Vodka dosing

florida joe

florida joe

Well-Known Member
I attended a saltwater forum this Saturday. The keynote speaker was Julian Sprung. Along with his three ( just got a call from a friend he has 12 books out) very informative books on reef keeping he was the chief adviser to the crew maintaining the 1 million gallon reef and ocean tank in the biosphere project in Arizona. One if the subjects he talked about was filtration. Vodka dosing it seems is a viable method to reduce nitrates in the aquarium. It has to do with the introduction of ethyl alcohol by way of the vodka into the aquarium. The introduction as with all things added to our tank has to be preformed in a specific manner. The lash marks on my back are still visible so all I will say on this is that it may be worth looking into if you are fighting a battle with nitrates.
It may also make for some very social fish
 
darknes

darknes

Active Member
I would only suggest this for experienced aquariasts and only if you've read into vodka dosing a lot. It's too easy to mess things up.
I've been dosing my tank for over a year now, and I'm very happy with it.
 
florida joe

florida joe

Well-Known Member
Originally Posted by Darknes
http:///forum/post/2520276
I would only suggest this for experienced aquariasts and only if you've read into vodka dosing a lot. It's too easy to mess things up.
I've been dosing my tank for over a year now, and I'm very happy with it.
I agree that s why I said in a specific manner and after research. Did you experience any yellowing of water. I understand that protein skimming proficiency is crucial to not having this happen. Having CC in my 110 and having it up and running for seven years I deal with nitrates on a regular basis I am doing my homework now and I think I will post a thread on my attempts at dealing with nitrates through dosing ( Sir Q my friend this could get interesting )
 
darknes

darknes

Active Member
Originally Posted by florida joe
http:///forum/post/2520288
I agree that s why I said in a specific manner and after research. Did you experience any yellowing of water. I understand that protein skimming proficiency is crucial to not having this happen
No, my water is crystal clear. However, I do use carbon and I dose in a very small quantity ( 0.5 mL per 50 gallons every day). And I agree, protein skimming is a must for it as well.
Overdosing a tank can cause huge bacterial blooms and cause a tank to crash.
 
darknes

darknes

Active Member
Originally Posted by florida joe
http:///forum/post/2520288
I agree that s why I said in a specific manner and after research. Did you experience any yellowing of water. I understand that protein skimming proficiency is crucial to not having this happen. Having CC in my 110 and having it up and running for seven years I deal with nitrates on a regular basis I am doing my homework now and I think I will post a thread on my attempts at dealing with nitrates through dosing ( Sir Q my friend this could get interesting )
Wow, seven continuous years with the tank running? Nice work

Just be sure when you start to dose that you need to start very small and gradually increase the dosage to where you want it.
 
florida joe

florida joe

Well-Known Member
Originally Posted by Darknes
http:///forum/post/2520303
Wow, seven continuous years with the tank running? Nice work

Just be sure when you start to dose that you need to start very small and gradually increase the dosage to where you want it.
Lol my friend seven years running is a relative term. It has been a long and often rocky road but there has been something going on continuously in my 110 be it for better or worst for seven years.
 
florida joe

florida joe

Well-Known Member
Originally Posted by Darknes
http:///forum/post/2520294
No, my water is crystal clear. However, I do use carbon and I dose in a very small quantity ( 0.5 mL per 50 gallons every day). And I agree, protein skimming is a must for it as well.
Overdosing a tank can cause huge bacterial blooms and cause a tank to crash.
Just so every one knows there is more to it then just dosing .5 ml per 50G, as I am sure you have done your research. It is imperative that people wanting to try this do theirs
 
al mc

al mc

Active Member
So, Let me get this straight. If I have a swf tank at work I can write off Vodka purchases as a business expense?!?.
We live in a great country!
 
coral keeper

coral keeper

Active Member
Isn't CO2 gas (that they use for freshwater planted tanks)the same thing as vodka? I have a DIY CO2 system on my freshwater heavily planted tank. I've also heard that CO2 systems were on reef tanks.
 
yerboy

yerboy

Active Member
Originally Posted by Darknes
http:///forum/post/2520276
I've been dosing my tank for over a year now, and I'm very happy with it.
Well you better not trade/sell your fish as they might go into withdraws in a new tank without there vodka!
 
florida joe

florida joe

Well-Known Member
I am doing my homework and if not preformed absolutely (no pun intended all though that’s a pretty good one) correctly you can cause your tank to crash (again no fun intended)
 
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