Vodka method is the best to control NO3, PO4?

[Tanthaitrung]

Dear all

As the title, but I wonder if this method has side effect???

Please give me your advices

Thanks in advance
Khanh

 

[bundybear1981]

Vodka is a form of carbon dosing. I personally use vinegar as it is a lot cheaper.
The science being it is that the carbon (vodka/carbon) binds with the NO3 and PO4 which you then skim out. You'll typically notice that your skimmate will get a lot darker.

I also run carbon in a dual canister filter to help reduce NO3/PO4.

Many users have been running vodka for many years without any noticeable side effects.

 

[downbeach]

Over the years, I've tried most forms of carbon dosing, i.e. vodka, vinegar, glucose, mixtures of them, etc, but settled on BPs. The only minor issue I saw with vodka alone or mixed, was a slight cyano build up that I didn't notice with the other forms.

 

[Dogshowgrl]

It is carbon dosing. I use NoPox by RedSea for carbon dosing. Carbin dosing is feeding a controlled bacteria bloom. The bloom uses up nitrates and phosphates. If an overdose occurs it causes a bacterial bloom. The bacteria is not the bad part, but the bacteria does use up the oxygen, if it is bad enough it can cause a significant drop in pH. To fix you stop dosing do water change wait to return to normal and start again.

Yes, it is also common to see cyano growth with all carbon dosing.

I can easily dose my mixed reef 125 but my softie tank with my seahorses looks like this within 2 days everytime.

 

[Tanthaitrung]

I also run carbon in a dual canister filter to help reduce NO3/PO4

Thanks for your reply

Which carbon are you running in canister filter?

Could you please share your vinegar dosing? (Kind of vinegar, rate of dose, etc)

Regards
Khanh

 

[Tanthaitrung]

but settled on BPs

Thanks downbeach

What is BPs?

Could you please share your detail dosing?

Regards
Khanh

 

[downbeach]

http://reefkeeping.com/joomla/index...ar-dosing-methodology-for-the-marine-aquarium

 

[Tanthaitrung]

It is carbon dosing. I use NoPox by RedSea for carbon dosing. Carbin dosing is feeding a controlled bacteria bloom. The bloom uses up nitrates and phosphates. If an overdose occurs it causes a bacterial bloom. The bacteria is not the bad part, but the bacteria does use up the oxygen, if it is bad enough it can cause a significant drop in pH. To fix you stop dosing do water change wait to return to normal and start again.

Yes, it is also common to see cyano growth with all carbon dosing.

I can easily dose my mixed reef 125 but my softie tank with my seahorses looks like this within 2 days everytime.

Thanks so much Dogshowgrl

Is there any cyano when using NO3O4-X?

 

[Sk8r]

I tried vinegar: worked, but not enough. I switched to NoPoX and am much happier.

 

[Tanthaitrung]

http://reefkeeping.com/joomla/index...ar-dosing-methodology-for-the-marine-aquarium

Thanks again downbeach :thumbsup:

 

[GimpyFin]

I've had good success with biopellets (Specifically, Warner marine ecobak plus.) Slight bacteria bloom/cloudy water at first, but no cyano or other issues for me while using them (About 2 years or so.)

 

[Tanthaitrung]

I tried vinegar: worked, but not enough. I switched to NoPoX and am much happier.

Thanks Sk8r,

Are you talking about Red Sea product?

Is there any cyano trouble?

 

[Tanthaitrung]

I've had good success with biopellets (Specifically, Warner marine ecobak plus.) Slight bacteria bloom/cloudy water at first, but no cyano or other issues for me while using them (About 2 years or so.)

Thanks for your sharing Brian

I'm using Two Little Fishies biopellet, the NO3 is around 10ppm without cyano. I like the lower NO3 and try to research another method

Regards
Khanh

 

[bundybear1981]

I'm running GAC (granulated actived carbon) in the filter at this time (in both canisters) however I will be ordering some AQUAMAXX PHOSPHATE OUT to run in one canister (once I get the parts to split the canisters into 2 singles)

With the vinegar I dose 4 times a day (every 6 hrs) at 25ml a dose. Just using plain white vinegar.

BPs (I'm guessing) would be bio pellets.

 

[Tanthaitrung]

I'm running GAC (granulated actived carbon) in the filter at this time (in both canisters) however I will be ordering some AQUAMAXX PHOSPHATE OUT to run in one canister (once I get the parts to split the canisters into 2 singles)

With the vinegar I dose 4 times a day (every 6 hrs) at 25ml a dose. Just using plain white vinegar.

BPs (I'm guessing) would be bio pellets.

Thanks again bundybear1981

I think vinegar can decrease PO4, can't it?

 

[GimpyFin]

Thanks for your sharing Brian

I'm using Two Little Fishies biopellet, the NO3 is around 10ppm without cyano. I like the lower NO3 and try to research another method

Regards
Khanh

Cool. Yeah a lot of people have good success with vodka/vinegar. My vodka dosing has been limited to martini glasses. :jester: Haven't used two little fishies, but the ecobak plus has kept mine within 1-2 ppm.

 

[Deleted member 336650]

What if phosphates are 0 & nitrates are high? Can I still use carbon dosing, or is it only to be used when both need to be reduced?

 

[Dogshowgrl]

Phosphates are in to foods you feed and a necessary for livestock (yes it's the only ingredients in fish food that is required by the FDA for the health of fish) to thrive so if it is zero something is using it. Yes we want phosphates to be very low but non existent is not good either. Now it can be several things with phosphates but normally if you have any algae at all it is using it before you can get the test to show it. I would not carbon dose in that case. I going to recommend a sulfur denitrator, it only affects the nitrates in a system. Expensive yes but it is what the large public aquariums are using. Nitrates above 15 are a leading cause is lateral line in fish. Not that I have nailed my tanks down the is one of those do as I say not as I do moments. You can try carbon dosing but test and watch carefully.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

 

[jason2459]

I tried vinegar: worked, but not enough. I switched to NoPoX and am much happier.

Curious if you've tried mixing vinegar and vodka which are the main ingredients in nopox?


I personally like TMZ's ratio compared to nopox which is weighed more towards vinegar.

TMZ's ratio for 1L is 690ml Vinegar to 310ml Vodka
Nopox's ratio for 1L is 590ml Vinegar to 410ml Vodka

post#233
http://web1.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2408985&page=10

 

[Tanthaitrung]

Cool. Yeah a lot of people have good success with vodka/vinegar. My vodka dosing has been limited to martini glasses. :jester: Haven't used two little fishies, but the ecobak plus has kept mine within 1-2 ppm.

Thanks for your info GimpyFin :thumbsup: