Vodka or Sugar ?
- Thread starter Zoom
- Start date
so i don't know what vodka to get.
Some experts do believe that the carbon sources makes a lot of difference as to what strains of bacteria are driven to grow, and that certain ones are preferred. These folks usually specify vodka over sugar. I do not know if the difference is important or not. Whatever you try, start very slowly. There are risks using this procedure, such as excessively low O2.
OK, let us know what happens. 
Zoom
Premium Member
Five days of dosing sugar .....N03 from 50 down to 20.
P04 from 1.0 to 0.03 works good so far.
I was very impressed with the Sugar Dosing so i start to use it in my main reef so far in two days N03 from 5 to 0.
P04 still 0.01 with only 1/2 Tsp a day.
Things i don't like about it is . My ORP after daily dosing goes from 290 to 225 and over night back up to 280 is still not as good as it was before the Sugar dosing . The PH is also down from 8.3 to 8.15 in the day and down to 7.95 in the morning from 8.1 that usually is every morning .
All the corals looks better than ever, polyp extension on my SPS corals is better than i ever saw .
I still have some Hair algae in the reef tank i don't know if or ever will go away.
P04 from 1.0 to 0.03 works good so far.
I was very impressed with the Sugar Dosing so i start to use it in my main reef so far in two days N03 from 5 to 0.
P04 still 0.01 with only 1/2 Tsp a day.
Things i don't like about it is . My ORP after daily dosing goes from 290 to 225 and over night back up to 280 is still not as good as it was before the Sugar dosing . The PH is also down from 8.3 to 8.15 in the day and down to 7.95 in the morning from 8.1 that usually is every morning .
All the corals looks better than ever, polyp extension on my SPS corals is better than i ever saw .
I still have some Hair algae in the reef tank i don't know if or ever will go away.
Last edited:
OK, so far so good and thanks for the update!
Zoom
Premium Member
No not yet i don't use to much sugar but the skimmer is doing much better job .
Randy.... When i strated to add the sugar to the tank seems like i'm adding organic matter/ food in to the tank is that so ? the tank reacts like it is , but the front glass don't need cleaning any more but every coral in the tank look like it is feeding time after i start adding the sugar five days a go .
Is just to strange to me i never saw anything like this before.
I hope i don't start feeding the cyno doing that.
When i strated to add the sugar to the tank seems like i'm adding organic matter/ food in to the tank is that so ?
Yes. Green algae cannot use the sugar as a nutrient, but bacteria can and they consumed nutrients. Bacteria do use it, and the corals may be responding to either the sugar, the bacterial levels (which some may consume), or something else altogether.
FWIW, there are possible drawbacks, including reduced O2, increased bacteria which may be problems for some organisms, and possibly unsightly mats of bacteria.
Yes. Green algae cannot use the sugar as a nutrient, but bacteria can and they consumed nutrients. Bacteria do use it, and the corals may be responding to either the sugar, the bacterial levels (which some may consume), or something else altogether.
FWIW, there are possible drawbacks, including reduced O2, increased bacteria which may be problems for some organisms, and possibly unsightly mats of bacteria.
Lots of aeration is a plus, yes. Adding it slowly over the course of the day would also help.
The more the merrier. The worst case would be to dump it all in when it is dark, or worse yet, right before a power failure. 
I've been thinking of dosing with molasses. A simple sugar. I know many plants can take this up. I use it in my organic based lawn and tree fertilization business. This is a topic we've been discussing in our reef club forum www.bnarc.com. I have considered mixing some in when I feed the tank.
Cheers!
Ken
Cheers!
Ken
Molasses contains many things, including copper. Why do you believe it would be better than other, more purified, carbon sources?
ReefEnabler
Premium Member
wow I have never heard of this method before, its very interesting! ill keep it in mind.
i'm also curious about your corals response to the sugar. could it just be that the lower nitrates have caused them to stretch out in sweet relief, rather than a feeding response???
i'm also curious about your corals response to the sugar. could it just be that the lower nitrates have caused them to stretch out in sweet relief, rather than a feeding response???
