Vodka dosing

[Myteemouse]

After months (one year) of reasearch, I believe I'm gonna start vodka dosing..
I think this will help reduce phosphates being that I don't run anything in my tank except carbon and skimmer..
Any final advise before I start.

 

[CarlaW]

Be very careful man!!!!!

 

[Myteemouse]

I will gonna start with 0.1 ml per 25 gallons that would be something like 0.6 ml per day for the first week then bump up a touch for the next few weeks

 

[Myteemouse]

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2008-08/nftt/index.php
here's a good link and write up..

 

[CarlaW]

Can I ask why you would want to try. Your tank is really nice, and I would hate to see things go south Adam.

 

[Myteemouse]

well I have a bit of algae problems, and I see some of my corals grow miserable slow...
Also with not having to add phos media and get better skimmer pull....
this will also clear up water more and get better light penetration.

Hu hu hu, you said penetration.. LOL

 

[CarlaW]

Well, you can see how it goes man, hope it turns out good!!!!

Is it hair algae?

 

[Myteemouse]

no not hair algae
slime in the sump along with a little brown in on some of the new rocks along with every time I frag or break off a piece of SPS , it has red slime on the white part within a day of two...
I have a HUGE skimmer and lots of flow .. I'm just not happy with it.

 

[CarlaW]

I have read those articles Adam, I just hate to dose something that has also been known to crash systems also, but I have to assume that those instances may be because of trying to OD the tank!!!! I don't know

 

[CarlaW]

no not hair algae
slime in the sump along with a little brown in on some of the new rocks along with every time I frag or break off a piece of SPS , it has red slime on the white part within a day of two...
I have a HUGE skimmer and lots of flow .. I'm just not happy with it.

It may be just a cycle you are going thru. I know I just got done with a minor cyano deal, but I am not gonna worry to much, I am pretty sure it will clear up.

 

[CarlaW]

What is your TDS on your RO unit? Have you changed the filters on it lately?

 

[Myteemouse]

Maybe I'm just freaking out..??

Maybe I need to pack 30 or so more lbs of rock in my sump?
Maybe I'm just WAY to anal with my system and I'm freaking over nothing?
Maybe I should just let it be?
Maybe I'm a nut job and should be committed?
Maybe I just need another cup of coffee and shut up?

 

[Myteemouse]

What is your TDS on your RO unit? Have you changed the filters on it lately?

Oh yes two new sets of filters this year and another set in the mail to be delivered monday from Bulk RS.
TDS reads 00.00'scomeing out. 28 going in to the filter

 

[CarlaW]

Maybe I'm just freaking out..??

Maybe I need to pack 30 or so more lbs of rock in my sump?
Maybe I'm just WAY to anal with my system and I'm freaking over nothing?
Maybe I should just let it be?
Maybe I'm a nut job and should be committed?
Maybe I just need another cup of coffee and shut up?

Yes to all of the above.:lol::lol::lol::lol:

I know exactly where you are at Adam, I think we all do!!!! Sometimes the excess nutrients are just something we have to take time and figure out, know what I mean?

 

[Myteemouse]

yea. I have reduced the feedings to near nothing..
I think it may be the rods food I started feeding a month ago??
I may switch back to just mysis and brine...

 

[CarlaW]

If you have done the research, and I know you have..................... and you feel confident in giving it a try, then have at it, maybe I am playing devil's advocate more than anything else here. I just hate to see someone get inbto something that can have varied consequences.

 

[CarlaW]

yea. I have reduced the feedings to near nothing..
I think it may be the rods food I started feeding a month ago??
I may switch back to just mysis and brine...

A definite high nutrient food man, did this start when you started that? Or soon after?

 

[Myteemouse]

prolly the same time or shorty after..

I added that 5 lb rock from the local fish store and then it started getting cyano all over it..
Still does but not as bad and in my sump there is cyano on the sides of the acrylic..
And I lost a frag of zoos to some brown algae that just covered them in a few days (thin film)
and my superman monti (which was growing with great speed and color) now is slightly bleaching out..but most corals are doing great...even the other monti's

 

[Myteemouse]

on that note,
I WILL NEVER ADD A PIECE OF LIVE ROCK FROM A LOCAL FISH STORE AGAIN WITHOUT BOILING IT FIRST...
Or from anywhere for that matter..

 

[mal1099]

Myteemouse if you dose that vodka make sure your doing some kind of bacteria also like mb7. I started with just vodka and about 2 months into it my nitrates went thru the roof. Rob at A red sea aquarium was saying i needed to replace the bad bacteria in the system with the good stuff and suggested mb7 to dose with the vodka. Have also found articles on reef central that suggest the same thing. I also have small spots of red cyano on some tips mainly just my maimi orchid. funny how the coral seems to just grow around it.
Good luck with it if you decide to do it. Im restarting soon cause i now have the mb7 to dose with it.