Protein Skimmer vs Algae

curlykid said:
haha, i don't think i could get it across my parents that the vodka is for dosing! :D
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It's worth a shot. And if they do let it fly, think of the bonuses! They might get a little suspicious when you're going through 3 bottles a week though. You can also use vinegar. Just make sure you read up on the process before you start a dosing regimen. And a skimmer is a must for dosing organic carbon sources. Check out this article: http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2008-08/nftt/index.php
 
Sure will, but read up to make sure the type of vinegar and proportions to use. I'm not too familiar with using it as opposed to vodka
 
You could get a 1.75L of Taaka vodka for $12-$15. Depending on how much you end up dosing it should last a long time. For example, if you dose 10mL per day, it should last 175 days. However, you never know how much your final maintenance dose will be until you've gotten there. I don't imagine it could be more than 10mL with a tank your size.
 
I was vodka dosing on my 40 gallon mixed and my maintenance dose was 5ml. Make sure you read on how to vodka dose. Get a syringe from a Dr (without the needle) and start out with 1/2 ml for 10 days and move up to 1 ml after that and keep adding 1ml every 10 days till you get your nitrates down to 0. Than after its stabilized you back off by 25% Some say to back off by 50% but that didnt work for me and i started to see GHA. But the main thing is you gotta have a good skimmer to be dosing like this. And i have heard when you dose vinegar you would use 8x the amount of vinegar than you would vodka. But if you dose the vodka make sure its 80 proof and unflavored.. Good luck :-)
 
Start simple. Use a protein skimmer first. Let the system get used to it, then add things like vodka dosing that require more attention to. Unless it is a financial thing then I understand. I have a 10 gallon nano and I run a small hangon skimmer. Really works well.
 
Curlykid, be sure to take a good look at the sticky thread at the top of this forum, "Algae Scrubber Basics". A well planned and maintained algae scrubber may be just the thing for your system and situation, and, it can be an all-in-one filter-no skimmer, carbon dosing, gfo reactors, refugiums, frequent water changes, and more, needed. They are easy and inexpensive to build and customize to your set up, too. If you follow the guidelines given in that thread, the scrubber can be extremely effective...definately worth looking at. I've been reading as much as I can find on them and am currently planning mine out for my 63gal system.
 
OodleyBoodely said:
Curlykid, be sure to take a good look at the sticky thread at the top of this forum, "Algae Scrubber Basics". A well planned and maintained algae scrubber may be just the thing for your system and situation, and, it can be an all-in-one filter-no skimmer, carbon dosing, gfo reactors, refugiums, frequent water changes, and more, needed. They are easy and inexpensive to build and customize to your set up, too. If you follow the guidelines given in that thread, the scrubber can be extremely effective...definately worth looking at. I've been reading as much as I can find on them and am currently planning mine out for my 63gal system.
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I agree, they are very effective, although I still wouldn't use it as a substitute for regular water changes. The only issue I think you'd encounter here is designing one for your sumpless system. The only way I can imagine it being done is using a siphon overflow. They get a lot of bad rap for being flood prone, but are very safe if you design the sump right. I personally use a Lifereef overflow and it works amazing.

Although if anyone has any schematics for a HOB ATS I'd love to see it.
 
i have been looking at the thread too. although with a large skimmer, reactor, and another large pump for the reactor, i'm not sure if there's any space! the sump on this tank is tiny!
 
just ordered a reef octopus BH2000, BRS media reactor, ROX carbon, Elos phosphate and nitrate test kits. Media reactor is actually for a red bug treatment and further use.
 
I underestimated the value of a large enough skimmer and settled for a smaller than recommended skimmer, thinking my DSB and macroalgae would take care of the rest. I don't have a large bio-load either.
I was wrong. I have been fighting algae for a long time, started GFO and carbon, water changes but could not get rid of algae. Today I placed an order for a large skimmer. I ended up spending twice for the skimmer, not to mention the frustration and agony every time I looked at the patches of algae.
 
You can add emerald crabs to control bubble algae. I don't recall how big your display is but I'd add like at least 1/50gallons or so. I actually have a little bubble algae myself, I have 1 crab on 1of the island and that island donthave the bubble but the other has! I'm gonna reshape my tank soon and at that time I will add 2 more crabs.
 
hmm...been vodka dosing for about three weeks with Reef Biofuel and no luck on getting rid of algae, continues to grow slowly, cyano has stopped but more species of hair algae have sprout up. Maybe i'll have better luck with vodka, or maybe i should up my dosing, adding about 5 ml. Phosphates and Nitrates undetectable with Elos test kits.
 
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