<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6840088#post6840088 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jda
...so the carbon source creates new bacteria that grow and then die the nutrient is exported via the skimmer in the form of dead bacteria?
The thought is [as far as I understand]:
1 - You have nutrient problem,
both Nitrate and Phosphate in excess.
2 - You add vodka, a source of carbon - which would [hypothetically] be a limiting factor in bacterial growth.
Addition of carbon allows more bacteria to grow than before [bloom] - and given bacteria contain C, N, + P ... nitrogen and phosphate are contained in new bacteria
3 - Strong skimming removes some of this bacteria, ending in a net loss of N + P from the aquarium [through bacteria biomass export]
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As stated before, when this bacteria bloom happens - beyond uptaking N + P, it consumes a lot of oxygen. This could be a big problem if at night, if CO2 levels in the aquarium are already high, or with a high bioload. Would likely be more dangerous to larger fish than others ...
Also, people have had problems [it would seem] if N + P are not present and they dose. While problematic and potential algae-fuel in an aquaria - all living things contain N + P and if the availability would truly reach `zero' in an aquariaum - things will start dying.
There's a couple good old threads - and with a method like this is would
strongly encourage you to read all you can, follow directions as stated, and be conservative. It is most definitely possible to kill your tank this way - as it does also seem to be do-able without slightest problem.
Given it's very difficult to test what's going on with bacteria in our aquarium - play it safe, research before trying anything ... and take any changes slow.
