Vodka Dosing Long Term

[viperfish]

I am thinking the VSV method might be the thing to try. It seems to yield more diversity in bacteria populations.

[fencer]

This type of dosing is very hard on softies. It does work. The first sign of a problem polyps( like GSP) will start to disappear. I have a yellow colony and it was close to being wiped out. You are going to need something more rounded out. Ultralith and Zeo are good alternatives. The cost of VSV is about the same cost as an Ultra program. There are other source like vinegar and molasses that are cheaper and as effective as VSV if you want to go with that route

[viperfish]

Originally Posted by fencer

This type of dosing is very hard on softies. It does work. The first sign of a problem polyps( like GSP) will start to disappear. I have a yellow colony and it was close to being wiped out. You are going to need something more rounded out. Ultralith and Zeo are good alternatives. The cost of VSV is about the same cost as an Ultra program. There are other source like vinegar and molasses that are cheaper and as effective as VSV if you want to go with that route

We're taliking about the same thing right? Vodka-Sugar-Vinegar, the Ultralith and Zeo programs are a lot more expensive. The startup cost and maintenance are insanely higher than a bottle of Vodka, some sugar and vinegar. Only thing is the Ultralith and Zeo are more of a "set and forget" than the VSV method. The more I look at the whole scenario, the more I am leaning toward the NP Pellets.

[fencer]

VSV was more expensive...I was dosing at a rate of 10ml/100gal/day. Even with the cheapest stuff I could find. As for Ultralith my dosing rate has slowed to every second day and the results are much better. I am sure this is true for zeo. Note you don't have to use all of Ultra or Zeo products to have a nice tank

[viperfish]

Does Ultralith sell a starter kit of some kind? What size reactor are you using? My tank is a 90 with a 35 Gal sump. Probably a 50/50 split SPS and LPS.

[Werbo]

Originally Posted by fencer

VSV was more expensive...I was dosing at a rate of 10ml/100gal/day. Even with the cheapest stuff I could find. As for Ultralith my dosing rate has slowed to every second day and the results are much better. I am sure this is true for zeo. Note you don't have to use all of Ultra or Zeo products to have a nice tank

I have read alot but never done VSV but the cost is cheap.
Vodka - Sugar - Vinegar. The reciepe is 200ml of vodka, 1.5 tablespoons sugar and 50ml vinegar. 200 ml of vodka is under $5 and 50ml vinegar is nothing so I don't see how VSV is costing you any more that $5 for 25 days.
250ml/10ml a day = 25 days.

Then once your nitrates drop you start reducing to a maintenance dose of 1-2 ml per day for a 100G tank. At 2ml per day 250 ml of VSV will last over 4 months for approx $5.
Glassbox Designs has a good starting point article on VSV.

[fencer]

Yes they do have a starters kit as does Zeo. I think Red Coral carries both. My reactor is 1.5 l but you can get away with just hanging the zeo rock in the sump or a Phosban reactor. Just gotta to shake every other day.

Go to tank journals and search for ultralith....you find my thread there

[wisesam]

Originally Posted by fencer

VSV was more expensive...I was dosing at a rate of 10ml/100gal/day. Even with the cheapest stuff I could find. As for Ultralith my dosing rate has slowed to every second day and the results are much better. I am sure this is true for zeo. Note you don't have to use all of Ultra or Zeo products to have a nice tank

Wow, 10ml/100gal/day seems a lot.
For my 45G, I am now dosing 0.25ml daily as maintenance dose.