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steve620
Guest
I've been vodka dosing for 8 weeks now , I'm up to 4.0ml in a 65 gal sw tank. I do not see any change in the nitrate so far. How long should it take to see a difference?
flower
Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by steve620 http:///t/396694/vodka-dosing#post_3534525
I've been vodka dosing for 8 weeks now , I'm up to 4.0ml in a 65 gal sw tank. I do not see any change in the nitrate so far. How long should it take to see a difference?
I found that dosing vodka is really dangerous, it depletes the oxygen in the tank and any problems like a bacterial blooms, and everything suffocates. I had the power go out for 4 days, and I lost some prize very hardy fish, there just wasn't enough oxygen to give them a fighting chance (the corals at least made it)...The other tank (I have 2) I wasn't dosing, it was a seahorse (very delicate critters) tank, and I had no losses...the air bubbler was enough for it, but not the one I had dosed.
You really need a top of the line skimmer. If you want to vodka dose, I suggest an Aquaripure filter...that way you dose the filter, and not put anything at risk. I have one for each tank, it's honestly the best piece of equipment I ever purchased, it actually does what it's supposed to. Besides dosing vodka once a week, and making sure the drip line is clear, there is absolutely no more maintenance needed or required. Nitrates are steady at a perfect 0 with that thing running.
Originally Posted by steve620 http:///t/396694/vodka-dosing#post_3534525
I've been vodka dosing for 8 weeks now , I'm up to 4.0ml in a 65 gal sw tank. I do not see any change in the nitrate so far. How long should it take to see a difference?
I found that dosing vodka is really dangerous, it depletes the oxygen in the tank and any problems like a bacterial blooms, and everything suffocates. I had the power go out for 4 days, and I lost some prize very hardy fish, there just wasn't enough oxygen to give them a fighting chance (the corals at least made it)...The other tank (I have 2) I wasn't dosing, it was a seahorse (very delicate critters) tank, and I had no losses...the air bubbler was enough for it, but not the one I had dosed.
You really need a top of the line skimmer. If you want to vodka dose, I suggest an Aquaripure filter...that way you dose the filter, and not put anything at risk. I have one for each tank, it's honestly the best piece of equipment I ever purchased, it actually does what it's supposed to. Besides dosing vodka once a week, and making sure the drip line is clear, there is absolutely no more maintenance needed or required. Nitrates are steady at a perfect 0 with that thing running.
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steve620
Guest
with the Aquaripure Filter how often do you do water changes ?
flower
Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by steve620 http:///t/396694/vodka-dosing#post_3534534
with the Aquaripure Filter how often do you do water changes ?
You don't have to do water changes, just dose the calcium and whatever other low trace elements after testing. I did the water changes anyway, but I wasn't able to do them once a month because of my health...corals were quite happy.
Originally Posted by steve620 http:///t/396694/vodka-dosing#post_3534534
with the Aquaripure Filter how often do you do water changes ?
You don't have to do water changes, just dose the calcium and whatever other low trace elements after testing. I did the water changes anyway, but I wasn't able to do them once a month because of my health...corals were quite happy.
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katorr
Guest
Does the Aquaripure take the place of a good skimmer? Or do you run both?
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steve620
Guest
I have no idea, my nitrates are thru the roof and they have been that way for months, I'm trying everything. as far as the skimmer goes the one I have was given to me I don't know the model number or brand. That will be the next thing i get.
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katorr
Guest
Quote:
Originally Posted by Katorr http:///t/396694/vodka-dosing#post_3534583
Does the Aquaripure take the place of a good skimmer? Or do you run both?
Flower, do you run both?
Originally Posted by Katorr http:///t/396694/vodka-dosing#post_3534583
Does the Aquaripure take the place of a good skimmer? Or do you run both?
Flower, do you run both?
flower
Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Katorr http:///t/396694/vodka-dosing#post_3534588
Flower, do you run both?
Hi,
They claim you don't need to, but I did run my skimmer on the 90g...but not on the 56g. Nitrates were a perfect 0 as promised, and the thing never needed any attention besides making sure the drip was going, and dosing vodka each week. Right now I have a ton of macroalgae, so my Aquaripure is no longer needed. I have the big one still running, but not as a drip...just to keep the live bacteria live...I haven't dosed it with vodka in ages. I have seahorses now, I needed the Aquaripure when I kept a reef.....LOL...I have learned to not give away equipment or sell it ( at a huge loss every time) I loved my corals, and I may return to doing that someday. The Aquaripure guy will sell a new bacteria crop to kick start the small one, if and when I decide to pull it out of storage. It's a good product, but it won't take care of PO4...I have found that macroalgae however, will take care of both, and it only costs $10.00 for a pint, and it grows and grows...making a lifetime supply for a very small investment.
Originally Posted by Katorr http:///t/396694/vodka-dosing#post_3534588
Flower, do you run both?
Hi,
They claim you don't need to, but I did run my skimmer on the 90g...but not on the 56g. Nitrates were a perfect 0 as promised, and the thing never needed any attention besides making sure the drip was going, and dosing vodka each week. Right now I have a ton of macroalgae, so my Aquaripure is no longer needed. I have the big one still running, but not as a drip...just to keep the live bacteria live...I haven't dosed it with vodka in ages. I have seahorses now, I needed the Aquaripure when I kept a reef.....LOL...I have learned to not give away equipment or sell it ( at a huge loss every time) I loved my corals, and I may return to doing that someday. The Aquaripure guy will sell a new bacteria crop to kick start the small one, if and when I decide to pull it out of storage. It's a good product, but it won't take care of PO4...I have found that macroalgae however, will take care of both, and it only costs $10.00 for a pint, and it grows and grows...making a lifetime supply for a very small investment.
snakeblitz33
Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bang Guy http:///t/396694/vodka-dosing#post_3534526
Snake any comment?
I had thought people did vodka dosing to reduce Phosphates.
I think Henry has it covered.
Personally, when I was dosing vodka, I had a lot of DOC already in my system which wasn't being removed by my low-powered skimmer. (wasn't doing water changes.) I feel that it wasn't really beneficial in my case, since I could have used a much better skimmer and been doing regular water changes to maintain water quality in a much more natural way. I'm not dosing my tank with any carbon liquids or crystals... (vodka, vinegar, sugar) because it's quite unreliable.
I have found that if you want to carbon dose and do it in a manner in which it is reliably controlled, Biopellets with a tried and true biopellet reactor with it's own pump and two gate valves to control internal and external flow rates is key to long term success with carbon dosing. Of course, many people opt for the cheap ways, and end up crashing their tanks over time. But, to each his own.
Originally Posted by Bang Guy http:///t/396694/vodka-dosing#post_3534526
Snake any comment?
I had thought people did vodka dosing to reduce Phosphates.
I think Henry has it covered.
Personally, when I was dosing vodka, I had a lot of DOC already in my system which wasn't being removed by my low-powered skimmer. (wasn't doing water changes.) I feel that it wasn't really beneficial in my case, since I could have used a much better skimmer and been doing regular water changes to maintain water quality in a much more natural way. I'm not dosing my tank with any carbon liquids or crystals... (vodka, vinegar, sugar) because it's quite unreliable.
I have found that if you want to carbon dose and do it in a manner in which it is reliably controlled, Biopellets with a tried and true biopellet reactor with it's own pump and two gate valves to control internal and external flow rates is key to long term success with carbon dosing. Of course, many people opt for the cheap ways, and end up crashing their tanks over time. But, to each his own.