Anyone Dose Vodka?

MarkoD · #1 03-01-2011, 04:45 PM

I read somewhere that dosing vodka everyday can completely eliminate nitrates and phosphates.

has anyone here done it with any success?

globaldesigns · #2 03-01-2011, 05:21 PM

I am dosing Vodka with NP BioPellets.

Things are still in the ramp up stages, so I haven't reached my maintenance dose (final stage). But I can say that the vodka in combination with the Pellets are taking me to where I want to be.

I have had major problems over the last summer. SPS die off in the extreme and major brown out. The pellets helped in the fight of algae and destroyed that, but I was thinking that my bioload (being heavy) was more than what the pellets could supply for. So recently I started the vodka dosing in addition to the pellets.

Well, now I am seeing great growth on all coral, even ones I thought were done for. Still have alot of brown for color, but can see it leaching out and the new growth is much more colorful than the rest.

I never tested Phosphates before, and am thinking that was my demise, as I bought a kit and voila phosphate. Well, the phosphates are now almost NULL, same goes for others like Ammonia, Nitrates and Nitrites.

I like the change, and can say it seems to be working for me. Hopefully I haven't just cursed myself.

If you want to do it, here is the reciepe:
1.) Dose .1ml per 25 gallons everyday for days 1-3. So if you have 100Gallons of water volume (not tank size), then you would dose .4ml everyday.
2.) Double the dosage to .2ml per 25 gallons of water for days 4-7
3.) Now you disregard the gallons/water volume and add .5ml to the daily dosage every week. So after the first week, on 100G, you then make the dosage 1.3ml, then next week add another .5ml. Remember these dosages are done daily and if you miss one, DON't double dose to make up.

Keep testing, and once you find your Phosphates, Ammonia, etc down to nothing, then you take the final daily dosage and cut it by 50%, this will become your daily maintenance dosage to keep the bacteria going.

That is it, very simple. Just don't rush things

Midway · #3 03-01-2011, 05:52 PM

I was looking into this as well. Awesome advices Rick!!!

Thanks very much for the information. See if I can follow your instructions too!!

Manny

ponokareefer · #4 03-01-2011, 05:53 PM

I had looked into vodka dosing to deal with excess nutrients, but instead did vinegar dosing. It's something to consider.

Midway · #5 03-01-2011, 05:55 PM

Rick something I would like to ask to, ok I have a 90 gallon tank and 40 gallons sump. combined I have something like 120 gallons. how much do you think I would dose on a daily basis?

Bill · #6 03-01-2011, 06:11 PM

I used to dose vodka but it skewed Ph to the high side, also it was a pain to dose every day.

I now use a recirculating sulfur reactor. No phos or nitrates detectable - and more vodka for me.

Jackie · #7 03-01-2011, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Midway

Rick something I would like to ask to, ok I have a 90 gallon tank and 40 gallons sump. combined I have something like 120 gallons. how much do you think I would dose on a daily basis?

All systems are different but you must start very very slowly.
I started at 0.1ml and now I am dosing 3.5ml daily on my 65G + 30G sump.

DiverDude · #8 03-01-2011, 07:27 PM

I started dosing Vodka a few weeks back (following the same regime as Rick) in an attempt to combat a persistent HA problem.

So far, I haven't seen any detectable difference. Still early though.

Lance · #9 03-01-2011, 10:31 PM

I used to dose vodka until the bio-pellets came out and I switched over. I find the pellets must more user friendly.

PoonTang · #10 03-01-2011, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lance

I used to dose vodka until the bio-pellets came out and I switched over. I find the pellets must more user friendly.

Me too but used to use vinegar. Pellets are exactly the same thing, if you are finding they are not enough just use more pellets.