best carbon dosing for nitrate reduction?

[melonheadorion]

i am mainly interested in finding products, or homemade products that work best. most specifically for nitrate reduction.

i have seemed to have noticed that different forms of bacteria do well in reducing nitrates, were some maybe not so much. most recently, ive been using np bacto balance, and my nitrate is at about 20, versus when i was using the refresh/waste away from dr tims, where it kept it at about 12. im going to test, starting tomorrow, to see if microbacter 7 helps reduce it back to the 12 ish range.
im hoping to see if anyone has an experience in which they notice one works better than another, or even, a home recipe, because hey, we all like to save money

 

[Fish Think Pink]

vodka

 

[melonheadorion]

vodka

just straight up cheap vodka, i assume? do you have happen to have any knowledge that it works better than, or just as good as bottled stuff, like microbacter, or something of that nature?

 

[ReefGeezer]

Vodka or plain old white vinegar. Vodka is a more concentrated carbon source and easier to overdose. Vinegar is more dilute. Minor dosage variances aren't as impactful as with vodka. Vinegar can depress pH in the local area if dosed all at once. Some mix about 8 parts of vinegar to 1 part vodka to get roughly a 50/50 mix of carbon from each source. These work as well or better than commercial products. Whatever you use, keep an eye on nitrate and phosphate. Both are required for the process to work.