Vodka dosing

[PaysonReef]

Hello,

Does anyone do vodka dosing for their reef tanks? Can you tell me benefits and problem it causes? Is it good for both corals and fish?

Also, is there something I need to look for I’m a type of vodka or will the cheap stuff work as well as the less cheap.

Thanks for your help

 

[redfishbluefish]

Let's start with vodka price.....it doesn't matter. Just don't get a flavored vodka, although that probably wouldn't matter either. Vodka is simply ethanol....a carbon source for the bacteria to consume. It can't tell the difference between the cheap stuff versus the high priced stuff. I buy$12.99 vodka in 1.75 liter bottles....Traveler's brand. I've also used a brand called Gary's Good Vodka...again, for 12.99.

When starting any kind of carbon dosing, you want to start slow (lower volumes than what you'll eventually end up at,) and each week, up the dose until you reach your target dose. Some have found that if you start at high volumes right away, you'll get unwanted bacterial blooms....and some, cyano blooms. So build up to your target dose.

 

[PaysonReef]

I am just now setting up the tank. Should I dose this during the cycling or wait until corals/other things are in it?

 

[redfishbluefish]

I would not dose during startup of a tank. A couple more points....you do need a skimmer to do any type of carbon dosing and test kits to test for nitrates and phosphates. If you plan on running GFO, don't, until you find out if you have excess phosphates. For carbon dosing to work, you need both nitrates and phosphates, if one is missing, carbon dosing does nothing.

 

[mta_morrow]

Why are you wanting to carbon dose?
What are you trying to achieve?

 

[PaysonReef]

Just doing research and read about the benefits but am confused as trying to figure out how it would work and if it would be right for me in my situation.

When would you start dosing? After the cycle? After adding coral and fish? After established? When exactly?

 

[mta_morrow]

Just doing research and read about the benefits but am confused as trying to figure out how it would work and if it would be right for me in my situation.

When would you start dosing? After the cycle? After adding coral and fish? After established? When exactly?

I have had a tank where I didn't dose, and I now have a tank that I do dose.

You may not have to dose.

You may end up with enough filtration that you wont need to consider that option. There are many ways to help control nutrients, and that is only 1 way.

 

[Water Dog]

The purpose of carbon dosing (vodka or vinegar) is to grow bacteria to consume excess nutrients, namely nitrates and phosphates. Get your tank cycled. Get some life in there. Stay on top of your parameters. If nitrates and phosphates are rising to excess, then explore methods to reduce them. That is when you should consider carbon dosing as one of the many options available for nutrient reduction.

 

[clm65]

My understanding is that carbon dosing is used to reduce nitrates and to some extent phosphates. If you don’t have high nitrates, I don’t see a need to start carbon dosing.

 

[mta_morrow]

The purpose of carbon dosing (vodka or vinegar) is to grow bacteria to consume excess nutrients, namely nitrates and phosphates. Get your tank cycled. Get some life in there. Stay on top of your parameters. If nitrates and phosphates are rising to excess, then explore methods to reduce them. That is when you should consider carbon dosing as one of the many options available for nutrient reduction.

Well said !

 

[PaysonReef]

Sounds good. Thank you for the feedback and advice. Like I said, I am just researching and trying to learn and to figure out what works for me. I am very slow and methodical with everything and research everything along with their alternatives before I do anything. This post was just looking into the option.

Thanks all for your help and feedback.

 

[Jeremy K.A.]

I've been battling Hair algae for months in my 55 gallon mixed reef tank. Would Vodka dosing help with this or no? I don't totally understand what Vodka dosing is for honestly lol. I DON'T have a sump or Protein skimmer, it's a HOB filter

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

I've been battling Hair algae for months in my 55 gallon mixed reef tank. Would Vodka dosing help with this or no? I don't totally understand what Vodka dosing is for honestly lol. I DON'T have a sump or Protein skimmer, it's a HOB filter

If you have high nutrients, vodka dosing will help reduce those. However, you WILL need a protein skimmer to effectively remove the bacteria that blooms...otherwise, it will accumulate in the tank until it dies off. The die off could initiate a tank crash or a nuisance algae explosion at the very least.

 

[Jeremy K.A.]

If you have high nutrients, vodka dosing will help reduce those. However, you WILL need a protein skimmer to effectively remove the bacteria that blooms...otherwise, it will accumulate in the tank until it dies off. The die off could initiate a tank crash or a nuisance algae explosion at the very least.

Guess I'm not doing Vodka dosing then lol, it's been up 4 years without a skimmer so I don't want to change that now