Carbon dosing, is cheap vodka a problem?

[Wiz]

Hello, I recently mixed up my own batch of generic nopox. I used a very cheap vodka that was 40%. It was suggested to me afterward that the cheap vodka might contaminate my tank. This person even suspected that it may cause blindness in fish because of the methanol. Opinions?

 

[madweazl]

Cheap vodka is just fine; anything sold in the store for human consumption and 80 proof (for dosing purposes) is just fine. I used $5 McCormmick after I ran out of some terrible tasting Crystal Head I was using.

 

[Wiz]

I have been using cheap vodka since I started carbon dosing. A couple years on and off. But this is my first shot at nopox

 

[topjimmy]

It's safe to use, just not as potent.

 

[NS Mike D]

my understanding is that almost all US vodka is made by Archer Daniels Midland and 2 other companies who produce the high grade ethyl

fwiw , Smirnoff won a blind taste test conducted by the NYTimes judged by alleged industry experts.


odds are you are paying for a fancy bottle and sleek marketing campaign when you buy expensive vodka

 

[AtlCPA]

I've been using cheap vodka for a couple months with very good results. Cheap vodka is even cheaper than vingar dosing. I like dosing smaller amounts for the same effect.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Any traces of methanol are no particular concern anyway. It is highly diluted in a reef tank, and methanol is a substantial component in Red Sea NOPOX. I suspect it is there because it makes the possible use of denatured ethanol to manufacture the product, but it could be intentional, and in any case, is not apparently causing problems.

 

[Want2BS8ed]

Hello, I recently mixed up my own batch of generic nopox. I used a very cheap vodka that was 40%. It was suggested to me afterward that the cheap vodka might contaminate my tank. This person even suspected that it may cause blindness in fish because of the methanol. Opinions?

I've always found consuming cheaper vodka to lead to exponentially worse hangovers. LOL

I've also often wondered what folks think as they walk down into my basement and pass shelves of spare Sediment filters, reef chemicals, test kits... and a bottle of Aristocrat (the cheapest Vodka we can purchase at the ABC store in Virginia!).

M

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I've always found consuming cheaper vodka to lead to exponentially worse hangovers. LOL

I've also often wondered what folks think as they walk down into my basement and pass shelves of spare Sediment filters, reef chemicals, test kits... and a bottle of Aristocrat (the cheapest Vodka we can purchase at the ABC store in Virginia!).

I'll bet you started the whole reefing hobby to hide your drinking habit.

 

[Wiz]

Didn't we al? LOL I know I did it so I had a reason for the room swimming. LOL