how long does vodka dosing take to see results?
- Thread starter jayb12
- Start date
Four ml for a 250g is a very small amount. I use 4.0 ml for a 72 and also add 2 ml of vinegar or a half teaspoon of sugar every afternoon.
I began only w/vodka and it took a few months to get down to zero. I suspect it could have gone faster, but I started at 1 ml and slowly increased from there until I reached my current level of 4 plus vinegar or sugar.
I began only w/vodka and it took a few months to get down to zero. I suspect it could have gone faster, but I started at 1 ml and slowly increased from there until I reached my current level of 4 plus vinegar or sugar.
usefulidiot213
Bryan H.
it took about 6 weeks on my 100 gal to see results, but the results were good. 
I must be the oddity. I started dosing vodka on my 80 using meleevs directions and saw results by day 4. I started with my nitrates at 80mg/L (not sure about that unit) they where about half by the end of week one. I didnt bother increasing my dosage according to the directions and decided to wait and keep with the starting dosage to see if the nitrates kept droping. It has been 3 weeks now and I have zero nitrates and I feed heavily.
Garage1217
GET OFF MY LAWN
Heck I am at 10ml on around 140G total water volume for a year now. 4ml at 250G would not do a whole lot.
One thing I noticed was that over the 6 months I've been dosing things were really set back when I went away and stopped for a week or two. I'd get back and my nitrates would be back up to 20-25 ppm and it would take weeks to get them back down again. I think its an up and down thing, but woulld love to hear from someone who has been dosing for at least a year and has achieved steady, low to zero nitrates.
On the vinegar and sugar, I dose 1/2 teaspoon of regular sugar or 2 ml of vinegar each afternoon - in addition to the 4 ml of vodka in the morning - on a 72g with a 20 g sump.
On the vinegar and sugar, I dose 1/2 teaspoon of regular sugar or 2 ml of vinegar each afternoon - in addition to the 4 ml of vodka in the morning - on a 72g with a 20 g sump.
HighlandReefer
Team RC
1/2 teaspoon of sugar per day in 100 g. system is quite a bit. 1/4 teaspoon per day is pushing the zone where sugar can cause problems for coral.
In general, I believe that reducing your nitrate level by about 1/2 ppm per day or less, in a 150 gallon system is fairly safe. Unfortunately nitrate test kits do not provide the capablility to see this kind of change, except when tested about every month. FWIW, this means it may take at least 100 days to drop a 150 gallon system from 50 ppm nitrate down to zero. I usuall drop my nitrate slower than 1/2 ppm per day when necessary. If a hobbyist is dumping lots of food in their system, this will effect the results drastically. I would cut back on feeding to once every two days or so, if this is the case, rather than risk adding too much carbon source.
In general, I believe that reducing your nitrate level by about 1/2 ppm per day or less, in a 150 gallon system is fairly safe. Unfortunately nitrate test kits do not provide the capablility to see this kind of change, except when tested about every month. FWIW, this means it may take at least 100 days to drop a 150 gallon system from 50 ppm nitrate down to zero. I usuall drop my nitrate slower than 1/2 ppm per day when necessary. If a hobbyist is dumping lots of food in their system, this will effect the results drastically. I would cut back on feeding to once every two days or so, if this is the case, rather than risk adding too much carbon source.
Thanks for the advice. I'll cut back somewhat on the sugar. I really have no idea how I arrived at 1/2 teaspoon anyway. So I guess you see a clear correlation between how much vodka you add and how much it reduces your nitrates. Otherwise, how can you lower them in such a controlled fashion. Have you documented it? Also, what test kit do you use? It must be pretty sensitive.
HighlandReefer
Team RC
In my case, I have been using sugar to reduce nitrate. I have used vinegar in the past with similar results. This is based on my system only. There are many variables when it comes to how much your nitrate will drop per a given amount of carbon source. Many other hobbyists have experienced about the same amount of drop in nitrate when dosing carbon sources correctly. The main thing is not to overdose any carbon source and rush things too much. It does take several months or so to reduce nitrate from higher levels. FWIW, sugar is much more potent as a carbon source than vodka and can be overdosed and cause problems with coral much easier.
Algae Growwer
New member
I started dosing vodka 6 months ago.Was about 8ml according to the charts in rc mag article before I started to see any real drop in nitrates .Have backed it down to around 4 ml and nitrates are still at 0.0 . Thats also after breaking down tank and moving about 1 month ago.The skimmer is still pulling dark blk/grn skimmate From the water just give it time and don't jump the gun and over do it .Ramp it it over time.It will pay off.How deep is your sand bed? My tank is a 220 w/50 gal sump
jayb12
New member
my tanks a 250 with a 100 gal sump. right now my nitrates are sitting about 40-50. they have been that high when i started dosing. my sand bed is about 1" to about 3" at its deepest.
I use microbacter7 as well as vodka and it's working great. Here's a dosing chart for vodka, I don't need near as much as what it calls out but it could be used as a starting point until you get your system where you want it.
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2008-08/nftt/images/Table1-40Proof.jpg
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2008-08/nftt/images/Table2-80Proof.jpg
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2008-08/nftt/images/Table1-40Proof.jpg
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2008-08/nftt/images/Table2-80Proof.jpg
ATLJonathan
New member
Just STOPPED a gallon of biopellets
Just STOPPED a gallon of biopellets
Switching to Vodka, biopellets are just to nasty, yellow film constantly.
Just STOPPED a gallon of biopellets
Switching to Vodka, biopellets are just to nasty, yellow film constantly.
