Can someone explain how this worked?

Cindarella · Sep 6, 2020

hey guys so I posted a few pictures of my algea problem in my aquarium I will post a before picture and a after picture. Umm I think i have a solution , I was talking to a friend and he mentioned I should try vodka , as my aquarium was already on its death bed due to hot weather i thought it couldn't hurt. So I have now treated my aquarium for 1 week everyday about 50mls of vodka. I cant explain it but now my aquarium look great. Can anyone explain this ?

Cindarella · Sep 6, 2020

The top 2 are before and the last what it looks like after i week nearly all the algae is gone

Karen00 · Sep 6, 2020

Interesting. I'm following to see what the experts say.

4tanks · Sep 6, 2020

I believe the vodka removed the nitrates and phosphates that the algea was thriving from in the most basic of terms

JasonK84 · Sep 6, 2020

Using Vodka is a form of carbon dosing.

HockeyRooster · Sep 6, 2020

Any fights from all the drinking?

glad this worked for you. I’ve read a bit about Vodka dosing but don’t know much about it.

JasonK84 · Sep 6, 2020

What is Carbon Dosing? - Simplicity Aquatics

Aquarium Carbon Dosing is a popular method within the realm of keeping reef tanks. Find out what it is and what it does in this article.

www.simplicityaquatics.com

JumboShrimp · Sep 6, 2020

I hope now your fish don’t develop an ‘alcohol problem.’ You know— not able to touch their nose, can’t swim in a straight line...

. (Sorry— couldn’t resist.) Your tank is looking nice!

Dallascowboys16 · Sep 6, 2020

Vodka dosing in a nutshell is just providing a food source for the microbe life in your tank. This blows up their population and the result is that they consume more of the free floating organic matter that is turned into phosphates and nitrates eventually. From what I can tell it worked really well on your tank!

Daddy-o · Sep 6, 2020

Instead of vodka, I use plain white vinegar. The "carbon" dosing feeds bacteria which multiply and are removed via skimming which brings down nitrates/phosphates. Instead of a single dose, a lot of us set up to add vinegar/vodka through the day. I mix 250ml white 5% vinegar to 5 gallons of RODI and pour into my ATO.
Cheers! Mark

Cory · Sep 6, 2020

Great results. What size tank?

Cory · Sep 6, 2020

Vinegar is not superior to vodka for this purpose fwiw. Cheaper yes but not superior. Also vinegar is known to have phosphates. Which may or may not be a problem.

Cindarella · Sep 6, 2020

Cory said:
Great results. What size tank?

400 litre

Cindarella · Sep 6, 2020

JumboShrimp said:
I hope now your fish don’t develop an ‘alcohol problem.’ You know— not able to touch their nose, can’t swim in a straight line... . (Sorry— couldn’t resist.) Your tank is looking nice!

my nemo's enjoy the vodka , they swim through it as I pour it in

Daddy-o · Sep 6, 2020

Cory said:
Vinegar is not superior to vodka for this purpose fwiw. Cheaper yes but not superior. Also vinegar is known to have phosphates. Which may or may not be a problem.

Really? How much? Is there enough phosphate to be a significant worry??
Cheers! Mark

Cory · Sep 6, 2020

Daddy-o said:
Really? How much? Is there enough phosphate to be a significant worry??
Cheers! Mark

Its not really significant but is worth noting.

PO4 in Vinegar

If you are dosing vinegar to reduce the nitrate concentration in your aquarium, you might want to measure the amount of PO4 in the vinegar you are using. I dissolved 0.04 mL of vinegar in 30 mL of freshly prepared Instant Ocean. I measured the PO4 and calculated that my vinegar has a PO4 level...

www.reef2reef.com

LRT · Sep 6, 2020

What is reccomended dose per gallon?

Cindarella · Sep 6, 2020

LRT said:
What is reccomended dose per gallon?

That im not sure about , I just poured 50ml in everyday. My tank is 400l

LRT · Sep 6, 2020

Cindarella said:
That im not sure about , I just poured 50ml in everyday. My tank is 400l

Thank you.
What where your parameters before you started dosing?
I'm fighting lower ph at the moment is my only concern.
Ph before and after dosing if you know?
Phoshpates and Nitrates before and after?

Daddy-o · Sep 6, 2020

Cory said:
Its not really significant but is worth noting.

PO4 in Vinegar

If you are dosing vinegar to reduce the nitrate concentration in your aquarium, you might want to measure the amount of PO4 in the vinegar you are using. I dissolved 0.04 mL of vinegar in 30 mL of freshly prepared Instant Ocean. I measured the PO4 and calculated that my vinegar has a PO4 level...

www.reef2reef.com

His math was wrong according to final post?