[quote=“rainmaker5505, post:20, topic:3428”]
I’m dosing a combination of vodka and vertex bio pellets. I started the vodka at a dose of .2ml per day, and slowly increased it by .2ml a day once a week. I stopped at 4ml because I was seeing results in the tank. I never had N03 or P04 in detectable levels. Real scientific stuff here, I know. [/quote]
Would one or the other work for you? or do you have to do both? I read on the RC threads that some people just dose vodka and some just do the bio pellets. Which pellets are you using? there are several out there now.
Nemmy:
Yes, vodka or any other soluble organic carbon source for that matter will lower both N03 and P04. The “vodka,” be it liquid or solid, simply adds fuel to the bacteria that break down N03 and P04, acting on the levels of both at the same time. What size tank do you have? 10ml seems excessive to me. Btw, I used to run GFO until I started the vodka, I really don’t see a need for it, and it may also be detrimental to what you are trying to do with the vodka, as you are removing some of what feeds the bacteria you are trying to grow.
Reefman:
I use both because I am away from home a lot and often forget to dose the tank. I also figure the more the merrier. The only thing that somewhat concerns me is how the vertex pellets work. I am careful to not overdose the tank with vodka, so how do I know that the pellets don’t release too much carbon into the tank?
[quote=“rainmaker5505, post:24, topic:3428”]
I am careful to not overdose the tank with vodka, so how do I know that the pellets don’t release too much carbon into the tank?[/quote]
Rainmaker, thanks for the info. From your statement above, shouldn’t just using pellets be enough? by adding the vodka would over do it wouldn’t it?
that sounds about right. the pellets are a timed release form of carbon to slowly disolve. it frees you from the daily dosing. you can do one or the other, or both. but don’t overdue it. too low nitrate/phosphate and if you are running a fuge, it will crash. and cause a nutrient surge. too much of a good thing… Eh?
Wasn’t it Samuel Clemens who said, " All things in moderation, Including Moderation".?
Does anyone in the digital age today remember him? If not, i have a tank and stand you can help me clean and paint.
[quote=“rainmaker5505, post:24, topic:3428”]
Nemmy:
Yes, vodka or any other soluble organic carbon source for that matter will lower both N03 and P04. The “vodka,” be it liquid or solid, simply adds fuel to the bacteria that break down N03 and P04, acting on the levels of both at the same time. What size tank do you have? 10ml seems excessive to me. Btw, I used to run GFO until I started the vodka, I really don’t see a need for it, and it may also be detrimental to what you are trying to do with the vodka, as you are removing some of what feeds the bacteria you are trying to grow.[/quote]
Yeah i know vodka brings down nitrates and phosphates. I’ve always read that you cut back your dosage when you see your nitrates start falling and then run your maintenance dosage. Thats what I did and my nitrates hit 0. My phosphates were still present though. What i meant by my post was i never saw much info on continuing to dose vodka in larger amounts until the phosphates dropped to low levels as well. Is it safe to continue upping it past the point of nitrate removal solely for the point of phosphate removal?
The chance of them both dropping and staying low at the same amount of vodka seems pretty slim to me. So should you dose it until both of them are maintained low? That would put me well over 10ml a day (120g of water volume).
I only recently started to run GFO, but my phosphates might have just been out of the range of vodkas timely removal. So far everything has looked better since adding the GFO.
I think I would personally try to increase the dose for a while, maybe let it stay at where you stopped and cut back to your maintenance dose for a while. With that said, you seem to have a P04 problem, and I would turn your attention to where it may be coming from. P04 has a nasty habit of bonding to aragonite based on its porosity/chemistry, and takes a while to leach out. In your case the GFO is probably a good idea, especially if you are seeing results. How do your stony corals seem to be growing? If your test kit is not a “better” one, or if it is old, maybe your P04 is actually low, and you are just getting a false reading. Unfortunately, carbon dosing is still very new, and there is not a lot of science as to what is too much and what is not. Some people are doing vodka or a vodka/vinegar/sugar mixture, pellets, and zeolite (Zeovit system) all at the same time (or any combination thereof, all with results indicating they are better off than they were before. There is an excellent article on this in the Sept/Oct issue of “Coral,” which I can bring to the next meeting if you would like to read it.
Ken,
I am aware of starving my 'fuge, but given my low dosage of vodka, and the fact that my caulerpa is still growing like weeds (I have to mow it every other week), I quickly decided it was not an issue for me. I have, however noticed that my corals are growing much faster though. I have had a small patch of GSP that has not done much since the tank was set up about a year and a half ago, that I can see being cheap frags in the relatively near future, and my acans have about doubled the rate at which they produce new polyps. And all of this is in a tank with previously undetectable NO3 and PO4 levels.
[quote=“rainmaker5505, post:28, topic:3428”]
I think I would personally try to increase the dose for a while, maybe let it stay at where you stopped and cut back to your maintenance dose for a while. With that said, you seem to have a P04 problem, and I would turn your attention to where it may be coming from. P04 has a nasty habit of bonding to aragonite based on its porosity/chemistry, and takes a while to leach out. In your case the GFO is probably a good idea, especially if you are seeing results. How do your stony corals seem to be growing? If your test kit is not a “better” one, or if it is old, maybe your P04 is actually low, and you are just getting a false reading. Unfortunately, carbon dosing is still very new, and there is not a lot of science as to what is too much and what is not. Some people are doing vodka or a vodka/vinegar/sugar mixture, pellets, and zeolite (Zeovit system) all at the same time (or any combination thereof, all with results indicating they are better off than they were before. There is an excellent article on this in the Sept/Oct issue of “Coral,” which I can bring to the next meeting if you would like to read it. [/quote]
SPS had slowed down to no growth from all except one. Since starting the GFO and cutting back the vodka growth is slowly picking up again. Then again i did make some other changes as well including pulling an old sand bed that I know for a fact was leaching phosphates (algae on its surface and nowhere else in the tank).
I’m also getting some color back from a coral that has been doo doo brown since like forever…