Lets talk about Vodka/sugar dosing

[stony_corals]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14748512#post14748512 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by IPT
Hey, I of course have test kits (new ones, API) that read zero PO4 and NO3 but I have hair algae and brown corals (well, most of them). I am thinking about trying this method.

So I think I am a good candidate for it. My question is what happens if you miss several days like from being on a Vacation or something. Will this cause any "Crash"? Second, how many people are adding bacteria at the same time they does the Vodka?

It wouldn't cause a crash, however, the bacteria density will decrease. What we are doing with adding a carbon source is manipulating the bacteria density within the system. When there is less carbon available to the bacteria, naturally the size of the biomass will adjust. I wouldn't worry too much about it,other than your nutrients 'may' rise during vacation.

 

[Speckled Grouper]

Safedad, you are adding 16ml of Vodka daily? What size system?
I only dose 5ml in app 350 gal total volume! Are you still doing Prodibio aswell?

 

[Safedad]

Quantities

Quantities

I have a 90 gal tank and about 120 gal total water volume.
Yes, 16 ml daily
I dose one vial Biodigest every other week and Reefbooster and Bioptim vials weekly.
I dose the ZZ 1 tsp two times weekly and combine the RB and Bioptim in the mix on Fridays.
I have a high bio load: 1 3" regal tang, 2.5" yellow tang and maroon clown, a pair of 1.5" true perculas, and 6 small blue/green chromis.
I have an ASM 3 skimmer with recycle mod using a Mag 12 through a 3/4" venturi.

 

[melev]

I think you are using too much vodka. My tank with a water volume (net, not gross) is about 255-gallons, and my peak dosage was 15ml. It has a DSB, refugium, and skimmer.

If your numbers are nice and low, it might be worth considering backing off on that dosage because there is a risk of a crash, based on what I've read.

 

[Speckled Grouper]

I was up to 6 ml when the Cyano started to appear. I went back down to 5ml and the Cyano is still there but it hasn't gotten any worse.

 

[Safedad]

Consider adding Zeozym for the cyano. I have found the vodka keeps the NO3 down to zero and the Zeo gets rid of the cyano.

 

[Safedad]

Consider adding Zeozym for the cyano. I have found the vodka keeps the NO3 down to zero and the Zeo gets rid of the cyano.

 

[stony_corals]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14748512#post14748512 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by IPT
Hey, I of course have test kits (new ones, API) that read zero PO4 and NO3 but I have hair algae and brown corals (well, most of them). I am thinking about trying this method.

So I think I am a good candidate for it. My question is what happens if you miss several days like from being on a Vacation or something. Will this cause any "Crash"? Second, how many people are adding bacteria at the same time they does the Vodka?

dp

 

[stony_corals]

Re: Quantities

Re: Quantities

Safedad, you are adding 16ml of Vodka daily? What size system?
I only dose 5ml in app 350 gal total volume! Are you still doing Prodibio aswell?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14806704#post14806704 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Safedad
I have a 90 gal tank and about 120 gal total water volume.
Yes, 16 ml daily
I dose one vial Biodigest every other week and Reefbooster and Bioptim vials weekly.
I dose the ZZ 1 tsp two times weekly and combine the RB and Bioptim in the mix on Fridays.
I have a high bio load: 1 3" regal tang, 2.5" yellow tang and maroon clown, a pair of 1.5" true perculas, and 6 small blue/green chromis.
I have an ASM 3 skimmer with recycle mod using a Mag 12 through a 3/4" venturi.

It's very difficult to compare dosing.... each system is unique in its bioload, and export, naturally each system will need different amounts of vodka to reduce nutrient levels. I had a comparable sized system with pretty similar bioload and was dosing 12ml/day...

 

[Safedad]

addititives

addititives

I am down to:
Vodka: 7ml 2X - when I dropped from 8 to 6 almost immeditaely got an algae growth on my green sinularia
Vit C: 1/4 tsp 2X - trying to reintroduce this
Zeozym: 1 ZZ scoop on Fri and 1 ZZ scoop on Tuesdays
Biodigest: everyother wk on Friday
Bioptim: weekly on Friday
Reefbooster: weekly on Friday

NO3 has been zero since last summer,
PO4-??? Salifert says zero but don't have any coralline algae growing so I wonder
Ca 430-450
pH 8.1-8.2
Alk 9
Temp 80-83
Sp Gr 1.025
Just added three Lyretail Anthias and a bubble tip anemone
Have 4" Regal Tang, 3.5" Yellow tang, 3 green chromis, pair of true percula clowns, and a Maroon clown

 

[Burlingtonz]

