Too much vodka

[Scotty333!!!]

Is there a limit on how much carbon dosing you can add , I mean if you observe no ill effects?
I’m dosing 20ml in 525ltr tank , started 10 days ago with vodka
Nitrates are stable at 25 but wanted them down to <10ppm

 

[Reefing102]

I’m not sure if there’s a limit but it seems based on the charts, it is increased over time:

Its going to take some time. I'm sure phosphate is contributing to the GHA as well. Once you get well into your dosing regimen your nitrates will hit zero. once that happens you should cut your vodka dose in half. If nitrates start to raise again raise your vodka dose slightly and then hold steady that will be your maintenance dose.

One thing to consider carbon dosing removes phosphate but at a much slower rate than nitrate. When you become nitrate limited (0 nitrate) phosphate will no longer be pulled from the water via carbon dosing. This is when you should implement a GFO reactor.

some more reading. http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2008-08/nftt/index.php

Vodka Dosing

Good Morning. Quick Info. 54 gal. bow. Up and running approx. 9 months. Display, live indo rock. 3" live sand base mix. 3 fire fish, 1 yellow Wrasse, 1 cardinal, 1 madarin dragonet, 1 Foxface, 2 pecula clowns, 1 red shrimp, 1 sally something crab, 1 blue claw hermit crab, 2 small hermits. Sump...

forums.reefcentral.com

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2008-08/nftt/index.php

I’ve never done this dosing so I can’t really help otherwise

 

[Scotty333!!!]

Wow, great write up
Thanks for that , I’m way overdosing currently with no slime so I’ll keep at it for now
Cheers

 

[ct_vol]

As the article suggests, the bacteria population will increase over time consuming more and more nitrates. Once your nitrates get to the level you want, you'll have to back off the vodka dosing and figure out what your "maintenance" amount is. Unfortunately there is no one set amount as bioloads, types of food, and feeding schedules/amounts all pay a factor.

 

[Scotty333!!!]

Understood, thanks

 

[shred5]

Is there a limit on how much carbon dosing you can add , I mean if you observe no ill effects?
I’m dosing 20ml in 525ltr tank , started 10 days ago with vodka
Nitrates are stable at 25 but wanted them down to <10ppm

Yes you can create a bacteria bloom. This bloom can deplete the water of oxygen in some case.
The water can get real cloudy when this happens.
I also had it were bacteria will coat the rocks with this slimy clear sludge..

 

[wvned]

remember
bacteria reproduce exponentially

 

[Scotty333!!!]

Dosed 30ml vodka this morning to the 25ppm nitrate
Latest nitrate result below

 

[Scotty333!!!]

Yes you can create a bacteria bloom. This bloom can deplete the water of oxygen in some case.
The water can get real cloudy when this happens.
I also had it were bacteria will coat the rocks with this slimy clear sludge..

No bacterial bloom yet , nitrates at 10-15ppm

 

[Vinny Kreyling]

Remember- you do NOT want a -0- reading, leave some for the critters.

 

[Scotty333!!!]

Nah I’m happy at 15 ( lfs confirmed 14.6 hanna)
Will probably dose 5ml every other day and see if it stabilises at 15