My Bacteria Driven Journey
- Thread starter Tswifty
- Start date
Tswifty
New member
Dosing both at the same time is certainly not a requirement. I know plenty of people that only use Vodka, and have had success. However, some people have mentioned that they have seen increased results when using both Microbacrer 7 and Vodka at the same time. Also, the MB7 is supposed to outcompete the "bad bacteria" so it doesn't have a chance to take hold in the first place. For those that have not begun Vodka dosing yet, it was recommended to start the Microbacter 7 two weeks prior to dosing Vodka.
Remember there are no absolutes in this hobby, and there are many paths to the same end.
I would recommend re-reading the initial Reefkeeping Article. Based on what I've read in the article, if you are seeing cyanobacteria I would manually remove as much as possible, and cut back 50% of what you are currently dosing until it disappears (vodka gurus feel free to correct me if I am wrong). The most common theme in all the reading I have done is to move slowly.
Good luck.
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trueblackpercula
New member
Going slow is the key that's for sure. I can say that vodka dosing plus mb7 have made my tank a better place.
Michael Anthony
Michael Anthony
Aqua Keepers
New member
rsuplido, nice chart. Even though your trates are going down, I would still recommend water changes
Tswifty
New member
Nice graph and results. Glad to see everything steadily improving. I agree with the comment about not completely throwing water changes to the wayside, and would still try and perform at least 1 per month.<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15594898#post15594898 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rsuplido
I'm on my 25th day. Here's a graph of how my Vodka dosing looks so far. I started Aug 1. No water changes since then. Nitrate (red) has been going down and I'm now fixed at 1.25ml of Vodka (blue) everyday.
EDIT: Just saw your follow up post. :lol: :thumbsup:
No, it's just nice to start up the bacteria ahead of time so you have a good bacteria population before adding a carbon source, which should help to minimize the chance of getting "bad bacteria" outbreaks such as cyanobacteria, dinos, etc. From what I have read, I would stop with the Vodka additions for a week, and dose only the MB7 during that week. That way you can boost your bacteria population before continuing on with the Vodka dosing.
Yes you do. However, it was recommended to start up Microbacter 7 dosing 2 weeks prior to beginning Vodka dosing in order to help jumpstart the bacteria population.
boret
Premium Member
Thanks for the input Tswifty. I know that there are many threads around about dosing but I think you are doing a great job documenting everything so I am trying to follow my own dosing along with yours. I hope the questions don't derail the thread too much from its main purpose.
I will stop Vodka today and start MB7 for a week. I am keeping all the dosing info in a spreadsheet and will see how it all works out.
I have notice one more thing since I started dosing Vodka: some of my zoas are melting. I was thinking about adding Vitamin C.... but I am affraid it migh be too many things at the same time!
I will stop Vodka today and start MB7 for a week. I am keeping all the dosing info in a spreadsheet and will see how it all works out.
I have notice one more thing since I started dosing Vodka: some of my zoas are melting. I was thinking about adding Vitamin C.... but I am affraid it migh be too many things at the same time!
Aqua Keepers
New member
Don't add Vit.C or anything else untill you get that figured out. Since you noticed it at the start of vodka, I'd slow down on that.
Tswifty
New member
Thanks. I'm not doing anything new here though. Everything I've decided to undertake thus far came about after reading The Reefkeeping Article, SunnyX's Thread, as well as a few other threads/articles.
As far as the Zoanthids go... I can't really comment, because I really don't keep any. Also, I have not looked into Vitamin C dosing, but would not add something else into the mix right now. At this point I would only add one variable at a time. That way it will be much easier to attribute a particular response (whether positive or negative) to a particular item. If you read the Reefkeeping Article, it basically tells you to watch your livestock and anytime you see any type of negative reaction to cut your dosage in half until it subsides.
From the Reefkeeping Article:
"Throughout your dosing, observe your livestock daily to look for any signs of stress. If stress of any sort is noticed stop dosing, or at a minimum cut back by reducing your dose in half. If for some reason you cannot remember if you've added for that day skip it. It is better to accidentally miss a dose than add twice as much (a journal will keep this from occurring). Never double the dose for missing a prior day!"
Tswifty
New member
This week's water parameters.
I'm considering turning off my CO2 to see what/if any effect it has on the Alkalinity. With how dialed back the Calcium Reactor and bubble count are now, I'm fairly positive the Kalk Reactor should be able to carry the demand by itself. Especially since the Alkalinity still seems to be running on the high side. I'm planning on ordering some ESV 2-part from Salty Critter on Monday. That way I'll have it on hand if I do need to supplement some of the values. Also, I still feel as if the PO4 value is skewed. It continues to drop, but I haven't seen any reduction in the nuisance algae in the tank up to this point.
