Vodka dosing...

[Mindcage133]

Lets see.. Vodka? Check! 1 ml syringe? check! test kits? Check! Frosty shot glass? Check!! Now what? I really need to know the formula to figure out how much I need to dose. Any experts here?

Thanks in advance
Derrick

 

[flamron]

Here ya go: http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2008-08/nftt/index.php
There is a chart near the bottom.

I would recommend reading for about a month before starting vodka dosing. Overdosing vodka is very dangerous and starting it shouldn't be on a whim. You can kill every fish in your tank if you don't follow the directions and/or go too fast.

Slow is good. Too slow is even better.

 

[Mindcage133]

Thanks, I've been reading about it for a while off and on. I figure it's time to get off the fence and try it. Thanks for the quick reply and the link.

 

[ct_vol]

I have been dosing Vodka and am very pleased with the results... Always err on the side of caution... I followed the directions of the article posted by flamron... LMK if you need any help or have any questions...

 

[Mindcage133]

Thanks Randy. I'm wondering why we haven't met yet since your interests include reef keeping , guns, and beer. Is there any more to life? hehe
FYI.. I have started with a dosing regimine following the chart closely. and have err'ed on the low side of what my actual water volume is. I'm dosing as if I have 100 gallons where I may in fact be closer to 150 considering I have 180 plus a sump of 30 gallons.

 

[ct_vol]

No problem... You should try making it out to one of our meetings...

IMO Vodka dosing is a lot less aggressive than some of the other systems out there... As long as you don't overdose, you'll be fine... If you beging to see cyano, start backing off the amount you're dosing for a while and then ease back into it once the cyano subsides...

 

[Mindcage133]

I am going to try to make it out to the reef club meetings. I tend to spend my down time on slow days annoying the CR staff and I hear a lot about the meetings. It seems I'm either faced with working most weekends or it's an income issue. Right now it's the latter. Oh well...
Thanks again for your help.
Spent today retro'ing in two of my 48" VHO actinics from my previous system because although I like my lighting fixture, I can't stand the BLUE t5 bulbs which supplement my MH bulbs in the fixture. Looks good now, glad I did it.. Way off topic I know but just wanted to gloat a little hehe Nothing like running a skill saw early sunday morning on my apartment patio. Just doing what I can to keep good relations with my very close neighbors.

 

[ct_vol]

Which t5 bulbs are you using??? It makes a big difference, but if you already changed to t5's, I guess it is a moot point...

 

[macclellan]

If you join, we should have a meeting at your place sometime and take a field trip to Ripley's Aquarium.

Oh, and eat fudge, buy T-shirts, and walk around aimlessly like we are mentally challenged, or, in other words, fit in.

 

[GPhiAce]

Randy, which tank do you dose Vodka??? Aren't you doing ZeoVit as well????

 

[ct_vol]

Nope, never went zeo... lol I dose Vodka in all of my tanks right now... Its helped out most in my Aquapod... I told you that you needed to come over Paul...

 

[GPhiAce]

Randy, I am off for the next 2 weeks. pm sent

 

[Mindcage133]

Randy, I'm using the t5's that came in the counter current fixture. I believe it has 4 460's and 4'420's (39 watts) and three 150 HQI and now 2 110 VHO actenics in addition to those above.

Macclellan, Sounds like fun to me we could grill tequila and do a few cottage cheese shots then head out on the town for the tourist activities.:mixed:

 

[ct_vol]

You might try different T5's... Giesemann, ATI, and UVL all make good bulbs... The ballasts Current uses suck too though... So, when they die, replace them with another brand...

Paul~ PM returned...

 

[Mindcage133]

I would have rather gone with 250 HQI's but I bought the fixture with the tank for 600 so I can't complain. I 'm also happy when the electric bill comes in hehe. what ballasts would you recommend and why? better color, life?

 

[ct_vol]

Current had problems with their T5 ballasts when they were first released... They would either flicker or fail to fire the bulbs at all... They have changed ballasts, but they are still not as efficient as others out there... Giesemann and even Workhorse make decent ballasts that give you better output at lower powerloads and sometimes better color... Or you can switch to IceCap and overdrive them, but this will decrease the longevity of your T5's...

All of this is overkill if your light is currently functioning... If all is fine, then leave well enough alone... Just something to keep in mind should you have any future problems...

 

[Mindcage133]

funny you should mention flickering... I have one o my four sets which will sometimes flicker for minutes before lighing and other times will come right on... hmmm Iguess as long as it's coming on I won't mess with it. thanks for the heads up

 

[GPhiAce]

I started dosing Vodka yesterday. Checked my NO3 and they were rediculosly high. PO3 were <0.25, but I would like to use a PO3 meter to check. Alk was a little higher than I would like- 11/12, Ca 440. Turning down the Ca Reactor a smidge and doing a water change soon.
My EvilMelony and safecracker zoas are whithering away. No bueno

 

[EvilMel]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15430161#post15430161 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by GPhiAce
My EvilMelony zoas are whithering away.

That's like blasphemy.

 

[GPhiAce]

I know.