White Film

White Film

I have been dosing since March 23/09. I have a total water volume of 225g. My stats are as follows

NO3 20-25 ppm 3 test results API Saliferts TM
PO4 0.50 ppm API
Mg 1350 Elos
Cal 430ppm Saliferts
dKh 12.8 Saliferts
1.025
ORP Not tested
I'm at 8ml per day going up 0.5 twice a week Wednesday and Saturday's are my increase days. I have found the same results as most of the other reefers who dose but my situation is that during my regular maintence I have found a white film on the glass of the tank and no where else is this film found but on the glass. When I scrape the glass it comes off very easily and floats in the water. This film isn't on the rock or corals. My question is this the start of the over dosing or algea bloom I have read about on this thread and others. Is this normal? Has anyone else experienced such issues. The water looks very clear corals have brighten up but I am concerned about the next few days of dosing. Thanking everyone in advance.

 

[BucNtears]

I've been dosing for 3 weeks and I'm dosing 2.5 ml.
I'm at near 0 on my PO4 and NO3. The only thing I've noticed were some string like white sponge growth on a couple of rocks. My corals have improved abit but not anywhere what I wanted. I'm starting to think that my bio load to to small.
I'm feeding Rods food, Elos Omega Acid, Reef Roids, Coral frenzy and my fish are as follows
5 Chromis
2 True Percula Clownfish{pair}
1 Clown Goby
1 Starry Blenny
1 Horseface Blenny
1 Yellow Watchmen
1 Geometric Pigmy Hawkfish
1 Melanurus Wrasse

As you can see all my fish are small and don't produce much waste. I'm thinking I need to add a few more to increase waste.

I really could use some input, kind of lost on what steps I should take...:{

thanks

 

[BucNtears]

OK bumping this thread.

I've added the most expensive fish I've ever purchased
a Lineatus Fairy Wrasse {male} and he has become my favorite fish


I'm starting to get the results I'm been after. I'm up to 5ml a day and my corals are improving.

I've got a question for you guys, I'm starting to notice what appear to be burnt tips at the ends of some of my sps but at the same time I'm seeing my corals improve in color. I'm thinking that my sps are growing at fast rate..

My readings
Ca 440
Ph 8.10
temp 81.5
Mg 1500
Dkh 8.624 Alk 3.08
No3 25 {appears lower}
po4 0.01

My skimmer is pulling thick black brown sludge and I've been doing water changes at roughly 20 gallons every 3 weeks.

Thoughts please

 

[melev]

Are all the SPS burning at the tips, or only a select few, or even a select few tips period? You can always back the dose down slightly to see if the tips improve, but it won't get you lower nitrates any quicker.

 

[BucNtears]

No not all the tips appear burnt, its kind of weird whats going on.
A couple of my sps look like burnt but on the others the tips are getting crazy colors.
On one of my sps half of the corals color is getting really nice looking color while the other half remains the same as before.

All fish appear to be doing great, no signs of stress. The same with my lps and 1 clam all fully expanded and good color.

Basically everything is doing great, I'm thinking I've reached the point where I'm starting to see the effects of dosing.

 

[Genetics]

The difference a month can make... :thumbsup:

 

[BucNtears]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15205711#post15205711 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Genetics
The difference a month can make... :thumbsup:

So going on what I've said..everything appears good.

On one of my corals{sps} half of the branches/steam have lighten in color while the other appears dark. The darken branches have started to lighten up{they appear to have}.

Its hard to really notice things when you spend hours looking at the tank,if you can understand that...lol

 

[FISHSTICK745]

I just started dosing vodka on Sunday 6/14. I always had PO4 issues no matter what I did. Started with the amount stated in the reefkeeping article. 1ml days 1-3, tomorrow I will start to double dose(2ml) per day(days4-7), and .5ml each week after, and so on til I see results. Right now P04 is .25 and N03 is 15ppm. I'll test every Sunday. We'll see what happens.

 

[BucNtears]

Go slow and watch everything closely. I'm just now starting to notice a change. I'm up to 5ml and I'll bump it up to 5.5ml in a couple more days. I'm going slower then the article states.
Results don't happen over night.

Make sure you test no3 and po4, I test every 3days.

 

[Burlingtonz]

Question

Question

I posted a question a few weeks back regarding white film on the glass which I clean weekly. Has anyone else experienced this situation. This film also clogs my filter socks so water can not pass through. The socks also have to be cleaned on a regular basis. I am at 12ml per day dosing twice per day 6ml in the morning and 6 ml in the evening. Increasing 1ml each week. Nitrate at 20-25 ppm and PO4 at 0.50ppm. These reading rarely ever change.