I'll hopefully be taking updated pictures tonight or tomorrow.
I'm considering turning off my CO2 to see what/if any effect it has on the Alkalinity. With how dialed back the Calcium Reactor and bubble count are now, I'm fairly positive the Kalk Reactor should be able to carry the demand by itself. Especially since the Alkalinity still seems to be running on the high side. I'm planning on ordering some ESV 2-part from Salty Critter on Monday. That way I'll have it on hand if I do need to supplement some of the values. Also, I still feel as if the PO4 value is skewed. It continues to drop, but I haven't seen any reduction in the nuisance algae in the tank up to this point.
I'll hopefully be taking updated pictures tonight or tomorrow.
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boret
Premium Member
I would be careful with 2-part as it will increase your salinity, which at 1.027 seems pretty high. I have been dealing with high Alk myself and realized that Reef Crystals salt was part of the problem. I have changed to the new Brightwell Salt (neoMarine) that provides a lower Alk value. I will see how it does and will report.
I stopped dosing Vodka and I am just dosing MB7 at the moment.
My Nitrate is down to 10, but I am starting to doubt my test kit that is probably a year old. Will get a new one soon.
I stopped dosing Vodka and I am just dosing MB7 at the moment.
My Nitrate is down to 10, but I am starting to doubt my test kit that is probably a year old. Will get a new one soon.
Good to see more and more people are jumping aboard. I started this myself about 3 weeks ago. I'm doing the 1 drop per 10 gallons currently on MB7 and 1ml of vodka per day. My tank was crystal clear while doing the initial 2 weeks but has been slightly more cloudy these days. I was forced in to doing a water change during the middle of the process so I'm thinking of dosing a bit more MB7 over the next week. When I say I was forced I was chasing PH numbers and through some bad advice I spiked my alk. Since then my PH has worked itself out and although not as high as most it stays stable on the low end and since then I have added several fish that appear to be doing wonderful.
My parameters are:
Mag 1400ppm
Calc 450ppm
Alk 8.0dkh
My parameters are:
Mag 1400ppm
Calc 450ppm
Alk 8.0dkh
trueblackpercula
New member
I can comment on zoanthids in my system. I have PPES And some other types and dosing vodka and mb7 have made they look better then ever before.
High Alk/Dkh I don't have this problem but I do have the complet oppisite. I change 5 gallons of water a week with reefcyrstals and don't have any issues with this salt brand.
Michael Anthony
High Alk/Dkh I don't have this problem but I do have the complet oppisite. I change 5 gallons of water a week with reefcyrstals and don't have any issues with this salt brand.
Michael Anthony
Tswifty
New member
Nah... 1.027 isn't high. I usually try and keep it between 1.026-1.028. I actually skim on the wet side, which means I need to boost the SG back up about once a week. I usually do it when I perform my weekly water change. So who knows... maybe a 2-part dosing regiment could potentially alleviate that task.
Instant Ocean and Reef Crystals both carry a very high alkalinity, and depending on how much water you change/how large your system is, it could throw your levels off. It's posted at 12 dKH, but I know a lot of people (including myself) who have received batches up near 14 dKH. Since I'm shooting for a lower alkalinity these days, and also change such small amounts of water, I may make a switch back to Tropic Marin Pro Reef. Currently I use a 50/50 blend of Instant Ocean and Coralife.
Tswifty
New member
Also, I decided to pull the trigger and shut down the CO2 tonight, and plan on monitoring the Alkalinity rather closely over the next few days to see how it reacts.
I forgot to run to the liquor store this weekend, so I'll need to make a trip on Monday to purchase the Vodka for the system. I plan on starting at the recommended 80 proof dose of 0.2 ml per day.
I forgot to run to the liquor store this weekend, so I'll need to make a trip on Monday to purchase the Vodka for the system. I plan on starting at the recommended 80 proof dose of 0.2 ml per day.
CleveYank
20 Years and Over
I add Calcium Chloride to adjust for Instant Ocean Alk issues both in the new mix and add some to the tank simultaneously. (When I added the total adjustment, the amount required would cause it to precipitate in the new mix.) Some have gone to other brands of salt. IO has been what I've always used I make the adjustment, since higher alk levels can make the whole carbon dosing counterporductive (did some damage to a few corals during the learning curve but didn't lose them completely).
