Vodka/Algae/Nitrates

[Chago09]

Ok well my tank and I went through a battle with hair alage that took me about 4 months to finally win. Vodka was my secret weapon and chaeto helped a bit as well.

My 90 gallon finally starting signs of improvement when I got the doseage up to 6ml a day. The chaeto starting growing literally like weeds and doubled in size every week. Well when nitrates fell below 5ppm I cut the vodka dose in half. The DT is bringing back all the coraline and absolutly no nuisance algaes are making their way back. Although in the sump I have noticed the chaeto is deteriating. Now its not overly full so its not lack of light. I have noticed the bush becoming smaller. Is it now releasing those nutrients back into the water? or are they releasing the same time as the vodka is eating them up? I have not noticed any rise in nitrates while the chaeto is dissapearing.

Thanks

 

[spleify]

It is possible that as the chaeto dies that yes it is releasing nasties back into the water column. Loss of chaeto, or the slowing of growth is common when using a carbon source.

Some people have been able to use both chaeto and a carbon source, and others have experienced the same issues as you. IMO, I would stop using one or the other for a while. In essence(but quite differently) the Vodka and the cheato are both competing for NO3 and PO4.

HTH

Good luck

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

I'm not a chemist but I would say that the nitrates and phosphates (N03 and P04) that were bound or converted to grow the chaeto, wouldn't be converted back and released into the tank in the form of N03 and P04 upon deterioration.

I have been dosing vodka for about a year now and also have chaeto in my fuge, I found that when I dose vodka to the point that the chaeto dies off I get cyano bacteria. I'm not saying that cyano is produced when chaeto dies off but it has been discovered that dosing too much vodka promotes cyano (possibly because with vodka it removes cyano competition). So what I had to do was cut back the daily vodka dosage just enough to create a happy medium that the vodka removes a great portion of N03 and P04 and the chaeto takes up the rest and continues to strive. That has seemed to fix the cyano problem.

 

[spleify]

I'm not a chemist but I would say that the nitrates and phosphates (N03 and P04) that were bound or converted to grow the chaeto, wouldn't be converted back and released into the tank in the form of N03 and P04 upon deterioration.

You are correct Jimmy, it is not released back as NO3 and PO4. But when chaeto consumes NO3 and PO4 they are converted into other things, subsequently as the chaeto dies it will release some form of inorganic nutrients.

Here is some more explanation of it.

Well, it converts them into other molecules in its tissues. Mostly organic molecules, like phospholipids, proteins, etc.

That is also where nitrogen and phosphorus in fish foods comes from in the first place.

There is no particular reason to think that nutrient uptake is confined to the light period, and I agree that they are not likely to release substantial inorganic nutrients at any time, unelss they die.

As a side note, because algae incorporate the nutrients into their structure, algae in a refugium must be removed from the system to export nutrients. Otherwise, the more shaded parts of the alga begin to die and release nutrients.

These replys came from this thread.

HTH

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

Thanks Leif, I always wanted to know exactly what happened to macro algae if left in the tank to die.

 

[spleify]

No problem, I was curious to. That's why I asked about it.

HTH

 

[Chago09]

alright guys thanks.... So what I will do is drop the vodka for a while and just see what happens. If I notice algae starting again I will add again, but I will let the chaeto do its job on its own.

Thanks

 

[spleify]

No problem, your welcome.

What are you using to monitor your NO3 and PO4? IMO I would judge my vodka dosing by my nutrient levels.

HTH

Good luck

 

[Chago09]

well I use salifert test kits

Although according to Melevs, it said as soon as you see the drop in nitrate and phosphate thats your required amount. Then once there undetectable to just cut dose in half and thats your maintenance doseage now. Although I would rather let the chaeto do the work now, thats enough good booze I bought for the fish. They've yet to buy me a drink.

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

well I use salifert test kits

Although according to Melevs, it said as soon as you see the drop in nitrate and phosphate thats your required amount. Then once there undetectable to just cut dose in half and thats your maintenance doseage now. Although I would rather let the chaeto do the work now, thats enough good booze I bought for the fish. They've yet to buy me a drink.

Hope that you are using this as your guide.

 

[spleify]

I believe that once you notice an initial drop in NO3 and PO4, THEN you cut your dosage in half and that "should" be your maintenance dosage.

No, with that being said. Carbon dosing is still so new that there is nothing set in stone as to what you have to, or are required to do. I always let my eyes be the judge of what my tank and inhabitants are doing and telling me. Each system is very different and needs to be treated different.

HTH