Vodka Dosing Stringy Mess!

[TheAviator]

Hello everyone! I recently got done cycling and setting up an 80 Gallon tank (Cycle completed over 6 months ago). I have right now one chromis and one conk. I also started vodka dosing every day. Started at .5mL and capped off at 2mL currently. In the past few days, I started noticing white stringy algae all over my rocks and sand. I can't really figure out what this is, but I assume its from the vodka dosing. Anyone know what this may be or how to get rid of it? I just started lowering vodka to 1mL to see if that helps. Thought id ask here to see what you all think.

 

[TheAviator]

Thought id post a picture.
https://ibb.co/YytZ8TV

 

[blowmecius]

Bacteria. You were overdosing. Back off when you see bacterial sludge. Personally, I think your tank is too young to even dose carbon.

 

[mcgyvr]

Yep.. Masses of bacteria (bacterial snot) typically indicative of carbon dosing overdose..

Drop it back to 1mL for now and see how that does..

Are you seeing a reduction in nitrates from the carbon dosing?
Got the skimmer running?

 

[TheAviator]

Skimmers running, seems to be pulling a lot of sludge out. Can't seem to fine tune it though. I get a lot of water in my waste cup even at a low setting. I'm actually not seeing a reduction in nitrates at all. But it's not raising either. I'll drop it down to 1mL and see if that corrects the issue.

 

[bertoni]

I fixed the first post of the link. "IMG" tags only work for pictures without framing.

I agree that you are seeing a bacteria bloom. I also agree with backing off on the carbon. Spending a minute or two removing as much slime as is easy to get might help speed the process a bit, but I wouldn't put a lot of effort into it.

 

[coralcruze2020]

I also agree to back off dosing carbon. I have been dosing vodka for over 10 years now and there are times that i would see sludge and just throttle back on the dosing pump a bit. If your tank is under a year old its wayyyy too soon to be using vodka unless you aquired a bunch of fish and corals froma another tank and have an immediate bioload.

 

[TheAviator]

Thanks guys! I'll back it off and see what happens. Maybe I'll stop all together!

 

[bertoni]

You're welcome. Good luck!

 

[mcgyvr]

Maybe I'll stop all together!

It is normally quite effective at reducing nitrates and even phosphates..
If reduction is needed I wouldn't stop it unless you have something else to continue the effort.

Carbon dosing can take a few weeks or so to get going but should be working to lower nutrient levels..

What are your current nitrate levels and how long have you been dosing for?

 

[TheAviator]

Currently nitrates are at 20ppm and I was dosing 2mL. Slowly ramped up to that after a week.

 

[mcgyvr]

So you have only been dosing for a week or so? If so patience...it can take a few weeks or more.
NOTHING good happens fast in this hobby..

 

[TheAviator]

It has been about two weeks. But the stringy white stuff is more annoying now. It looks terrible and won't go away!

 

[bertoni]

You might get faster results if you spend a few minutes a day siphoning out the mess. Just try to get what's easy to get. The idea is to export nutrients. Also, I'd stop any feeding.