Who's dosing vodka? And why?

Mike, your NO3 isn't to bad, but if your PO4 is 5 that is not good, I assume you mean .5 is that correct. No those readings are not bad, but you can definitely benefit from catbon dosing.

Good luck

Mr tang, some folks think you might drive down your PO4 down to much, and it may just be a waste of money because it is not needed after while. FWIW, I do still run a small amount of GFO, for the time being.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14666753#post14666753 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by spleify
Mike, your NO3 isn't to bad, but if your PO4 is 5 that is not good, I assume you mean .5 is that correct. No those readings are not bad, but you can definitely benefit from catbon dosing.

Good luck

Thanks, you're right I meant .5 . I am just worried that maybe I am not getting proper reading from my test kit (Aquarium Pharmaceauticals). Just lately I have lost a couple of colonies and the colour on a couple have gone down hill. All my readings are good.
Click to expand...
 
I'm burning the tips of my sps with vodka dosing and for right now I'm stopping the dosage. I successfully dropped my NO3 to 0 with GFO. I do understand what you mean by wasting it but for my case since I have stopped dosing, the GFO will take up any PO4. Besides, it's my understanding that vodka dosing is for NO3 not PO4. How can one drive their PO4 down to low?
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14666996#post14666996 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Mr..Tang
I successfully dropped my NO3 to 0 with GFO.
Click to expand...

???

And yes vodka can drop both nitrates and phosphates.
 
I guess I should have said that with GFO in a reactor and using the vodka dosing method, I dropped my NO3 down from 20 to 0. My PO4 is also undetectable.

My alk is a 8
 
Two weeks in now, po4 is 0 and NO3 is 10. Its working. Last week PO4 was 0.25 and NO3 was 20.
How is your tank doing now Spleify? Are you gonna start a rebuild thread?
 
Glad to hear your having success silverfly! Just keep on track with it and be patient, it will continue to fall.

The tank is all torn down and I am cooking the LR, I might start a thread in a month or two once things are ready to get going. Thanks for asking!
 
I'll look forward to that spleify! I'll also keep on dosing- moved up tp 2ml daily now. The tank is looking very clear and colours seem to be much brighter. I had a tank crash a while ago myself so i know how gutting it is but we must keep moving on and maybe oneday we will understand alot more and crashes will happen alot less! Does seem though that everyone at some point experiences one or even just a mini-crash. Its good that you're already really motivated about doing it again!:)
 
I have a question.

Before I started Vodka dosing I took PO4 and NO3 readings. PO4 was 0 N03 was 1 - 2 ppm. Although the readings were low I had a terrible time fighting hair / slime algae. Also, my water always seemed to have a green tint to it.

I decided to try Vodka dosing to see if it helped any. I am currently doing 1ml/day for 100gal total volume. My water has cleared and the algae is melting away. My question is how do I know when to up the dosage, stay the same or cut back since I couldn't get reading to begin with?

I believe my PO4 is coming from my rocks. I got my live rock from a LFS that I believe had a terrible PO4 problem.
 
Thanks silverfly, I will try and start a thread.


I might up it a little over a period of time to say 1.5ml/day or so and keep monitoring. You could up your feedings and keep an eye on NO3 and PO4.
 
Last edited:
I dose Vodka for this little guy. ROFL....


nemomouthopen.jpg





Joking aside... Sorry to hear about your crash.
 
Yes-up feedings. I increased mine and every fish just glows now-theirs colours are that intense. I am going to keep feeding 4-5 times a day and keep increasing dosing weekly until the levels both reach 0. We'll see;)
 
a thread definately worthy of a vote!

ok, ive been dosing a whole week now. no changes in PO4 or NO3, but then i wasnt expecting any as they were 0 and .2 to start with. so far i've experienced great water clarity and thats enough for me. hopefully down the road i'll notice some improved coral colors also, but its too soon for me to expect that yet.

one question. i started dosing macrobacter 7 yesterday and noticed some cloudiness after doing so. it this normal?
 
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