<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15715949#post15715949 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Ancelot
Hell Tswifty,
I'm running the same problem as you are facing now in your tank. Lots of HA growing and plenty of which I believe comes from my dead rocks. I believe there is some high level of phosphates and nutrients left stuck inside those rocks when I took them over so guess that's why I am getting like a hair algae outbreak! Certainly sucks but o wells. I am looking forth to get one of the giant base rock replaced with a premium liverock for better seeding and cultivation of good bacteria.
Also, can you imagine that without sugar, vodka, or Biotim/Biofuel whatever, Mb7 will not run into effect? Sorry if this sounds dumb but yeah I kind of realised it. Well so I dumped some sugar into my tank and guess what, now I have a bacteria boom! Milky water in the tank! Rahh! how bad can these go? I wonder :hmm3: but the good news is that I just dumped some sugar into my tank and HA seems to be dying off. So guess that's good news? haha.
Will continue monitoring your thread on your usage of vodka against HA. Perhaps I will get so ****ed off with HA that I will dump vodka and sugar together, mixed them into a strong conoction and destruct them. Shall keep you posted.
Thanks for this wonderful thread of your tank 
Happy Reefing,
Marc J.
Thanks for the kind words.
Dosing Microbacter 7 (bacteria) alone certainly has its benefits. By adding MB7 you are adding to the current bacteria population in the tank which will help consume waste, outcompete bad forms of bacteria, and feed corals. I was dosing only bacteria to my tank for the first two weeks and noticed greater polyp extension, increased/darker skimmate, and no longer had issues with a diatom like dusting on the sand bed. However, for the greatest effect, yes you will want to add a carbon source. By dosing Microbacter 7 in combination with Vodka you are just trying to ensure that the good bacteria takes advantage of the carbon source rather than harmful forms.
Plenty of people dose only vodka to their system with great results. The carbon source reduces Nitrates and Phosphates, and will bloom bacteria populations which will also aid in the removal by consuming Nitrates and Phosphates during reproduction. By dosing Microbacter 7 you are just attempting to tip the scales in the favor of good vs harmful bacteria utilizing the carbon source. So it's my understanding that if you want to drop N&P levels you can dose a carbon source, or a carbon source and bacteria... but not solely bacteria.
I also would advise that you use caution when "dumping" carbon sources into your tank. Most dosages have been measured carefully and ramp up very slowly for a reason. People do use VSV (Vodka, Sugar, Vinegar) mixes as well, but I am unfamiliar with those methods as I chose to pursue only Vodka.
Good luck.
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15719222#post15719222 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by plyle02
Tswifty,
Running very similair approach, mb7 and vodka... I also have hair algae, bubble algae, and recently dinos... I have zero nitrates, and no hannah meter, but not testing for po4 either. I am so annoyed, I have decided to do lights out and skim wet over the next 3 days, the tank is currently covered with a blanket, I will let you know the outcome. I was running neo stones, pulled offline, not currently dosing aminos, just feeding the fish.
Good luck with your journey...
Thanks. If your seeing dinos you are supposed to cut your vodka dosage by 50% until they disappear. Also, some people increase their bacteria dosage at this time hoping that it will outcompete the dinos for food.
From the reefkeeping article:
Bacterial Blooms - High additions of carbon sources at once are noted as production of slimy white strings upon rocks or in sumps that become noticeable a few hours to a day after addition. There is no clear evidence that this is detrimental to your tank. If this is observed dropping your dose by 50% will result in the disappearance of these strands.
As far as the lights out goes... you mean like this? :lol:
I tried the lights out on an old system and found out that the algae comes right back. I ended up beating it with some good 'ol fashion elbow grease on that system though. I've learned the hard way that sometimes there's nothing you can do but wait it out, and try to manage the chaos while you do.
Good luck.
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15719698#post15719698 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by blk94rs
Is your guys' algae problems starting after you begin the MB7/Vodka combo, or did you have an existing problem before you started?
I am currently 1 week into seeding my tank with MB7, and am planing on starting vodka in one week from today. I have never had an algae problem of any kind (tank is 1.5 years old), so I am bit concerned that it may become a problem....?
My algae problem started before I began the system. I wouldn't worry about an algae bloom from vodka/bacteria dosing. However, you will need to watch for bacterial blooms.
One of the main reasons for seeding the tank with Microbacter 7 is to boost the good bacteria population ahead of time so that it will outcompete any bad forms of bacteria (cyano, dinos, etc...) that may also try to take advantage of the carbon source.
