david00061
New member
Nevermind I was thinking you were dosing vodka
I dose 50ml vodka and 50ml of vinegar a day in a 400 gallon system. I have a 40 breeder tank filled completley with live rock which my skimmer exit runs through to keep it cycled on the system without adding a lot of detritus to it. This is where I dose my carbon sources. This tank gives the bacteria a large area to operate before it goes through the tank. I can increase my dose very easily to drop nutrients quickly without bacteria becoming a problem. Bacteria will build up right in the tank where the drip is and I can remove it once I lower the dose back to normal. I drip the carbon source mix steadily night and day which I think probably helps as well.
So on a 100 gallon tank you would probably need a ten gallon tank filled with live rock to accomplish the same results. The tank should be packed with rock but enlighten where flow can move all the water. I use 1 powerhead in the tank to gently move the water around. Too much flow and the bacteria will be blown loose off the rocks and into the sump and display system.
It's all about providing a controlled place for the bacteria to work.
Calcium hydroxide will rasie the ph.
See the earlier posts on kalk and vinegar. The calcim hydroxide, kalk propvides alkalinity and calcium. It also has a ph of 12.4 at full saturation( ie two tsps per gallon of fresh water) . This is high enough to keep bacteria from growing .