Dosing vodka

jikm2187

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So how does everyone feel about it? I just started today on my 40b in hopes of starving my massive algae population. Pics will come later, but I feel like my tank was instantly more vivid. Now for the details

I tested nitrates and phosphates like every thing that I read said, I started with a dose of 0.2 ml (0.1 ml per 25g). 4 days from now I will increase my dose to 0.8 ml (additional 0.2 ml per 25g) and again increase 14 days later to the end state dose of 1.8 ml (additional 0.5 ml per 25 gal). My main intent in dosing vodka as stated above was to starve my new found algae problem. But also to gain more water clarity and enhance the colors of my corals.

I will be updating about once a week for everyone who is interested. As of now I am dosing kent marine tech cb and vodka. The vodka I am using is military special at 80 proof. My main decision in this is that it is $13 a half gallon, has no added colors or flavors, and is the standard 80 proof vodka.
 

Bry

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Following along as well... Will you be posting pics along the way or before and after shots after some progress?
 
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jikm2187

jikm2187

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I didn't think about taking a before pic prior to actually putting the dose in today. But here are some pics from today. In all future pictures there will be close the same shots of the same areas. I mainly focused on my algae problem areas.

Here is my setup I forgot to cover it earlier.

40b DIY drilled, DIY overflow
Mp10
2x aqueon 500 gph power heads (will be replaced with another mp10)
~75lbs of live rock
Mixed reef

20g sump-
Aqua medic protein skimmer
~25lbs of live rock
Mag drive 7 return with ball valve closed about 25%

Prior to dosing vodka I planned to run bio pellets but I have pretty much kicked that to the side for the time being.

Friends and family who see the tank all the time came over tonight and asked what I did to the tank because it looked clearer and crisper.
 

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Rob.D

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Definitely following along.

What lighting do you have?
 

prsnlty

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Are you running ro/di, gfo and gac also?

i used to have a HUGE ha problem due to my home water and not havin an ro system with di. I didn't think anything of it when I set up my tank here because it was not an issue where i used to live in south texas. i dosed vodka but before i did i scrubbed all the rock i could and soaked them in ro fresh water over night. this helped jumpstart the death of ha in my tank. after vodka treatments it got better but very slowly. then i turned to bio pellets. that worked faster and very well. now that it had been running for 6 months im getting ha back and cloudy water.... hmmmmm.... i am wondering if maybe it becomes immune like poison to roaches?

good luck and i'll be following along also :)

125g mixed reef Peninsula
salinity: 1.025, CA: 500, ALK: 9.0DKH, NO3: 0, PO4: 0.25, MAG: 1355
AI SOL BLUES/ 24" T5 Combo
30g Sump, 1400gph Return Flow, 3700 gph PH Flow
 
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jikm2187

jikm2187

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I am running ro without di. I am planning on purchasing a new unit in the near future that has di. No GFO as of now. I have a reactor on hand that I planned to use for bp that I am seriously considering running GFO in instead. I just need to get a pump for it.
 

Aquaph8

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I would consider taking care of the cyano before continuing with vodka dosing, cyano will feed off of it and grow like crazy IME.
 

prsnlty

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I think my renewed problen is also reoccuring is because i got lazy with changing out my gfo. i dont think one should run without the other (bio pellets or vodka AND gfo).

btw... you can go to brs (bulkreefsupply.com) and get an add on di canister with everything including resin for less than $40 if there is nothing wrong with your unit, it's cheaper ;)

125g mixed reef Peninsula
salinity: 1.025, CA: 500, ALK: 9.0DKH, NO3: 0, PO4: 0.25, MAG: 1355
AI SOL BLUES/ 24" T5 Combo
30g Sump, 1400gph Return Flow, 3700 gph PH Flow
 

prsnlty

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I would consider taking care of the cyano before continuing with vodka dosing, cyano will feed off of it and grow like crazy IME.

+1 definitely!

125g mixed reef Peninsula
salinity: 1.025, CA: 500, ALK: 9.0DKH, NO3: 0, PO4: 0.25, MAG: 1355
AI SOL BLUES/ 24" T5 Combo
30g Sump, 1400gph Return Flow, 3700 gph PH Flow
 

RacinRevo0818

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I think he was talking about a pump for Gfo reactor. Good luck with the vodka but would maybe dose chemi clean and then start the vodka. Also make sure when dosing vodka your skimmer is running at peak performance as its going to pull out a lot more stuff.
 
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jikm2187

jikm2187

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Alright here is an update. I increased the dosage to 0.4 two days ago. My main goal in doing this was to starve the algae of nutrients. Let me start by saying, I havent seen purple from the coralline in about a month and I was cleaning my glass at least three times a day if not more. Today I am happy to say that i can see purple, I clean my glass once every two days now, oh and I forgot to mention I am enjoying the heck out of my tank right now. And yes, my skimmer which usually skims wet and produces a light brown/green skimate is now producing a dark brown/black. But now I have an outbreak of red slime. It covers my gsp almost to the point of preventing them from extending. I expect it to dissipate soon as well though.
 

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Lacktaters

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I've been dosing brightwell biofuel and micro bacter. It cleared up cyano in a matter of days. I'm almost out of both, and I've been thinking of switching to vodka as it's much cheaper and I think it would serve the same purpose. I would actually probably use a dosing pump on a timer to dose over the course of several hours.
 
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jikm2187

jikm2187

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I've been dosing brightwell biofuel and micro bacter. It cleared up cyano in a matter of days. I'm almost out of both, and I've been thinking of switching to vodka as it's much cheaper and I think it would serve the same purpose. I would actually probably use a dosing pump on a timer to dose over the course of several hours.

If and when the day comes for me to not reef on an extreme budget I will buy a dosing pump to continue this vodka dosing.
 
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