Dosing vodka for alcohol, correct?

[jasonrusso]

Vodka is dosed for the alcohol, correct? Wouldn't it be better to dose Everclear (I can get the 190 proof)? Would the dose be too small to measure?

Are the other ingredients in the vodka beneficial? I'm also thinking about making a 60/40 Vinegar/vodka mix (nopox).

 

[hotdrop]

Vodka is dosed for the alcohol, correct? Wouldn't it be better to dose Everclear (I can get the 190 proof)? Would the dose be too small to measure?

Are the other ingredients in the vodka beneficial? I'm also thinking about making a 60/40 Vinegar/vodka mix (nopox).

You could dilute it but it’s not 1:1 you would have to match molarity. Or just use similar procedures but less.

 

[jasonrusso]

You could dilute it but it’s not 1:1 you would have to match molarity. Or just use similar procedures but less.

For the everclear? I was thinking if you use 80 proof vodka, the 190 is 2.4 times more potent. I would just divide the amount by that. If I diluted it 50/50 with rodi, I'd just double that dose. So if I was dosing 5ml of 80 proof, it would be 2ml of everclear. If I diluted it, it would be 4ml.

 

[hotdrop]

I think cheap vodka is just diluted evercreal anyway so your thinking makes sense to me. It’s just not available in all states

 

[redfishbluefish]

Vodka is simply ethanol and water (although serious drinkers of potato versus non-potato vodka will argue). For me, it's simply a matter of availability. I can buy cheap vodka (12.99 / 1.75 liters) and have no idea if EverClear is available in my area, or where to buy it, or what it costs.

And FYI, the DIY version of NOPOX is 500 mls vinegar (5%), 375 mls vodka (80 proof), and 125 mls RO/DI.

 

[Flippers4pups]

Vodka for the ethanol. 80 proof.

Ethanol is what feeds the bacteria. Vinegar is just as effective and less chances of Cyanobacteria outbreaks.

What’s your current N03 at?

 

[jasonrusso]

Vodka is simply ethanol and water (although serious drinkers of potato versus non-potato vodka will argue). For me, it's simply a matter of availability. I can buy cheap vodka (12.99 / 1.75 liters) and have no idea if EverClear is available in my area, or where to buy it, or what it costs.

And FYI, the DIY version of NOPOX is 500 mls vinegar (5%), 375 mls vodka (80 proof), and 125 mls RO/DI.

Thanks for the recipe!!

 

[jasonrusso]

Vodka for the ethanol. 80 proof.

Ethanol is what feeds the bacteria. Vinegar is just as effective and less chances of Cyanobacteria outbreaks.

What’s your current N03 at?

100+

 

[jasonrusso]

Vodka for the ethanol. 80 proof.

Ethanol is what feeds the bacteria. Vinegar is just as effective and less chances of Cyanobacteria outbreaks.

What’s your current N03 at?

Fowler, but I want to bring it down a bit.

https://www.reef2reef.com/index.php?threads/552929/

 

[Flippers4pups]

Fowler, but I want to bring it down a bit.

https://www.reef2reef.com/index.php?threads/552929/

Okay, yes 100 is high. I personally never had any luck using carbon dosing. Dosed insane amounts and end up with bacterial blooms. Never got much reductions from it. I’ve learned to live with them. My tank usually stays around 40-50 ppm. I run a refugium with a large amount of chaetomorpha and vacuum my sand bed once a month.

Look into a sulfur reactor, I’ve read pretty good results with them.

 

[redfishbluefish]

And where's your phosphates.....you do need both for carbon dosing to work (as well as a skimmer)

 

[jasonrusso]

And where's your phosphates.....you do need both for carbon dosing to work (as well as a skimmer)

Probably 3+.

 

[erk]

The key to carbon dosing is the skimmer. An oversized skimmer than can pull all that bacterial growth out almost as fast as it is produced. Without the oversized skimmer, all you are doing is feeding the bacteria and then they die in the system and go back into the nitrogen cycle. Be prepared for a lot of stinky skimmate.

