are dosing with, any additional metered additives going into the tank introduce a higher likelihood of knocking the tank out of balance.  While I have no personal experience with vodka dosing (of aquariums ), I would recommend that before you make any sort of decision, you have to determine if you will be able to maintain the potential additional upkeep and monitoring.  If not, then don't do it, but if so, knock yourself out and let us all know how it works for you.

[Wall_Tank]

I would recommend that before you make any sort of decision, you have to determine if you will be able to maintain the potential additional upkeep and monitoring.

Actually the upkeep is easier, other than daily dosing.  If you miss a day, no big deal.  Just have a good skimmer.  In my case, I had a nitrate an uncontrollable bubble algae issue.   I checked all of the common sources of nitrate addition, I was pretty sure it was my live rock.........  I didn't want to tear the tank down and start over, I also didn't want to keep doing crazy amounts of water changes.

I'm beginning to feel that after a year+ at unmeasurable nitrate, I'm slowly backing off on the vodka.  I still have bubble algea, but it's controllable.

I should note that I also use a bacteria booster to make sure the Vodka doesn't build a single culture bacteria.  I use BioDigest from Prodibio.

[larrynews]

wall tank how much do use i have a 125.

larry

[jd]

wall tank how much do use i have a 125.

larry

Larry, the article I posted has dosing guidelines. Its very inportant to start slowly.

[HUNGER]

thats a good atical

[~reefchik~]

There are a gazillionty-leven articles on it on Reef Central.  I can see how people would get into it but I guess it's really high maintenance.

[larrynews]

I think i might just go the natural route and stay patient