vodka, has any one tried?
- Thread starter lawboy888
- Start date
Travis L. Stevens
New member
Actually, I'm not too sure about that. If you are talking actual cane sugar, that is a complex sugar that has been processed a billion different ways. Finding a simple sugar carbon source would be far more effective, but I don't know where you could find something like that. The closest that most people can get is Vodka.
captbunzo
Premium Member
But there are all sorts of other possible consequences of tossing vodka in the tank.
And an RDSB is a Remote Deep Sand Bed. Head over to Calfo's forum on the marine depot board for more information. In short, a RDSB is a pile of sand plumbed inline to the system. It provides a place for Natural Nitrate Reduction (NNR) to take place in the anaerobic environment of the sand. You just want enough flow across the top of the sand to keep solids moving.
For a 55g tank, you could use a 5 gallon bucket... And the pavestone stuff or any silica play sand would be ideal for this application.
And an RDSB is a Remote Deep Sand Bed. Head over to Calfo's forum on the marine depot board for more information. In short, a RDSB is a pile of sand plumbed inline to the system. It provides a place for Natural Nitrate Reduction (NNR) to take place in the anaerobic environment of the sand. You just want enough flow across the top of the sand to keep solids moving.
For a 55g tank, you could use a 5 gallon bucket... And the pavestone stuff or any silica play sand would be ideal for this application.
Travis L. Stevens
New member
But this might not be possible in certain freshwater systems like the possibility of dosing simple sugars can provide.
FWIW, I'm not saying go for dosing simple sugars, but I'm just trying to fill in the other side of the "debate"
FWIW, I'm not saying go for dosing simple sugars, but I'm just trying to fill in the other side of the "debate"
Wildstar1063
New member
Travis,
Could you elaborate on the over all effects you didn't enjoy?
what were you seeing? Let me know, so I'll know what to
look for.
Thanks
Chuck E.
Could you elaborate on the over all effects you didn't enjoy?
what were you seeing? Let me know, so I'll know what to
look for.
Thanks
Chuck E.
Travis L. Stevens
New member
This is the regime that I used.
Vodka (A half capful per day for one week): Not as serious " bad effects", but results happened quicker. I assume because the carbon source was already a simple sugar. The corals recooperated withing a couple of days. I did notice a dip in nutrients and no visible effects on water. Skimmer skimmed better as it skimmed out dead bacteria.
Couple of week cool off time.
Sugar (a pinch per day for one week): Took a week to see reults, and all my LPS shrank in, a few SPS stayed out if not slightly fuller, and most of my soft corals closed up. Half of my Zoanthinds closed, most of my Corallimorphians closed, and a few of my soft corals closed. After I stopped dosing, it took another week for them to open back up. No visual effects on water quality, but a dip in nutrients level shows it worked, but at a cost of tank health. Skimmer skimmed slightly better.
Conclusion: Whether it is sugar, vodka, or heck, corn syrup, adding a carbon source can help. But, there is no point in adding this if you can't control your nutrients. If you can control your nutrients, then a carbon source isn't necessary but effective. Extreme caution should be taken. Bacteria growth is limited on food. If you add lots of carbon/sugar and you already have lots of nitrates and phosphates, you could have a bacteria bloom, cause your water quality to fade, deplete all oxygen, and crash the system. If you are doing this for sole source of nutrient control, it is a bad choice with many risks. If you are using it to help aid other forms of nutrient control, it can be beneficial in increasing bacteria populations which can in turn help feed Zooplankton populations. If you choose not to do it, then you are no worse for wear.
I would like to compare Vodka with BioBalls. They have their time and place and aren't always the right choice for every tank. Careful time and consideration should be taken before choosing to dose vodka. If you do, it wouldn't hurt to do some large water changes through the course of the month prior to dosing.
Vodka (A half capful per day for one week): Not as serious " bad effects", but results happened quicker. I assume because the carbon source was already a simple sugar. The corals recooperated withing a couple of days. I did notice a dip in nutrients and no visible effects on water. Skimmer skimmed better as it skimmed out dead bacteria.
Couple of week cool off time.
Sugar (a pinch per day for one week): Took a week to see reults, and all my LPS shrank in, a few SPS stayed out if not slightly fuller, and most of my soft corals closed up. Half of my Zoanthinds closed, most of my Corallimorphians closed, and a few of my soft corals closed. After I stopped dosing, it took another week for them to open back up. No visual effects on water quality, but a dip in nutrients level shows it worked, but at a cost of tank health. Skimmer skimmed slightly better.
Conclusion: Whether it is sugar, vodka, or heck, corn syrup, adding a carbon source can help. But, there is no point in adding this if you can't control your nutrients. If you can control your nutrients, then a carbon source isn't necessary but effective. Extreme caution should be taken. Bacteria growth is limited on food. If you add lots of carbon/sugar and you already have lots of nitrates and phosphates, you could have a bacteria bloom, cause your water quality to fade, deplete all oxygen, and crash the system. If you are doing this for sole source of nutrient control, it is a bad choice with many risks. If you are using it to help aid other forms of nutrient control, it can be beneficial in increasing bacteria populations which can in turn help feed Zooplankton populations. If you choose not to do it, then you are no worse for wear.
I would like to compare Vodka with BioBalls. They have their time and place and aren't always the right choice for every tank. Careful time and consideration should be taken before choosing to dose vodka. If you do, it wouldn't hurt to do some large water changes through the course of the month prior to dosing.