 

[jasonrusso]

The key to carbon dosing is the skimmer. An oversized skimmer than can pull all that bacterial growth out almost as fast as it is produced. Without the oversized skimmer, all you are doing is feeding the bacteria and then they die in the system and go back into the nitrogen cycle. Be prepared for a lot of stinky skimmate.

I'm aware. I have been dosing for a while. I'm just looking for alternatives.

I have a Reef Octopus Diablo XS200

 

[Bob the Bass]

Vodka is simply ethanol and water (although serious drinkers of potato versus non-potato vodka will argue). For me, it's simply a matter of availability. I can buy cheap vodka (12.99 / 1.75 liters) and have no idea if EverClear is available in my area, or where to buy it, or what it costs.

And FYI, the DIY version of NOPOX is 500 mls vinegar (5%), 375 mls vodka (80 proof), and 125 mls RO/DI.

How much of this solution do you add per gallon? Im looking to dose a reefer 450, how much would you suggest I dose with?

 

[scriptmonkey]

See, I would use something I like so on a tough day me and the tank can do shots together, maybe some Kettle one?

 

[redfishbluefish]

How much of this solution do you add per gallon? Im looking to dose a reefer 450, how much would you suggest I dose with?

I don't dose ethanol, but do dose the DIY version of NOPOX and simply use their dosing recommendations.....above 10ppm, 3 mls per 100 liters (25 gallons). Here's the dosing chart.

They also have another set of instructions that pretty much say the same thing is a slightly different way:

 

[Bob the Bass]

I don't dose ethanol, but do dose the DIY version of NOPOX and simply use their dosing recommendations.....above 10ppm, 3 mls per 100 liters (25 gallons). Here's the dosing chart.

They also have another set of instructions that pretty much say the same thing is a slightly different way:

So you mix the 500 ml vinegar , 375 ml vodka , and 125 ml RO/DI and then add 2ml per day according to the NO-POx chart?

 

[redfishbluefish]

So you mix the 500 ml vinegar , 375 ml vodka , and 125 ml RO/DI and then add 2ml per day according to the NO-POx chart?

It all depends on your nitrate (phosphate) levels in your tank. First off, with any carbon dosing, I'd recommend starting slow by ramping up the dose. I'll use NOPOX (or the DIY version) as an example. I'll also assume your nitrate level is above 10 ppm. At this concentration, you'll eventually want to be at a dose of 3 mls per 25 gallons of tank water. However, when starting out, I'd suggest 1 ml/25 gallons for the first week or so, then 2 mls/25 for another week or so, and finally up to 3 mls/25 gallons. During this, if you notice a cyano or algae bloom occurring, either back off a bit or maintain at that dose until the cyano/algae is resolved.

Note, any carbon dosing doesn't "work" the day you put it in. That is, you're not going to immediately notice nitrates falling on day 1. It takes time to build up the bacteria and then export via your skimmer.

So you've now been dosing 3 mls and maybe you're doing weekly testing, and finally you see nitrates below 10ppm. Now is when you cut back the dosing to 2 mls/25 gallons. Continue testing (maybe weekly), and when it gets below 1 - 2 ppm, cut back to 1 ml/25. You might have to play with that last dosing amount as your "maintenance" dose to keep nitrates at that desired level. Note that corals also need nitrate to grow, so you don't want to run it all the way to zero.

Finally, and again, with any form of carbon dosing, you need both nitrates and phosphates for it to work. If one or the other is lacking, it won't work. That is, as an example, nitrates at 10 ppm, but phosphates at 0 ppm, the nitrates will stall and stay at 10 ppm.

Hope this helps.

And yes, that is the formula for DIY NOPOX developed by a professor who had his grad students run NMR to determine the mix.

 

[redfishbluefish]

......... and then add 2ml per day according to the NO-POx chart?

Just to stress the dosing amounts...the chart is mls per ever 25 gallons of tank water. You have a Red Sea Reefer 450, with is 92 gallons. This isn't rocket science, so I'd round that out to 100 gallons and simply multiply the chart doses by 4. So if your nitrate level is below ten ppm, but above 1 or 2, you would be dosing (2mls x 4 =) 8 mls of NOPOX.