Vodka dosing horror stories?
- Thread starter Gilby
- Start date
I once woke up in an alley, seems I dosed too much vodka, I don't recommend vomiting for nutrient export. 
Liquid carbon dosing is effective as long as you don't try and over do it. Solid carbon dosing is gaining in popularity, I have been using Bio-Pellets since June or July and you can over dose it as well. It is highly effective with proper dosing and testing. I suggest you do more research to determine if you want to begin doing that. It isn't for every tank, or everyone.
Oh...I have no horror stories from VSV, but with the BP I did watch my tank lose every form of algae, even my chaeto diminished. I did not have to clean my glass for months. I cut the BP quantity in half and things are doing much better. I don't mind a little algae.
Liquid carbon dosing is effective as long as you don't try and over do it. Solid carbon dosing is gaining in popularity, I have been using Bio-Pellets since June or July and you can over dose it as well. It is highly effective with proper dosing and testing. I suggest you do more research to determine if you want to begin doing that. It isn't for every tank, or everyone.
Oh...I have no horror stories from VSV, but with the BP I did watch my tank lose every form of algae, even my chaeto diminished. I did not have to clean my glass for months. I cut the BP quantity in half and things are doing much better. I don't mind a little algae.
Last edited:
d0ughb0y
Active member
the vodka dosiing instructions, imho, is essentially trial and error, hence is not a question of dosing properly or not.
you basically dose a small amount and gradually increase it until you observe nitrate and phosphate go to zero. but since you increase the dosage in time, you can (and will) go over what is necessary (the fact that the last step tells you to cut the dosage in half means you were dosing double what is needed), to the point it is too late and you may get cyano outbreaks, etc.
you basically dose a small amount and gradually increase it until you observe nitrate and phosphate go to zero. but since you increase the dosage in time, you can (and will) go over what is necessary (the fact that the last step tells you to cut the dosage in half means you were dosing double what is needed), to the point it is too late and you may get cyano outbreaks, etc.
Gilby
Premium Member
So would it be possible to keep a lower dose and still reduce N and P or is it a must to "double dose" then cut back for it to be effective?
d0ughb0y
Active member
I am sure that is possible. it would be nice if there was just a more straightforward instructions to dose x ml per gallon of tank water.
I never had any problem using biofuel by simply following the directions, then switched to vodka (problem may be I started with 0 N and P, so I really have no end point) after I used up biofuel, then ran into cyano problems even after following the instructions carefully. I am back to using biofuel. its not like the money saved using vodka is going to make anyone rich.
I never had any problem using biofuel by simply following the directions, then switched to vodka (problem may be I started with 0 N and P, so I really have no end point) after I used up biofuel, then ran into cyano problems even after following the instructions carefully. I am back to using biofuel. its not like the money saved using vodka is going to make anyone rich.
jwoyshnar
Active member
Your response made me chuckle, i read it to my girlfriend and she started laughing. Its nice to not have seriousness all the time.
I once woke up in an alley, seems I dosed too much vodka, I don't recommend vomiting for nutrient export.
Liquid carbon dosing is effective as long as you don't try and over do it. Solid carbon dosing is gaining in popularity, I have been using Bio-Pellets since June or July and you can over dose it as well. It is highly effective with proper dosing and testing. I suggest you do more research to determine if you want to begin doing that. It isn't for every tank, or everyone.
Oh...I have no horror stories from VSV, but with the BP I did watch my tank lose every form of algae, even my chaeto diminished. I did not have to clean my glass for months. I cut the BP quantity in half and things are doing much better. I don't mind a little algae.
Gilby
Premium Member
I once woke up in an alley, seems I dosed too much vodka, I don't recommend vomiting for nutrient export.
I know, that was a good one. I think Ive done that a time or two also:hmm4:
shrimphead
New member
i haven't carbon dosed before so correct me if i'm wrong you should have good skimming on your tank if doing this method.
Gilby
Premium Member
Maybe I'm explaining this wrong. I'm not really asking about methods or techniques for dosing vodka. I understand the concept. I'm just asking if anyone has had a bad experience or doesn't condone this method. I haven't really heard of anything going completely wrong and judging by the lack of replies I'm guessing none has had a bad experience.
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