Anyone dosing vodka or vinegar in their dos?

[Scott.h]

Just wondering how the piping, especially the tube inside the head unit holds up to the chemicals over time?

Thanks

 

[jenreefer]

Just wondering how the piping, especially the tube inside the head unit holds up to the chemicals over time?

Thanks

I dose and have had no issues to date. I cannot speak long term, but am always prepared to replace a pump or tubes as needed. I mix vinegar, vodka, sugar and RO water for my dosing.

 

[Scott.h]

OK good to know. My dos is brand-new. I don't care about replacing the tubing, but I would hate to get six months in to find the alcohol broke down the head unit piping that is currently non replaceable.. as far as I know. Then I thought switching to vinegar, as that might be a little easier on it. I'm not sure

 

[jenreefer]

OK good to know. My dos is brand-new. I don't care about replacing the tubing, but I would hate to get six months in to find the alcohol broke down the head unit piping that is currently non replaceable.. as far as I know. Then I thought switching to vinegar, as that might be a little easier on it. I'm not sure

Vinegar is very acidic,so no better than vodka.

 

[Scott.h]

Vinegar is very acidic,so no better than vodka.

That's true plus I'm already skirting around 7.8 PH so I really don't want to use that anyway

 

[Waterjockey]

That's true plus I'm already skirting around 7.8 PH so I really don't want to use that anyway

Both will have the same effect on tank pH. Vinegar right away, Vodka as it is converted

 

[psirex]

I dose and have had no issues to date. I cannot speak long term, but am always prepared to replace a pump or tubes as needed. I mix vinegar, vodka, sugar and RO water for my dosing.

What's your recipe?

 

[jenreefer]

What's your recipe?

There is no one recipe for this, it would depend on what your tank needs and how big it is. I mix equal parts of vinegar and vodka, add 2 tsp sugar, mix with Ro water to make enough to dose for a week at a time. So if you are dosing 5 ml vodka already daily, mix a total of 35 ml of 50/50 vodka and vinegar. Add the sugar, dilute with some RO water to maybe 70 ml, then dose 10 ml per day. I would start with 1 ml/day of the mixture to see how the tank does and work your way up 1ml at a time to a point where you have nutrients where you want them.
I will say that this method requires heavy feeding and addition of NO3/PO4 if you levels drop to 0. It is a balancing act that requires constant adjustments. Sometimes, I skip a day or more if I think the tank needs a break. My tank is not heavily stocked right now.

 

[Breadman03]

OK good to know. My dos is brand-new. I don't care about replacing the tubing, but I would hate to get six months in to find the alcohol broke down the head unit piping that is currently non replaceable.. as far as I know. Then I thought switching to vinegar, as that might be a little easier on it. I'm not sure

Neptune can hook you up with some tubing. Just log a ticket and they'll give you a link to their store.

 

[Scott.h]

There is no one recipe for this, it would depend on what your tank needs and how big it is. I mix equal parts of vinegar and vodka, add 2 tsp sugar, mix with Ro water to make enough to dose for a week at a time. So if you are dosing 5 ml vodka already daily, mix a total of 35 ml of 50/50 vodka and vinegar. Add the sugar, dilute with some RO water to maybe 70 ml, then dose 10 ml per day. I would start with 1 ml/day of the mixture to see how the tank does and work your way up 1ml at a time to a point where you have nutrients where you want them.
I will say that this method requires heavy feeding and addition of NO3/PO4 if you levels drop to 0. It is a balancing act that requires constant adjustments. Sometimes, I skip a day or more if I think the tank needs a break. My tank is not heavily stocked right now.

just curious.. I know people dose all those individually but why go through mixing it? Why not just one or the other, undiluted, and save the the trouble of making it? I'm sure there is a Reason, hence why I'm asking.

 

[jenreefer]

I use a doser and really do not think about it. I think it is all personal preference. Since the amounts used are so small and dosers get more inaccurate at lower doses, say like 1-2 ml per dose, I prefer to dilute it out and dose a bit more more frequently, so each dose is reduced and less likely to cause a problem. The dilution is for safety more than anything. It works for me. I would not expect it to work for everyone.

 

[reefsahoy]

I use a doser and really do not think about it. I think it is all personal preference. Since the amounts used are so small and dosers get more inaccurate at lower doses, say like 1-2 ml per dose, I prefer to dilute it out and dose a bit more more frequently, so each dose is reduced and less likely to cause a problem. The dilution is for safety more than anything. It works for me. I would not expect it to work for everyone.

Excellent idea to get more accuracy when dosing small amts.